CHAPTER 3 — PART 2
CHAPTER 3 — PART 2
The only sound coming from the phone was the ragged sobbing of a grown man whose entire world had just fallen apart.
Arturo had worshiped his mother.
There had been times when his devotion bordered on blind obedience.
But he wasn't a fool.
He had heard everything.
Every accusation.
The sickening thud of my body striking the incubator.
Mateo's frantic alarms screaming through the NICU.
Dr. Robles' forensic explanation.
And finally...
His own mother's voice.
Calling our son a mistake.
Calling me worthless.
There was no room left for doubt.
No excuse left to hide behind.
"I heard you, Mom..."
Arturo finally spoke.
His voice was so hollow...
So utterly devoid of life...
That a chill ran through me.
"I heard what you called my son."
"I heard the way you've treated Valeria."
He took a shaky breath.
"I always believed you."
"Every single time."
"When Valeria told me you humiliated her..."
"I convinced myself she was exaggerating."
"When you said she needed to stop acting weak..."
"I believed you."
"When you insisted I leave her alone in the hospital because she needed to 'learn to be strong'..."
"I believed you."
His voice cracked.
"But all you wanted..."
"...was to wait until I wasn't there."
"So you could destroy her."
A long silence followed.
Then came the words that shattered everyone in the room.
"You almost killed my son, Mom."
"You almost scared him to death with your madness."
"No, Arturo!"
Leticia collapsed onto her knees.
The same spotless hospital floor where, only minutes earlier, she had demanded that I crawl before her.
"My son, please!"
"For everything you hold dear..."
"Don't say that!"
"I'm your mother!"
"I gave you everything!"
"I paid for the best schools!"
"I bought your apartment!"
"I got you your position in your uncles' company!"
"You can't throw me away for some second-rate woman!"
"She'll ruin you!"
"She'll take all your money!"
Arturo answered almost immediately.
"The only person who ruined me..."
"...was you."
His crying stopped.
When he spoke again...
His voice had changed completely.
Cold.
Steady.
Final.
"I don't want you anywhere near my home again."
"I don't want you anywhere near my wife."
"And if Dr. Robles and Valeria decide to press criminal charges..."
"I'll testify against you myself."
"I'll stand in front of the judge..."
"...and make sure you spend the rest of your life in prison."
"As far as I'm concerned..."
"My mother died today."
"Arturo!"
"Arturo, please!"
"Don't hang up!"
Leticia screamed into the phone.
The only answer she received was the sharp tone signaling the end of the call.
Dr. Robles calmly lowered the phone.
He slipped it back into the pocket of his white coat without saying a word.
He looked at the woman kneeling on the floor with absolute indifference.
A moment later...
The sliding doors of the NICU opened once again.
Three hospital security officers entered alongside the unit supervisor.
All of them immediately understood that something serious had happened.
"Dr. Robles," the supervisor said.
"We received a report of violence in this unit."
"That's correct, Dr. Martínez," Dr. Robles replied.
He gestured toward Leticia, who remained on the floor, trembling with humiliation and rage.
"This woman entered the NICU without proper authorization or full protective equipment."
"She physically assaulted the patient's mother."
"And most importantly..."
"She intentionally injured an extremely premature newborn."
"The assault triggered severe oxygen desaturation and an acute physiological stress response."
"I need her placed under supervision in the Medical Director's office immediately."
"The Metropolitan Police and the District Attorney's Office have already been notified."
"They're on their way."
Leticia struggled to stand.
She tried desperately to reclaim even a fragment of the dignity she had lost.
But her legs shook so violently that one of the security officers instinctively reached out to steady her.
The moment his hand touched her arm...
She exploded.
"Take your filthy hands off me!"
She jerked violently against his grip.
"You have no idea who you're dealing with!"
"My attorney will have every one of you behind bars before tomorrow morning!"
Then her eyes found mine.
Pure hatred burned inside them.
"This isn't over, Valeria!"
"You'll pay for this!"
"I swear on my husband's grave..."
"I'll destroy your life if it's the last thing I ever do!"
"Remove her."
Dr. Martínez's voice cut through the room like steel.
He didn't even acknowledge her threats.
The security officers exchanged a brief glance.
Then they each took one of Leticia's arms.
She kicked.
Twisted.
Shrieked.
Her insults echoed down the hallway as they dragged her toward the exit.
The elegant, untouchable Mrs. Leticia Garza...
Reduced to screaming obscenities while being escorted from the hospital.
Her voice grew fainter...
And fainter...
Until the heavy entrance doors finally slammed shut behind her.
Silence returned to the NICU.
Only the familiar rhythm of monitors and ventilators remained.
For the first time that day...
May you like
The room could breathe again.
(End of Chapter 3 – Part 2)
