Chapter 3 - THE NIGHT SOFIA WAS BORN
Elena hadn't planned to keep her pregnancy secret.
At first, she'd been excited.
She'd bought tiny yellow socks.
Started a journal.
Imagined Adrian holding their child.
For years, they'd talked about having a family.
Adrian had once told her he wanted a daughter with her eyes.
But by the time Elena discovered she was pregnant, their marriage had become a collection of empty rooms.
Adrian rarely came home before midnight.
When he did, he was distracted.
Angry.
Or exhausted.
Bianca's name appeared constantly on his phone.
Elena tried to speak to him.
He postponed conversations.
Missed appointments.
Forgot dinners.
And once, when she asked him to accompany her to the doctor, he snapped, “Elena, not everything can revolve around you.”
She stopped asking.
At twenty-eight weeks, Elena experienced complications that required close medical monitoring.
She spent several days in the hospital.
Adrian was in Miami with Bianca.
Elena called.
No answer.
She left a message.
No response.
She called again.
His assistant told her he was unavailable.
Eventually, Elena called Adrian's younger sister, Lucia.
Lucia arrived within an hour.
She held Elena's hand.
Brought clean clothes.
And stayed beside her until she was discharged.
Weeks later, Elena went into labor earlier than expected.
Sofia was born small.
Beautiful.
And frighteningly quiet.
For several seconds after delivery, Elena heard only the medical team working.
Then Sofia cried.
Elena cried too.
Lucia stood beside her.
Adrian never knew.
He was attending a private celebration Bianca had arranged in Miami.
Elena sent him a photograph of Sofia through a secure family messaging account.
The message showed as delivered.
He never replied.
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What Elena didn't know was that Bianca had already gained access to the account.
And the message had never reached Adrian's eyes.
