The doctor met his gaze. \u201cExactly. And in this hospital, a woman is no one\u2019s property.\u201d<\/p>\n
The words landed heavily. Lucia had never seen anyone challenge Raul so directly. For years, he controlled every room he entered, often supported by his mother, Mrs. Eulalia, who always defended him in the name of family and tradition.<\/p>\n
Moments later, Mrs. Eulalia rushed into the room. Her concern was not for Lucia but for her son.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did they do to Raul?\u201d she demanded.<\/p>\n
The doctor explained Lucia\u2019s injuries and revealed that she was pregnant.<\/p>\n
Instead of joy, a strange expression crossed Mrs. Eulalia\u2019s face. She looked alarmed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat can\u2019t be,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n
Raul turned sharply toward her. \u201cWhy can\u2019t it be?\u201d<\/p>\n
She hesitated before replying, \u201cThis woman is devious. Who knows who the father is?\u201d<\/p>\n
Pain shot through Lucia\u2019s body as she struggled to sit up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have never been with another man,\u201d she said firmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up!\u201d Raul shouted.<\/p>\n
The doctor stepped forward immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cLower your voice or I\u2019ll call security.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Raul wasn\u2019t looking at Lucia anymore. He was staring at his mother.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would you say that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs. Eulalia tightened her grip on her rosary.<\/p>\n
\u201cA mother knows things,\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n
For the first time, doubt appeared in Raul\u2019s eyes\u2014not toward Lucia, but toward the woman who had spent his entire life telling him what to believe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The doctor met his gaze. \u201cExactly. And in this hospital, a woman is no one\u2019s property.\u201d The words landed heavily. Lucia had never seen anyone challenge Raul so directly. For years, he controlled every...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n