Chapter 1

<<Your husband was with me last night>>

 a stranger's message appeared on Johanne's phone as she waited for her husband to finish work. She was surprised and stunned, reading the message repeatedly while trying to suppress the pain inside.

She called the number back but couldn't get through; it was switched off. This had to be a joke. They had been married for three years, and she was pregnant.

Suddenly, the door opened.

"Why are you so late? I don't like being left alone, especially when our baby is about to be born," she said.

"Johanne, I've already told you I don't care about that baby. You have no idea how much I wish you weren't expecting it," José replied, walking straight to the room, completely ignoring his wife.

"José, wait. Dinner is ready. I waited for you to eat. Please, sit down," Johanne desperately followed him, but her husband remained indifferent.

Her heart shattered; she sat alone at the dining table and decided to speak only to her womb.

The hope of having her child was the only thing keeping her going; she had no family, her only relative was her husband, José. But after she found out she was pregnant; he had changed completely towards her.

A sound startles her; it's the wheels of a suitcase. When she turns to look, her husband is leaving the room with his belongings.

"Are you going on a trip?" she asks, surprised.

"I'm not going on a trip! I just can't stand you anymore. I'm leaving you and never coming back," José looks at her with contempt, and Johanne starts crying inconsolably.

"No, my love, please! Don't leave me. I have no one else in the world, and our child is about to be born."

"That's precisely why I want to get away. You're worthless!" He brushes her off, and her tears keep falling, her breathing quickens. Suddenly, he forcefully pushes her, making her fall backward onto the sofa.

"No, José, I beg you, why are you doing this to me?"

She was completely dependent on him. Though she didn't work, she was a devoted wife who always waited for him with food ready and clothes washed. She never made any excuses, and she put José on a pedestal.

"Let me go! I'm leaving for a woman who can measure up to my expectations. Goodbye," José slams the door behind him, and in that moment, Johanne's world crumbled.

Who would take care of her and her baby?

Days went by, and Johanne's due date approached, bringing with it all the anxiety a single mother could have. She only had the basics to go to the hospital and back, and at that moment, she realized how alone she was. She had no friends, let alone a supportive family. Her little Angel's life depended solely and exclusively on her.

Filled with courage, she had promised to do whatever it took for him. One month later...

"Shh, my love, shh, Mom is still in pain," Johanne comforted her baby.

She had exhausted all her resources, taking care of everything since her son was born. She was still recovering from childbirth and had to face all the challenges that came with it. The scarcity of food and baby supplies had become a real nightmare.

Finally, she decided to look for work. She needed money, but as the days passed, nobody wanted to hire an employee who had just given birth and had a baby with her.

She had gone days without eating, not even having enough milk for her baby. The baby in her arms kept crying, needing a clean diaper. She hurriedly entered the supermarket, grabbed a diaper, and was about to leave when she bumped into a tall woman.

"Mr. George, over here! Come quickly! This woman is stealing!" the woman pointed at Johanne as if she were the worst criminal.

Her face turned pale, and her arms instinctively hugged her little one. She had forgotten that she no longer had a husband to pay for things.

 “But what's going on? Why are you shouting, ma'am?" The old George, the owner of the supermarket where Johanne had made the decision to steal, intervened.

"This woman, look at her! She uses her child to commit crimes. She's stealing from you, George! Call the police, she deserves to go to jail!"

"Is that true, young lady?" George's voice was gentle and kind.

"No, no... I didn't steal anything. I swear I was going to pay later," tears started rolling down Johanne's cheeks; her desperation was immense.

"You're stealing! Call the police. People come here to buy with money, not to steal," the woman continued with cruel words. However, George took Johanne's hand, completely ignoring her.

He led her to the counter, and with just a look, he could see that there was no malice in her.

"Tell me, young lady, where is the baby's father?" George looked at her compassionately.

"He simply abandoned us," Johanne's voice broke completely.

"Well, you have to be strong, but stealing is not the solution." George started putting a variety of food, milk, and diapers into a bag for her baby. She didn't fully understand what was happening, but at least she wouldn't go hungry.

"I know, sir. I really didn't want to steal anything. I'll pay you as soon as I find a job. It's just that I've been searching for a week without any luck."

"Well, with this, you'll get by for a couple of weeks. Leave me your phone number; I'll help you find a job. What do you do? I mean, what is your profession?"

"Sir, I don't have a profession, but I'll do any work. Here's my number," she took the pen from the counter and wrote down her phone number, "Please call me if you hear of anything."

"Definitely! You're lucky, I can't believe it, Mr. George, that instead of wanting to send her to jail, you simply want to help her. We have to steal to get help," the woman who had accused Johanne was seething with anger.

"Marianne, just because you have good opportunities doesn't mean everyone has them equally. Look at this poor girl; maybe all she needs is a helping hand," Johanne blushed at the kind words of that gentleman. Suddenly, the supermarket door opened.

Before Johanne's eyes, an angel appeared—the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life. He was tall, elegant, with a face that seemed carved by angels. But his voice brought her back to reality.

"Marianne! How much longer do I have to wait for my coffee? We're late for the meeting," the man looked at the woman.