“I can’t come right now, Auntie,” Bayu said flatly.
“Bayu, your wife is about to give birth! This is your child!” Auntie Surti snapped, unable to contain her emotions. But Bayu’s response was cold and devastating.
“I’m on my honeymoon with my new wife. Don’t bother us.”
Those words felt like a sledgehammer striking Lina’s chest. She burst into tears, but tried to hold them back in front of Auntie Surti. “Auntie, what... what am I to him? How could he do this to me?” Lina whispered, tears streaming down her face.
“Lin, be patient, sweetheart. Don’t think about an irresponsible man like that. Focus on your baby. The baby needs you,” Auntie Surti said, stroking Lina’s hair, even though Bayu’s words had torn at her own heart.
Mr. Kardi was just as furious about what Bayu had done. The car continued speeding toward the maternity hospital.
The doctor examining Lina let out a long sigh. “Her condition is quite serious. Mrs. Lina needs to be referred to a larger hospital immediately. The fetus is weak, and the mother is suffering from severe exhaustion. She will most likely need a C-section.”
Hearing that, Lina gripped Auntie Surti’s hand even tighter. She felt her world collapsing all over again. The surgery would certainly be expensive, and she knew very well that Bayu had taken all her savings. Her tears fell again. All she could do was look at her belly and whisper, “Sweetheart, Mommy will do everything she can. Please don’t leave Mommy, okay?”
Auntie Surti and Mr. Kardi quickly handled the referral. Though their money was limited, they were determined to get Lina to the hospital for the safety of both mother and baby. “Don’t worry, Lin. We’re here for you,” Mr. Kardi said, trying to reassure her.
At the larger hospital, Lina was taken into the operating room. Her tears would not stop, not only because of the physical pain but also because of the pain in her heart. When her baby was born with a tiny cry that echoed through the room, Lina shed tears of happiness mixed with sorrow. She held the baby in her trembling arms, gazing at the tiny, innocent face.
“Sweetheart, forgive Mommy. Mommy is the only one here for you,” she whispered, then kissed her baby’s forehead.
Mr. Kardi and Auntie Surti smiled tearfully as they looked at the baby, even though they knew Lina’s wounds were still far from healed. “Lin, look. Your baby is healthy and handsome. This is your reason to keep going,” Auntie Surti said gently.
Yet deep in Lina’s heart, the sense of loss and betrayal continued to haunt her. Bayu’s voice, choosing to honeymoon with another woman instead of being there for her, kept echoing in her mind.
Amid it all, Lina realized one thing: though she had lost the figure of a husband, she now had someone far more precious—her baby. “I have to be strong,” Lina said softly, looking at the baby in her arms. Though her heart was shattered, she knew her love for the baby had to be greater than all her pain.
Lina gazed at her baby boy, who was fast asleep on her lap. His tiny, innocent face seemed to remind her that her life was not completely ruined. “Sweetheart, you’re Mommy’s reason to keep living. Mommy will protect you, no matter what,” she whispered, the tears in her eyes beginning to dry.
The days after giving birth felt like an endless dream to Lina. On one hand, she was grateful that her baby had been born safely despite the difficult ordeal. Yet Bayu’s betrayal continued to haunt her. The cold voice of her husband as he spoke on the phone, as if confirming that he had truly abandoned her, kept ringing in her mind.
Auntie Surti and Mr. Kardi remained faithfully by Lina’s side. They made sure Lina received nutritious food and enough rest, even though they had to cut back more than usual. Auntie Surti even pawned some of her land to help cover the costs of Lina’s surgery and care, while Mr. Kardi also helped give Lina some money to live on.
“Lin, don’t think too much. What matters now is that you focus on taking care of your baby,” Mr. Kardi said one night when he saw Lina sitting lost in thought.
Lina nodded weakly. “Thank you, Mr. Kardi, Auntie. I don’t know how I would have gotten through all this without you,” she replied hoarsely.
Auntie Surti only smiled gently. “Lin, you’re family to us. If we don’t help you, who will?”
Auntie Surti hugged her niece, giving her comfort after her husband’s betrayal. She had never imagined Bayu could be so heartless. Many men practiced polygamy but still stayed by their other wives’ sides during childbirth and provided for them, unlike Bayu. He didn’t just refuse to provide for his wife—he had the nerve to take her savings and use them to pay for another wedding with his ex-wife, the woman who had abandoned him when he had nothing and had now returned after Bayu found a fairly good job. All Auntie Surti could do was let out a heavy sigh.
After returning from the hospital
The long nights often felt lonely to Lina. When her baby slept, Lina would often sit on the edge of the bed and gaze at the moon in the sky. She remembered the happy times she had shared with Bayu, before everything changed. But she realized that dwelling on the past would only pull her deeper into sadness.
Now she had a huge responsibility. Her baby was a new hope she had to fight for. Even alone, she was determined to become a strong mother who could give her child a decent life.
“Bayu may have abandoned us, but Mommy will never abandon you,” Lina murmured as she gently stroked her baby’s little head.
Time passed. Lina’s heart had not completely healed, but every small smile from her baby gave her new strength to move forward. Though the world felt unfair, Lina promised herself she would rise again.
Life as a single mother was not easy, but Lina knew one thing: a mother’s love could overcome pain and betrayal. Now she no longer lived only for herself, but for the little baby who needed her love.
Lina looked ahead with a heart that was slowly growing stronger. She knew the road before her was still long and full of obstacles, but she was ready to face them all. Because true love was in her arms—her baby.
“Stay strong, Lina...” Lina encouraged herself.
After her baby fell asleep, Lina got out of bed and went to the kitchen to prepare the food she would deliver the next day. Lina had several places where she left her products on consignment. Sometimes she also accepted orders for boxed meals and lunch boxes. That was how she had managed to save money, but sadly, her husband had already taken her savings.
Brrr... Brrr... Brrr...
Suddenly, her phone rang. Lina, who was making pastel filling at the time, looked at the screen to see who was calling her so late at night.
“Bayu...”
Seeing her husband’s number, Lina was overwhelmed by mixed emotions. She grabbed a cloth and wiped her hands before answering Bayu’s call.
“Lina, sell our wedding ring. I need the money!”