To triplets.
Every inch of my body hurt. My stitches ached with every movement, my hands were still shaking, and I couldn’t remember the last time I had slept for more than a few minutes. My three newborns were still in the NICU, surrounded by machines, fighting bravely through their first hours of life. I had barely been able to touch them.
I kept telling myself that Ryan would walk through the door with flowers, kiss my forehead, and ask when we could finally meet our babies together.
Instead, the door slowly opened.
Ryan stepped inside wearing a perfectly tailored suit. Following closely behind him was Lauren, his executive assistant, carrying a slim leather folder.
Neither of them looked happy to be there.
Ryan didn’t ask how I was feeling.
He didn’t ask about our children.
Without saying another word, he placed the folder on my hospital blanket, close to my IV.
«Sign these,» he said calmly.
I looked down.
Divorce papers.
For several seconds I couldn’t even process what I was seeing.
«Ryan…» I whispered. «Our babies were born only a few hours ago.»
«I know,» he answered without emotion.
His face remained cold.
«It’s time for both of us to move on.»
I stared at him in disbelief.
«We dreamed about this family together.»
A faint, mocking smile crossed his face.
«Look at yourself, Ava. You’re nothing like the woman I married.»
Lauren offered a carefully practiced smile, the kind people use when they want to appear kind without actually feeling any compassion.
«I’m sorry,» she said softly. «Sometimes life changes unexpectedly.»
I looked back at Ryan.
«So she’s the reason you’ve been staying late at work?»
Neither of them answered.
The silence was all the confirmation I needed.
«I almost died bringing our three children into this world,» I said, struggling to hold back tears. «And this is what you came to give me?»
Ryan folded his arms.
«I didn’t come here to argue. Sign the papers, and everything will be easier.»
I slowly pushed the folder back across the bed.
«No.»
His expression hardened.
«What do you mean, no?»
I took a slow breath.
«I haven’t even held all three of my babies yet.»
I looked directly into his eyes.
«If you thought I would give up my marriage, my dignity, and my children’s future while I’m still recovering in a hospital bed, then you never truly knew who I was.»
For the first time since entering the room, Ryan seemed unsure of himself.
Lauren’s confident smile disappeared.
Without another word, I pressed the nurse call button beside my bed.
A nurse entered almost immediately.
«Is everything okay, ma’am?»
I looked straight at Ryan.
«No.»
Then I turned to the nurse.
«I’d like these visitors to leave my room immediately.»
Silence filled the room.
Neither Ryan nor Lauren had expected me to say that.