Chapter 1: What the Blanket Was Hiding
Chapter 1: What the Blanket Was Hiding
The blanket fell to the floor.
Alejandro froze.
Valeria's body was covered in fading bruises.
Purple fingerprints wrapped around both wrists.
Dark marks stained her ribs.
A fresh bruise curved across her shoulder.
But it wasn't the injuries that stole the air from his lungs.
It was the hospital monitor beside the bed.
Its screen flashed steadily.
High-Risk Pregnancy. Complete Bed Rest.
A thick medical folder lay open on the nightstand.
Across the front page, in bold red letters, were the words:
PATIENT SUFFERING SEVERE STRESS-INDUCED UTERINE CONTRACTIONS. RISK OF PREMATURE DELIVERY.
Alejandro stared.
"What..."
His voice failed.
Valeria slowly covered her face.
"I didn't want you to find out like this."
He picked up the folder with trembling hands.
Inside were months of reports.
Emergency room visits.
Photographs of bruises.
Psychological evaluations.
Every report documented the same concern.
Patient reports emotional abuse inside the family home.
His knees weakened.
"No..."
May you like
Valeria whispered through tears,
"I kept hoping you'd finally see what was happening."
