His Virgin Stripper

28

The rest of the drive was quiet.

I leaned my head against the window, watching the streets blur past us, my thoughts were still tangled, and my chest still heavy but thinking of my son makes it less heavier.

When we finally arrived at the hospital, Elijah parked the car and glanced at me.

"You okay?" he asked softly.

I nodded, even if I wasn't fully sure.

He stepped out first, then walked around to my side, opening the door for me like he always did. His hand found mine naturally, as we walked inside together.

The familiar scent of antiseptic hit me the moment we entered.

My heart started beating faster.

We turned the corner toward the NICU—

And then I froze.

Standing just a few steps away... was someone I didn't expect to see today.

My breath caught in my throat.

She looked different up close. Not the composed, controlled woman I was used to seeing. There was something else in her eyes now.   Something softer and weak.

Like she didn't even know how to face me.

My fingers tightened around Elijah's hand.

"Valerie..." she said, my name barely leaving her lips.

I didn't know if I wanted to run to her... or run away.

And that scared me the most because this person ran away from me multiple times.

"May I speak to you alone?" she asked, her voice careful.

I felt my chest tighten as I squeezed Elijah's hand.

"No," I said, my voice firmer than I expected. "If you want to talk to me, Elijah stays."

She glanced at Elijah, hesitation clear in her eyes, before slowly nodding.

"Alright," she said quietly.

We moved into a smaller, empty room down the hall. The door closed behind us with a soft click, but the tension didn't leave.

For a moment, she just stood there, like she didn't even know where to begin.

Then she finally spoke.

"I didn't come here to hurt you... or blame you," she said, her voice unsteady. "I came because I've been carrying this guilt for almost twenty years. And because I was scared of Richard. Of what he could do."

She swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly.

"Your father... he loved me more than that man ever could. But Richard—he stalked me. Watched me. Controlled everything. And then he threatened my parents. He forced me to marry him."

My chest tightened, but I stayed silent.

"I only found out yesterday that Celestine's accident... wasn't really an accident," she continued, her voice breaking. "She found out the truth. And when Richard realized that... he staged everything. He didn't want me to leave him. Because he knew if Celestine told me, I would."

Tears started falling down her cheeks.

"For ten years, he controlled me... even the way I spoke to her. I thought he cared about her when she fell into a coma. I thought he was just trying to keep her alive." She shook her head weakly. "I didn't know what he was really doing."

I felt my hands clench at my sides.

"Valerie... your sister is here. In this hospital," she said softly. "They're trying to remove everything he put into her. The drugs... the injections. She's very weak. She can't even fight it."

Her voice cracked completely.

"That's what I came to tell you. If you want... you can see her."

She took a shaky breath.

"But please... don't get mad at her. She doesn't know anything. And if she wakes up... she might not be the same. She might act like a child again." Her shoulders shook as she cried. "I'm scared for her... after everything she's been through."

Silence filled the room.

My chest felt like it was caving in.

Then I looked at her—really looked at her.

"Are you even sorry?" I asked. "You treated your own daughter like a dog."

She looked at me, but only for a second before her gaze dropped, like she couldn't bear it.

"Anak kita..." she whispered, her voice breaking. "I was forced to act the way I did."

Her hands trembled as she pressed them together.

"I took care of your baby for two days. I held him... and I kept pretending it was you in my arms. I cried to him, Valerie." A shaky breath escaped her. "Because as your mother... every time I saw you, every time I acted like I hated you... something inside me broke. Akala ko manhid na 'ko, pero hindi pala."

Tears fell freely down her cheeks.

"I left you at the orphanage because you were stronger than your sister. I thought... you'd be safe there." She wiped her face, but her voice only grew weaker. "I left a letter. I said I would come back for you. I asked them to name you Valerie... because that's what your father wanted to name our child."

She looked up at me again, eyes full of guilt.

"I'll accept anything you say to me. I know... what I did is unforgivable. I didn't want to take you back like this—not like this. But I had no choice." Her voice cracked. "I'm so, so sorry, anak."

A sob escaped her.

"I've loved you since you were in my womb. I never hated you... not even once. I hate myself more for everything that happened in your life."

Her shoulders shook as she cried harder.

"You're still so young... and you had to go through all of this."

The room fell silent after her words.

I didn't realize I was shaking until my knees felt weak beneath me.

All the anger, all the confusion, all the pain I had been holding in—it all came crashing down at once.

A broken sob escaped my lips before I could stop it.

My hands covered my face, but it didn't help. The tears just kept falling, heavier now. 

"I... I don't know what to feel," I cried. "I hate you... but I want to understand you. I want to believe you, but—" I shook my head, unable to finish.

Everything felt too much.

Before I could fall apart completely, I felt a pair of arms wrap around me.

Elijah.

He pulled me gently against him, one hand cradling the back of my head, pressing me into his chest.

"It's okay," he murmured softly. "You don't have to figure everything out or say anything right now."

I clutched onto his shirt, gripping it like it was the only thing keeping me grounded.

I just let myself cry.

"I understand... you don't have to forgive me," she said quietly. "I just wanted you to hear my side of the truth. And if you ever need a mother... just know I'll always be here, ready to listen."

Her voice trembled.

"I'll be the mother I was supposed to be. I'll support you... no matter what."

She slowly stood up, hesitating for a moment before turning away.

Unti-unti siyang lumabas ng kwarto, tahimik na isinara ang pinto sa likod niya.