Chapter 23

Aurora's POV
The call connected, and my mom’s familiar voice was on the other end. “Hello, Mom?” I greeted, feeling the warmth of her voice that always managed to calm my heart.
“Aurora? How are you, honey?” my mom replied in a caring tone. I could feel the worry creeping into her voice, and it made me smile.
“I’m home from the hospital and feeling much better. The doctor said I just need to get plenty of rest,” I said, trying to convey a sense of calm and optimism.
“Oh, thank goodness! I missed you so much, even though it was only yesterday that I visited you. I was so worried when I heard the news,” my mom said, her voice full of emotion. “Are you really okay? Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Yes, Mom. I’m fine. Right now, I just need some time to relax and not think about things too much,” I replied, trying to ease her worries. “But I want you to know that I’m fine and I’m so grateful to have your support.”
“Okay, honey. The most important thing is your health and my grandchildren. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything. I’ll always be there for you,” my mother said.
Her words warmed my heart. “Thank you, Mom. I’ll remember that. I’ll get ready to introduce you to your grandchildren later!” I said cheerfully.
“Hmm, Mom can’t wait! Now get some rest, okay? I’ll call you back later,” she said, her affection clearly conveyed in every word.
“Okay, Mom. See you!” I replied before hanging up.
After I finished talking, I felt a little relieved. Although there were challenges ahead, I knew that the support of my mother and loved ones would always be there on this journey. Now, I needed to focus on myself and stay calm, so that I could give the best to my children and family.
Although it started with an unexpected wedding—where I had to be a substitute bride for my own sister—I began to think that maybe this was my destiny. Everything felt unfair at first, but as time passed, I began to realize that every step I took brought valuable lessons and experiences.
Maybe God had a bigger plan, and although the path I took was filled with confusion and doubt, I believe there is a deeper meaning behind it all. Being a substitute bride gave me the opportunity to see this world from a different perspective. I never thought that this marriage would bring so many changes to my life.
I learned to accept this situation, even if it felt awkward at first. Learning to know Dante—despite the tension between us—gave me the space to find myself and understand more deeply about love and commitment. In some ways, I began to find beauty in the imperfections that surrounded me.
Every day, on this journey, I discovered new things about myself and the people around me. Maybe, it was because of this marriage that I was able to grow. Realizing that love doesn’t always come in the form we expect, but can grow from relationships built on understanding and acceptance.
With a more open heart, I decided to face every challenge that came, hoping that my destiny would lead me in a better direction. Up until now, I want to believe that everything that happens is part of a bigger plan, and I will go through this journey with all my heart, regardless of how my story began.
*
Today, I feel very excited because I have entered my third month of pregnancy. My stomach is starting to look bloated, indicating that my triplets are growing and developing. A sense of anxiety and happiness enveloped my heart as I prepared for my doctor’s check-up. Today was a highly anticipated day—I wanted to make sure of the condition of my triplets and of course, find out their gender.
Dante drove me to the hospital, and his presence gave me the comfort and support I needed. As we entered the doctor’s office, I felt my heart beating faster. This moment was very important to me—I was very curious about our babies.
My obstetrician, who looked professional with a warm smile, began the examination. “How are you today, ma’am?” she asked in a friendly tone.
“I’m fine, Doc. Very excited to see the condition of these three babies,” I replied, my anticipation growing stronger.
After a few minutes of examination, the Doctor smiled. “I’ll do a check-up to make sure everything is okay. Let’s see how these babies are developing.”
I stared at the monitor screen with a pounding heart. When the pictures of the babies appeared, tears of joy almost welled up in my eyes. Seeing them, even though they were still small, was an amazing sight.
After a while, I couldn’t hold myself back anymore. “What gender are they, Doc?” I asked, hoping to hear good news about our children.
The Doctor nodded, her smile growing wider. “Let’s see. One, two, and three…” she said as she pointed to each picture on the monitor. “Okay, the first baby is a boy, the second is a girl, and the third is also a boy.”
A mixture of happiness and sadness crossed my mind. Three babies—a boy, a girl, and a boy. “Oh, I can’t believe it!” I exclaimed, unable to contain my emotions.
Dante cheered beside me, “This is amazing news! We’re going to have two princes and a princess!”
All the anxiety and doubt I had felt earlier seemed to disappear. In a matter of seconds, I felt more connected to these three babies and grateful for their presence. This had been one of the happiest days of my life, and I felt ready to face whatever was to come next.
I was grateful for all of this. A feeling of happiness flooded my heart, and I felt like I really wanted to share the good news with my sister, Molly. She needed to know that she would soon be an aunt to her nephews and nieces. But for some reason, I was having a hard time reaching her. Molly was out of town, so we didn’t see each other much, and I missed her.