Dawn slowly rose over Lyon, with a golden light sliding between the red rooftops of the Fourvière hill. Elise walked slowly through the small apartment in Croix-Rousse, with one hand resting on her round belly, almost ready for delivery. Each step required great effort, but still, tenderly, she whispered:
“Hold on a little longer, love… it won’t be long, we’ll finally meet.”
Marc, on the other hand, didn’t even glance at her.
Since the pregnancy started, the attentive man she once knew had turned into a complete stranger. Everything bothered him: the smell of food, her restless nights, her shallow breathing. He treated Elise as if motherhood had made her invisible.
One evening, while she carefully folded the baby’s clothes, he spoke in a dry voice:
“Next month, you’ll give birth at your parents’ house in Annecy. Everything is too expensive here. There, a midwife will take care of you for almost nothing. I’m not going to waste my money.”
Elise felt tears welling up in her eyes.
“But Marc… I’m nine months pregnant. The trip is long… I could give birth on the way…”
He shrugged indifferently.
“That’s your problem. At least there you’ll stop complaining.”
That night, Elise realized that the man she loved no longer existed.
Two days later, with a heavy heart, she boarded a TGV heading to Annecy with an old suitcase. Her mother awaited her at the station. Seeing her arrive so pale, Madame Fontaine gently embraced her.
“My love… you’re home. Let me take care of you.”
Meanwhile, in Lyon, Marc hurried to Chloe Morel’s house, his young assistant. She was also pregnant and had assured him the baby would be a boy. Marc felt almost victorious.
“Finally, an heir!” he proudly repeated.
He spared no expense: a private suite at a clinic, luxury services, over 8,000 euros already paid.
The day of the birth arrived with a huge bouquet of tulips. When the baby was born, he immediately sent a photo to all his contacts:
“My son! He looks just like me!”
But his joy was short-lived.
A nurse asked him to sign some documents. He confidently walked toward the neonatal area… until, in front of the door, he saw Madame Fontaine, arms crossed and a sharp gaze.
“Madame Fontaine? What are you doing here?” he stammered.
Calmly, she placed a box of baby formula on the table.
“I came to see my son-in-law. And the child you’re so proud of.”
“You’re mistaken… Chloe is just a friend…” he tried to explain.
But Madame Fontaine raised her hand to stop him. She pulled out an envelope from her purse.
“Do you know what this is? A DNA test. I requested it right after the birth.”
She slowly placed the document in front of him.
“Look closely… this child is not yours, Marc. Not a single match.”
Marc paled.
“It’s impossible… Chloe told me that…”
Madame Fontaine let out a bitter laugh.
“You kicked my daughter out because she was expecting a girl. You threw her out of her home to save a few euros. And for another woman, you spent thousands. For what? To find out you weren’t raising your son, but someone else’s child.”
She put the papers away and headed for the door. Before leaving, she added calmly:
“Elise is fine. She gave birth to a beautiful, healthy girl. And don’t worry… she already has a father by her side. But it’s not you. From today, my daughter and granddaughter no longer need a man who’s incapable of facing the consequences of his actions.”
The door closed, leaving Marc collapsed in a chair. The cry of a newborn echoed in the hallway; just hours earlier, he would have considered it a miracle. Now, he only heard a cruel reminder of his own downfall.
Weeks later, the clinic notified him of a bill exceeding 12,000 euros. Chloe had disappeared, leaving all the expenses in his name. The apartment he had bought was seized. He lost his savings. And his pride.
In Annecy, Elise gradually regained her strength. The sunset reflected on the turquoise lake while Madame Fontaine watched her rock her baby on the terrace.
“Do you see, my dear? Life always puts everyone in their place. You have love. He… is left with his mistakes.”
Elise kissed her daughter’s forehead, a sweet smile lighting up her face. The warm air descended from the mountains, gently moving the apple tree leaves in the garden.
And for the first time in a long time, Elise breathed in peace.