Betrayal
Days turned into weeks. Emma tried to stay strong for her baby, but depression crept in. Daniel visited less and less, always “busy with errands.” And then came Margaret Reed — her mother-in-law — revealing her true nature.
“Pathetic,” Margaret sneered one morning as Emma struggled to lift a spoon. “You can’t even feed yourself, and you think you can raise a child?”
“Please, Mrs. Reed,” Emma whispered, tears streaming down her face. “Just give me time. I’ll recover. I promise.”
But Margaret’s contempt only deepened. She blamed Emma for “ruining her son’s life,” insisting Daniel deserved better than a “crippled wife.”
One afternoon, Margaret stormed in, fury burning in her eyes. “You’ll never touch him again!” she screamed.
Emma froze. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re not fit to be a mother!” Margaret shouted. “You can’t walk, can’t work — you can’t even change a diaper!”
Emma’s heart pounded. “Please… he’s all I have…”
Before she could finish, Margaret struck her so hard the room spun. The older woman ripped Noah from her arms as Emma screamed.
“No! Don’t take him! He’s my son!”
