Chapter 3 The Destruction of Elena's World

Elena sat upright in the hospital bed, her face pale and her breathing ragged. She bit her lip, feeling the sharp pain in her stomach. She knew she had to be strong, even if she had to give birth without Antonio reluctantly by her side, even if she signed the hospital documents alone. Placenta Previa made her vulnerable to heavy bleeding, and the baby's heart defect required quick action. She could not wait any longer for the delivery.

"Keep breathing, Elena. You're doing well," the nurse said as she took her hand.

The cry of the baby reached the hearts of everyone in the room after what seemed like an eternity. It touched the hearts of everyone in the room. The doctor removed the baby from Elena's womb.

"Congratulations; it's a boy," said the doctor.

Hearing the doctor's words, Elena slowly opened her eyes. Elena slowly opened her eyes upon hearing the doctor's words, and a faint smile appeared on her lips as tears of joy unconsciously streamed down her face when she saw the little face of her long-awaited baby.

"My baby," Elena said weakly, with a tired smile on her lips.on her lips.

But suddenly the atmosphere turned tense. The doctor noticed unusual signs of the baby.

"Mrs. Elena, your baby is having difficulty breathing," the doctor said in a calm but concerned voice. "We need to take him to the neonatal intensive care unit immediately."

Elena felt her heartbeat quicken and worried about her baby's condition. Tears of joy turned into tears of deep sorrow. She was now overwhelmed with fear for the fate of her baby.

She wanted to accompany her son in the intensive care unit, but the doctors and nurses wouldn't let her because she still needed postpartum care.

A few hours later, still weak, Elena tried to contact her husband to let Antonio know how their baby was doing. However, his calls went unanswered.

"Antonio, our son is born; he needs you," she said softly and desperately.

Meanwhile, on the beautiful beachfront, Antonio was lying with his new wife with their merry laughter. He ignores Elena's phone calls, busy with the romantic moments with Beatrice that are currently his focus.

***

That morning, baby Elena's condition deteriorated suddenly. Doctors and nurses worked hard to stabilize her, trying their best to save her. However, her heart defect and body weakness made it impossible for her to survive any longer. The baby's heartbeat grew weaker and weaker until it stopped altogether.

The doctor came out of the baby's room with a sad face. "Sorry, Mrs. Elena. We've done everything. Your baby is gone."

Elena felt like the world had suddenly collapsed in front of her. She rushed inside and grabbed her baby in her arms.

"No, it's impossible. Please give him back to me." Elena was like a madman who could not accept the harsh reality.

Her heart shattered into pieces as she embraced the lifeless body of her tiny baby. All hopes and dreams for a future with her baby vanished without a trace. She felt a great emptiness in her chest, something indescribable with mere words.

Despair began to creep into Elena's heart as she gazed at her baby's innocent face for the last time.

"She has to live," Elena hissed softly as she kissed her little baby's cheek lovingly. Heavy tears continuously flowed from her eyes, which were glazed over.

Throughout Elena's admission until now, the doctors and nurses who accompanied her expressed sympathy for her plight.

Antonio, who had just arrived in Sicily after his honeymoon, went straight to the hospital with a folder in his hand. He has prepared a plan to divorce Elena after giving birth and will take the child from Elena. When Marco told him that Elena was about to give birth one week ago, Antonio couldn't delay his honeymoon with his new wife. He thinks going on a honeymoon is more fun than having to accompany Elena in labor.

However, how surprised he was when he got the news of his son's death from the nurse he met in Elena's delivery room. With hasty and emotional steps, Antonio rushed to the mortuary without hesitation.

As the door to the mortuary opened, the smell of formalin immediately pierced Antonio's nose as he stepped into the cold room. He saw Elena sobbing next to her son's body, lying lifeless on the autopsy table.

"You are a useless woman, Elena. You can't be a wife; look at you; you can't be a wonderful mother to my son!" Antonio hissed in a cynical and hateful tone.

Elena turned her head slowly, her eyes still glazed over from the tears that never stopped flowing. A look of emotion was clear in her eyes when she saw her husband in front of her. A figure so cruel.

"Antonio, what are you saying? Do you think I wanted all this?" Elena glared at her husband.

"Don't talk so much! Hurry up and sign the divorce papers; we're getting divorced right now!" urged Antonio mercilessly as he handed her a piece of paper.

"Antonio, you are a heartless man. Our baby just died, and you're divorcing me. Don't you have a shred of compassion for me?" asked Elena in a hoarse voice.

At this, Antonio just laughed sarcastically and replied coldly, "Mercy? I've lost everything because of you! Our son died because of your negligence as a mother."

Elena felt like she was being stabbed by those scathing words. With a heavy and trembling heart, she finally signed the divorce papers.

"Very good," Antonio said, with no pity on his face. "From now on, you will no longer come to my house. The death of our child is the result of your fault and your negligence of your womb," Antonio continued in a cold voice. "Then take care of things yourself. I won't give you a penny for his funeral expenses." Antonio quickly left Elena's presence.

Desperate, Elena could only bow her head as Antonio left her alone in the mortuary. Tears began to well up in her eyes as her heart ached so deeply. At this moment, she really felt very down. Luckily, the hospital offered her a free funeral for her baby in the backyard of the hospital.

After the funeral of her baby, Elena's mind was blank, not knowing where to go and what she was going to do now. Her footsteps were shaky as she hobbled down the hospital hallway. The milk in her chest was still full, but her son had already left her.

Suddenly, from behind the wall, a hand came up and smothered Elena from behind. Without being able to fight back, Elena lost consciousness. As the world began to blur before her eyes, she vaguely saw two figures wearing masks-one male and one female nurse-approaching. They sat the unconscious Elena in a wheelchair, then quickly and silently pushed her out of the hospital. In the corner of a darkened hallway, mysterious shadows watched, making sure that no one noticed them. And then they vanished into the deep night.