When Robert arrived at the hospital following his wife’s delivery, he discovered she’d vanished without a trace, abandoning their newborn triplets. But years later, their paths crossed again when Robert received an unexpected visitor one afternoon.
Robert met Julia while they were both studying journalism at California State University. Julia was stunning and charming, and Robert had fallen head over heels for her long before he realized it.
Fatefully, Julia felt likewise for Robert, and that’s how their romance began. One month after dating, Robert suggested they move in together, and Julia happily agreed to it.
Their college years flew by quickly and peacefully, and the lovely couple decided to marry soon after graduation. However, things began to fall apart when Robert expressed his desire to have children and start a family, and Julia was anything but impressed by the idea.
“I don’t want to have a baby so soon, Robert,” she said emphatically. “You can talk about it e
asily now that you have a stable job. I’m still thinking about what I’d be doing in the future.”
“See, honey, I’m not putting any pressure on you,” Robert explained. “I just want us to have a lovely family one day. I respect your choices, so we’ll take it slow.”
However, density had other plans for Robert and Julia, and Julia became pregnant. That was a terrible time for her, and she felt awful because she didn’t want to be a parent. Robert was supportive enough, and he offered her the option of terminating the pregnancy, but Julia chose to give birth.
She went into premature labor while Robert was away for an important meeting seven months into the pregnancy. Thankfully, their neighbor, Mrs. Perkins, had come to their house that day and called the hospital to inform them of Julia’s condition.
Julia was rushed to the hospital, and an hour later, the nurse announced the birth of triplets: two boys and a girl. When Robert received the news on the phone, he couldn’t contain his excitement. He dashed over to the hospital, but when he arrived, Julia was nowhere to be found.
He asked the hospital staff and Mrs. Perkins about her, but no one knew where she’d gone. Julia’s hospital gown was on the bed, and her bag, which Mrs. Perkins had brought for her, was missing.
Julia was not returning his calls, and none of her friends knew where she was. Robert had no idea how to contact her because she had been orphaned at a young age and raised in an orphanage.
He went to the police station and filed a complaint, but nothing happened. Finally, Robert’s mother stepped in to assist him in raising the children. She also suggested that Robert marry someone, but Robert had lost faith in relationships after what happened with Julia.
As time passed, the triplets attended kindergarten, then school, and eventually graduated from high school. Later on, they all attended universities and graduated with honors.
Like other kids, the children frequently complained to Robert about missing their mother and being envious of their friends whose parents had always been present for their school, college, and graduation ceremonies. But Robert was helpless as he feared that the next woman in his life would abandon the kids as well.
However, one afternoon, while he and the kids were having lunch, the doorbell rang. “I’ll answer it, dad,” Anna, Robert’s daughter, suggested. “You guys carry on.”
However, when she opened the door, she was frozen stiff. “I can’t believe it’s you! What are you even doing here?!”
Julia was standing at the door. When Anna saw her, she couldn’t help but become enraged. Her mind flashed back to the pictures she’d secretly seen in her father’s wedding album stashed in his room. However, when she learned about how their mother abandoned them, Anna felt nothing but hate for the mean woman.
“Could you please let me in?” Julia inquired quietly. “I need to speak with your father.”
Anna was enraged and was about to slam the door in her mother’s face when Robert intervened. “Who’s there, honey? Is it a delivery guy?” he inquired as he approached her. But when he got to the door, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“What are you doing here, Julia? And what happened to you?” he gasped, his gaze drawn to her shabby attire, tired face, and sunken cheeks.
“It’s a long story, Robert,” Julia said. “Can I please come in first?”
Anna objected and told her father not to let the woman in, but Robert brought Julia inside, gave her a blanket, and offered her tea.
As Julia gently held the cup in her hands, Robert’s thoughts were drawn to their past. That’s how they’d met in – in a coffee shop, and they would often go on coffee dates after.
But Julia now looked frail, her face covered in wrinkles and signs of fatigue, and Robert, who had been furious at her unexpected presence after so many years, now felt nothing but sympathy for her.
What happened to you, Julia? And why did you leave us? Robert was lost in his thoughts. But just then, she interrupted him. “Thank you for being so kind to me, Rob. Even though I left you, you’re still so nice to me.”
“Well, Julia, what’s done is done,” Robert sighed, his mind still fixated on her tired face. “You can’t change that, but I can give you another chance to make things right. I know it won’t be the same, but if you work hard enough, the kids will forgive and accept you.”
“Oh no! That’s not why I’m here!” Julia raised her head from her cup. “I was hoping you might be able to lend me some money. I’ll return it to you as soon as possible. I have nowhere to stay, so I thought I’d rent a small apartment for myself.”
Robert was astounded. “Really, Julia? I understand you never wanted to be a mother, but I can’t believe you’re so mean! You return after such a long time, without any concern for us at all! All you care about is your comfort and your money. Please get up and leave. I don’t want to cause a scene in front of my children.”
“See, Rob, I never liked those kids in the first place. I had hoped that after giving birth, things would improve, but when I saw them, I was disgusted, so I left them and decided to flee. But I never married. I’ve always loved you!”
“Get lost, Julia!” Robert screamed. “You’re just a mean, pathetic woman, and such people have no place in my house!”
Julia left Robert’s house, but she did not give up. In fact, she sought alimony. However, she lost the case, prompting her to unleash her rage at Robert and the children in court. Anna didn’t let it slide this time and lashed out at Julia in front of everyone.
After that day, Robert never heard from Julia again. However, he recently met Bethany, a woman who had just moved to his neighborhood. It turns out her husband divorced her after discovering she couldn’t have children, and he later married a young woman.
She frequently visits Robert’s home and spends time with his children. Robert has secretly begun to like her, and he’s planning on proposing to her on her birthday.
What can we learn from this story?
You cannot become a parent simply because you gave birth. Julia’s self-centered attitude and indifference to her kids prove this.
Sometimes, you should give things a second chance. After what Julia did, Robert lost faith in relationships, but his thoughts are changing now that he has met Bethany.
