“Hailey, you need to understand—”

“No.”

My voice stayed calm.

“I need you to answer the question.”

He looked toward the floor.

“My mother thought you wouldn’t be able to care for twins while recovering.”

“That wasn’t her decision.”

“I know.”

“And it wasn’t yours to make without talking to me.”

“I was scared.”

“So was I.”

Mark stepped closer.

“I thought I was helping.”

“You let me wake up without knowing where my own child was.”

He had no answer.

I looked at Martin sleeping peacefully in my arms.

Then I pressed the call button beside my bed.

When Judy entered, I said only one thing.

“I want to see my other son.”

PART 2

Twenty minutes later, Judy wheeled me carefully through the neonatal wing.

My heart pounded harder with every turn.

Then we reached a quiet room.

A nurse opened the door.

Inside was a small bassinet.

And there he was.

My second baby.

Sleeping peacefully beneath a pale blue blanket.

I covered my mouth.

Tears immediately filled my eyes.

“He’s okay?”

“He’s doing very well,” the nurse said gently.

I reached down and touched his tiny hand.

His fingers curled around mine.

That was the moment the fear finally broke.

He was here.

He was safe.

And nobody had taken him away.

I looked at Judy.

“What happens now?”

“The hospital has temporarily paused all outside placement paperwork while legal and compliance teams review whether proper consent was obtained.”

I nodded.

“Good.”

Mark appeared several minutes later.

His mother Wendy was with him.

The moment she walked into the room, she began explaining herself.

“Hailey, please understand. We were thinking about what would be easiest for you.”

I turned toward her.

“Easiest for me?”

“You nearly went through a medical crisis.”

“So you made decisions about my child without me?”

Wendy folded her arms.

“You weren’t in a position to decide anything.”

Judy immediately stepped between the conversation and the bassinet.

“This isn’t the place for an argument.”

I looked at Mark.

“Did you sign those documents?”

He nodded.

“Did you tell anyone I agreed?”

He didn’t answer.

That silence told me enough.

“I want both of you to leave.”

Wendy’s expression hardened.

“You’re being emotional.”