Do you hate my mother?
Austin, please don’t leave me. I can’t live without you. I love you. I even gave up our baby for you. Why are you doing this to me? What did I do to deserve this? You think you did the right thing by leaving me, but you’re wrong.
Dora’s words cut deep, her tears and the pain in her eyes begging Austin to stay. But he didn’t care. Every time she tried to talk to him, he couldn’t see past the lies Ruby had planted in his mind. Ruby knew how much Austin hated being betrayed, and she used that to turn him against Dora.
If it weren’t for chance, running into Dora at the club or seeing her at work, Austin might have never known the truth. He would have stayed stuck in Ruby’s web of lies, divorced from the woman who loved him most. Dora had trusted him completely, but he broke that trust. And now, life was giving him a taste of his own medicine. His own mother had betrayed him too.
Back when Austin wanted to end things with Dora, his mother had stopped him, warning him that Dora would manipulate him for another chance. But the truth was, it was his mother who had been controlling him all along. Dora had always been honest and open.
Dora had loved Austin so much that she had even given up their child to save their marriage. And what did he do? After two years, he called her terrible names, knowing how much she valued her self-respect. No matter how hard she tried to reach out, he pushed her away. Now, the tables had turned. She was the one pushing him away.
Meanwhile, at Sienna’s apartment:
“I made white sauce pasta for you,” Sienna said proudly. Cooking wasn’t her thing, but with everything Dora was going through, Sienna wanted to distract her.
As soon as Dora smelled the food, she covered her mouth and ran to the bathroom.
“What’s wrong?” Sienna asked, sniffing the pasta nervously. She knew it might not be perfect, but she didn’t expect Dora to react so strongly.
Sienna followed Dora and held her hair back to keep it clean. “My cooking isn’t that bad,” Sienna joked, though she was worried.
“I’m sorry,” Dora said after washing up. “I just couldn’t handle the smell.”
“You’re acting like you’re pregnant or something,” Sienna said, rolling her eyes. But then, both of them went quiet. The room felt heavy, the only sound the water running in the sink.
Everything started to make sense, Dora’s lack of appetite lately, her constant tiredness, her mood swings, and the tears that came out of nowhere.
“I can’t be, Sienna… can I?” Dora asked, her voice shaky.
“It was only one time,” Dora said, trying to convince herself. She had told Sienna about that night when Austin had forced himself back into her life.
“Of course, it’s not possible,” Sienna said, trying to sound sure, but neither of them believed it.
Austin stood by the sea, the gray sky and light rain matching his mood. Dora’s face kept appearing in his mind, the hurt in her eyes when he had called her awful names and thrown money at her. He finally understood how much he had broken her. She had been so shattered that she had tried to end her life.
“Are you trying to push her to that point again?” Sienna’s anger toward him now made sense.
Piece by piece, Austin realized how much he had destroyed the woman he claimed to love. The worst part was that Dora had no idea about any of it. His guilt was eating him alive.
Their child.
He remembered how happy Dora had been when she told him they were going to have a baby. But he had crushed her joy with his distrust. If he were in her place, he would have given up on their marriage long ago. But not Dora. She had held onto hope, believing their love could overcome everything.
His thoughts were interrupted by his ringing phone. He got into his car to answer it. After hearing the news, he dropped his phone in shock. He rushed to the hospital, where his mother was in surgery.
“Abi,” Paulina called out weakly, stumbling toward him. He caught her before she fell.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she cried, clinging to his shirt.
“How…” Austin started, but the words stuck in his throat. He couldn’t bring himself to finish the question.
“I don’t know much,” Paulina said, her voice trembling. “A nurse came rushing to me and asked about Ruby. People said she was running on the road when a car hit her.”
Austin closed his eyes, realizing it had happened when Ruby was chasing after him. She knew how much he hated betrayal, and the thought of losing him had driven her to panic. He leaned against the wall, holding Paulina in his arms. The weight of guilt pressed down on him—he knew he was partly responsible for his mother’s condition.
After helping Paulina sit in a chair, Austin stood there, staring at the bright light above the operation room. For two hours, he begged Paulina to go back to her ward, but she refused. His heart raced every time a nurse rushed in or out, carrying blood bags. None of them gave him a clear answer. He felt numb, torn between anger at his mother for ruining his marriage and fear for her life. Seeing her like this, he couldn’t bring himself to think about her betrayal.
Finally, the doctor stepped out of the operating room. Austin and Paulina rushed toward him.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Jess. We did our best. Now, it’s up to your mother,” the doctor said.
“What do you mean?” Austin asked, his voice tight with worry.
In the doctor’s office, the man explained, “By the time she arrived, she had lost a lot of blood. The impact caused a serious head injury. The brain needs a constant supply of oxygen, and the blood loss has affected that. She’s in a coma now.”
He paused, letting the news sink in. “When or if, she wakes up, it will depend on her will to live.”
Paulina broke down, sobbing beside Austin. “It’s all my fault, Abi. It’s my fault,” she cried, clutching his arm.
Ruby was moved to a private room. Soon after, Austin’s father, Noah, arrived straight from the airport.
“Dad,” Austin said, rushing to him like a scared child. He hugged his father tightly.
“How’s your mother?” Noah asked.
When Austin didn’t answer, Noah looked at Paulina, who lowered her head.
“What the hell happened? Why is Paulina in a hospital gown?” Noah demanded.
“I’m sorry, Uncle. It’s all…” Paulina began, but Austin stopped her.
“You can visit the patient, but only one person can stay,” a nurse interrupted.
Noah went into the room, with Austin supporting him. The sight of Ruby, lifeless and battered, drained the energy from Noah. Just days ago, she had been alive and well. Now, she lay in a hospital bed.
“Oh, God,” Noah gasped, his voice breaking.
Seeing his father’s pain, Austin decided not to tell him the full story yet. When the nurse said only one person could stay, Austin and Paulina left quietly. They walked to Paulina’s ward without speaking.
Once Paulina was settled in bed, Austin asked, “Do you hate my mother?”
When she didn’t answer, he understood. He turned to leave.
“Even if I wanted to, I can’t,” Paulina said honestly, looking him in the eye. “She’s already suffered for what she did.”
“What about you?” Paulina asked, noticing his silence.
Austin took a deep breath. “I don’t hate her, but… until you and Dora forgive me, I can’t forgive her,” he said, a tear slipping down his cheek.
Paulina gently wiped the tear away. “It’s not your fault. You don’t need to ask for forgiveness.”
“But what about you now?” Austin asked, concerned.
“You said you’d marry me,” Paulina said with a straight face, then burst out laughing at his shocked expression. “Got you,” she said between laughs.
Seeing her laugh, Austin hugged her tightly, as if to comfort her and himself. “Everything will be alright,” he whispered.
“I know it will,” Paulina said, rubbing his back. “Let’s go. We both need rest.”
After everything that had happened, Austin couldn’t face Dora yet. He needed time to gather himself. He drove to his apartment, knowing Dora was safe with Sienna.
Meanwhile, Dora had never waited for a day as anxiously as she did now. She needed answers, or rather, confirmation of what she already suspected.
“Stop tapping your foot. It’s annoying,” Sienna said, placing a hand on Dora’s leg.
“Sorry,” Dora mumbled.
“Mrs. Dora Nur, your reports are ready. The doctor wants to see you,” the receptionist called out.
Dora and Sienna went into the doctor’s office. “Ah, Dora, good to see you again. Your reports look fine. Congratulations, you’re seven weeks pregnant,” the doctor said in her usual professional tone.
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