Chapter 1 Alone and Betrayed

"I'm with your husband right now. You have no idea how he makes love to me."

Elise had been patiently waiting for her husband to finish work when an unexpected message lit up her phone screen. The sender was unknown, but the content hit like a dagger straight to the chest.

Stunned, she read the words over and over again, trying to process what she'd just received. A crushing pain settled in her chest while her mind struggled to deny it.

She tried calling back, but the line was dead.

"This has to be a joke," she whispered, trying to keep herself calm.

They had been married for three years, and she was pregnant. It couldn't be true.

The sound of the front door opening pulled her from her daze.

"Why are you so late? I hate being alone, especially now, with the baby so close to being born."

José looked at her with cold indifference.

"I've told you a thousand times, Elise. I don't care about that baby. I wish you weren't pregnant," he snapped, walking past her and heading straight to the bedroom.

"José, wait. Dinner's ready. I waited for you so we could eat together. Please, sit down."

She followed him, but he continued ignoring her with the same icy distance as always.

Heartbroken, Elise returned to the dining room. She sat alone, gently cradled her belly, and decided that if no one else would listen, at least she would speak to her child.

The hope of her child was the only pillar keeping Elise standing.She had no family-only her husband, José-who had once been her only close bond. But everything changed the moment she told him she was pregnant.

A sudden noise pulled her out of her thoughts: the dragging sound of wheels scraping against the floor. She turned around just in time to see José walking out of the bedroom, a suitcase in his hand.

"Are you going on a trip?" she asked, unable to hide her surprise.

"It's not a trip," he answered coldly. "I'm leaving you for good. I can't stand you anymore."

Tears burst from her eyes uncontrollably.

"No-please, José! Don't leave me. I have no one in this world, and our child is about to be born!"

He let out a bitter laugh."That's exactly why I'm leaving. You're useless."

Desperate, Elise grabbed his arm, sobbing and struggling to breathe. But without a trace of compassion, he shoved her hard, making her fall backwards onto the couch.

"No, José... I'm begging you. Why are you doing this to me?"

She had given her life to him-devoted, attentive, always making sure he had everything he needed. She made him dinner, kept his clothes spotless, and never once complained. She'd put him on a pedestal, loving him blindly.

"Get off me!" he snapped. "I'm leaving with a woman who's actually on my level. Goodbye."

The door slammed behind him, and in that moment, Elise's world collapsed. Who would look after her and her baby now?

Days dragged by slowly. Her due date was approaching, and the fear of giving birth alone kept her awake at night. She barely had the essentials for the hospital-much less for when she returned home. That's when she realized just how alone she truly was.

There were no friends or relatives to call. Her son's life-her little Angel-depended entirely on her. But amid the tears and heartbreak, she discovered an unexpected courage. She made herself a promise: she would do whatever it took to protect him and give him the best life possible.

One month later...

"There, there, my love... calm down. Mommy's still sore," Elise whispered, rocking her baby while the pain from childbirth still ached in her body.

She had exhausted every last resource she had. Since her son's birth, she had carried all the responsibilities on her own. The pain was still there, both physical and emotional, but worse yet was the growing lack of food and baby supplies-a living nightmare.

In desperation, she decided to look for a job. She needed money urgently. But the days passed, and no one wanted to hire a woman who had just given birth and carried her baby everywhere she went.

The hunger became unbearable. She hadn't eaten in days, and her milk barely sustained her baby, who cried endlessly. His diaper was soaked, and Elise had no spare to change him.

With her heart pounding, she rushed into the supermarket. She wandered down the aisles, looking around anxiously, and without another thought, she grabbed a pack of diapers. She was about to leave when she bumped into a tall woman, who looked down at her with contempt.

"Mr. Sam, over here!" the woman shouted, pointing at Elise as if she were a dangerous criminal. "Quick! This woman's stealing!"

Elise froze. The color drained from her face. Instinctively, she pulled her baby closer to her chest, as if that small gesture could shield them from the humiliation and the pain. In that moment, she remembered-there was no husband to protect her anymore. She was entirely alone.

"What's going on here? Why all the shouting?"The deep, measured voice of old Sam echoed through the store. He was the supermarket's owner, a man whose tired eyes still held warmth.

The woman didn't hesitate, her voice dripping with scorn."Look at her, Sam. She's using her baby as an excuse to steal. Call the police-this woman belongs behind bars."

Sam turned his gaze toward Elise. Her tear-filled eyes dropped to the floor in shame.

"Is that true, young lady?" the old man asked. His voice wasn't harsh-it was gentle, as if he already sensed the real story behind what he was seeing.

Elise quickly wiped away her tears, ashamed of her appearance and the situation she was in. Her baby continued to cry softly in her arms, as if he too could feel his mother's despair.

"I'm coming, Mr. Matías," Clara replied in a syrupy tone, switching instantly from arrogance to a submissive smile.

The man, clearly impatient, shifted his attention toward Elise and the bag of groceries Sam was packing. His deep, piercing blue eyes lingered for a moment on her exhausted face, then on the small child wrapped in a fraying blanket.

"Is there a problem here?" he asked, his brow slightly furrowed.

Sam shook his head gently and smiled kindly."Nothing that can't be solved with a little compassion, Mr. Matías."

The man nodded, as if those words were enough to understand the situation. Clara scoffed and hurried off to prepare the coffee.

"Thank you, Mr. Sam," Elise whispered, clutching the bag to her chest. "I don't know how to repay you."

"Just take care of your little one and stay strong. And remember-I'll call you if I find something for you," the old man said, patting her shoulder with kindness.

Matías silently watched Elise walk out of the supermarket, her head bowed and her steps unsteady, while her baby nestled close to her chest. Something about that image deeply unsettled him."Sam, who was that woman?" he finally asked, his eyes still fixed on the door that was slowly swinging shut after Elise's departure.

"A mother fighting her way through life, sir. One of those people who just need a chance to make it."Matías said nothing for a moment, then pulled out his wallet and placed a couple of bills on the counter.

"Next time she comes in, make sure she doesn't lack anything. And get me her number, Sam. I might have something for her."Sam smiled knowingly and nodded."I knew you'd say that, Mr. Matías. I just knew it."