Unbroken Vows

Chapter 17

Tul lay in his hospital bed, the soft cries of his newborn son filling the air. His body felt weak, but his heart swelled with love as he gazed down at the tiny baby in his arms. He was fragile, but beautiful — a perfect little boy. Tul’s tears fell freely, mixing pain with the overwhelming joy of holding his son. His entire world condensed into this moment, the baby’s warmth the only comfort he had known in a long time.

Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the silence. His mother stood at the foot of his bed, her presence like a cold gust of wind.

"Mama…" Tul whispered, his voice trembling as he looked at her.

Without acknowledging his emotion, his mother looked down at the child and said harshly, "I hope you’ve finally learned your lesson, Tul."

The words stung like daggers. His throat tightened as he fought back a sob, clutching his baby closer. “Mama, please… just look at him. Look at your grandson…”

She ignored his plea, her tone cutting deeper. "Loving a man? You still don’t understand, do you? Men are harsh, Tul. They are brutal, unforgiving. You should know that better than anyone." Her voice wavered, but her expression remained cold.

Tul’s heart raced. Every word felt like a new wound opening up, bleeding out all the hope he had left. “Why, Mama? Why are you saying this?” he asked, barely able to speak. "Is love really such a terrible thing?"

His mother’s gaze hardened. "You were raised to follow the rules of society. Look at yourself now— tainted, weak. You are a disgrace. Do you think you deserve to be loved by anyone? You have daughters— how will they face the world knowing their father is nothing more than a broken man who couldn’t even protect himself?"

Tul’s chest tightened painfully. His arms instinctively curled around his newborn, shielding him from the harshness of her words. He tried to steady his breath, his vision blurring with tears. "Mama… don’t do this. Please…"

But his mother had more to say. “You destroyed yourself, Tul. Look at the life you chose— living as a man, and still, you managed to carry children. You’ve played with nature, and it will never forgive you. Do you think society will accept you as you are? No one will respect you, Tul.”

His world spun. He felt trapped in his body, the words swirling around him like a storm he couldn’t escape. "What do you want me to do, Mama? I’ve done everything… I’ve tried…"

His mother crossed her arms, her voice cold. "Leave the boy here, Tul. And your daughters. Come back with me, and maybe, just maybe, we can make something of you again."

At that moment, the door opened, and Tul’s heart stopped. In walked Max, with the same smug expression he had worn during every nightmare Tul had endured. He sauntered into the room, his eyes locking onto Tul, and a sinister smile curled on his lips.

"Tul…" Max said, his voice like poison. "It’s been a while, hasn’t it?"

Tul couldn’t speak. His mouth went dry, and his body froze as Max approached.

"You’re wondering why, aren’t you? Why all of this? Why you?" Max tilted his head, his eyes narrowing. "I’ll tell you. It’s because of you that I lost everything. You humiliated me back in high school, remember? I was exploring my own desires, and you slapped me in front of everyone."

A flash of memory returned to Tul— a younger version of himself standing up to Max’s advances, his hand connecting with Max’s cheek in an act of defiance. "You…"

"Yes," Max interrupted. "Because of you, I was thrown out. Do you know what they did to me? The beatings, the humiliation… I lost my family, my life. And I swore I would destroy yours in return."

"You destroyed yourself, Max," Tul managed to choke out. "Everything you did after that— you did it to yourself. I didn’t ruin your life. You chose this path."

Max’s face twisted with rage, but before he could say anything, Tul’s brother entered the room, holding a baby boy in his arms. The tension in the room shifted as Tul’s brother said, "Mama, we have to leave now."

Tul’s heart shattered as he saw the boy— his sister-in-law had given birth the same day. His brother turned to Tul and coldly added, "If you want to come back with us, you know the condition."

His mother stepped forward and looked down at Tul. "Sign the papers, Tul. Leave the boy, erase your name from his life. Mew’s parents have already agreed to adopt him, and they’ll give him the future you never could. You don’t belong here. Come home, and we’ll take care of you."

They handed him the papers— divorce papers, adoption papers, the final nails in the coffin of everything Tul held dear.

Tul stared at the documents in disbelief, his trembling hands clutching them. His mind raced, trying to find an escape, but every path led to more pain. His children’s future was now on the line.

Mew’s parents… they had orchestrated everything. They wanted to erase his existence, erase him from Mew’s life, from his children’s lives.

"Mama… you can’t ask me to do this… not my children…" Tul whispered, tears falling freely now.

His mother’s face remained emotionless. "You will sign, or you will lose everything."

Max smirked in the background, watching Tul break apart.

Tul’s hands shook as he picked up the pen. His mind screamed at him to stop, to fight, but his heart was tired, broken beyond repair. He glanced at his son— the tiny life he had fought so hard to protect— and then at the daughters he loved so deeply. He thought of Mew, of the life they had once shared, and how that life was now beyond his reach.

He signed.

The room felt cold and empty as he handed the papers back, sealing his fate. His mother gave him a nod, the only sign of approval she had ever shown. "Come, Tul. Let’s go."

Tul stood, his legs shaking beneath him. As he left the room, the last sound he heard was the soft cry of his newborn son, a cry that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

To be continued.