Gabriel's Obsession

Shattered Illusions

Amelia's POV

The sterile white walls of the hospital room had become a strange kind of comfort over the past five days. I had grown used to the quiet hum of machines, the gentle shuffle of nurses' footsteps, and the rhythmic breathing of my newborn daughters as they lay nestled in their cots.

I gazed down at them, marveling at the miracle that had unfolded before me. Their tiny fingers curled around mine in their sleep, soft sighs escaping their rosebud lips. They were perfect. Every time I looked at them, I saw Gabriel reflected in their delicate features—the same deep blue eyes, the same sharp nose. It was almost as if they had borrowed his face while nestled inside me, a silent reminder of the man who had yet to come see them.

A pang of pain lanced through my lower abdomen as I shifted in bed, a stark reminder of the cesarean section I had undergone. The doctors had insisted I remain hospitalized for a few extra days, ensuring that my body had time to recover from the emergency procedure. The nurses had been patient, guiding me through the intricacies of caring for newborns—soothing, diaper changes, and breastfeeding had become second nature to me now. It was exhausting, overwhelming, yet utterly fulfilling in a way I had never imagined.

But even as I held my daughters close, my heart ached with longing for another kind of love—the love of my own family. My mother, my brother... How would they react when they learned I had given birth? My mother had always dreamed of being a grandmother, and my brother—my best friend—would make the most wonderful uncle. I wanted nothing more than to see their joy, to introduce them to my daughters, to share this new chapter of my life with them.

Yet, that choice was not mine to make.

Gabriel held the key to my freedom.

Would he allow me to see my family? To bring them into my daughters' lives? Or would his possessiveness and the secrets of this family keep me caged, bound to a world I no longer fully understood?

The thought sent a shiver through me.

Needing an answer, I summoned a nurse. "Have you contacted my husband? Has he sent word about when he'll be picking us up?"

The nurse's expression faltered slightly, and an uneasy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. "We've called Mr. Hamilton multiple times, but he hasn't answered."

My blood ran cold.

Had he... abandoned us?

The thought was like ice water poured over my skin.

Gabriel had wanted a son. The weight of that expectation had been clear from the beginning. What if he was so disappointed by the birth of twin girls that he couldn't even bear to see us? The idea was absurd—wasn't it? He wouldn't... couldn't just leave us behind.

Hours dragged by in agonizing silence, each minute an eternity. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the walls. The longer Gabriel remained absent, the heavier my chest felt, suffocating under the weight of uncertainty.

I had told myself I wouldn't doubt him, that I wouldn't let fear control me—but how could I not?

Just as the clock neared 7 p.m., the door to my hospital room swung open. A nurse entered, her face calm, her voice gentle.

"Mrs. Hamilton, your ride is here. We're ready to discharge you."

A breath of relief escaped me, though it did little to soothe the storm of questions raging inside me.

Would Gabriel be waiting outside? Would he meet his daughters for the first time with the warmth and love I had prayed for?

With great care, I gathered my twins into my arms, feeling the warmth of their tiny bodies pressed against me. They were my anchors, my reason for moving forward despite the uncertainty. No matter what awaited me beyond these hospital walls, I knew I would protect them with everything I had.