In the maternity ward, she was informed that the baby did not survive. Years later, she found out that her son was with his biological father’s family. Philip had loved Elizabeth since school, and they planned to get married in the future. Philip’s mother, Angelina Semyonovna, who managed the maternity ward at the hospital, disapproved of her son’s choice. She had long favored a nurse named Christina and hoped that her son would marry this girl, who was liked not only by the hospital staff but also by the patients—a girl from a family of doctors. After graduating, Philip entered medical school, and Elizabeth went to study languages. She wanted to become an English translator like her mother and grandmother.
Their classmates decided to celebrate this occasion outdoors and went to Philip’s family country house. They spent almost a whole month there and did not want to return home. But soon it was time for classes to start, and they needed to prepare. In the fall, Liza told Phil: “I’m pregnant. How will you react?” “What do you think? Of course, I’ll carry you to the registry office in my arms.” “I’m not alone and I’m heavy.” “Scare a sportsman? I used to be into wrestling at school. You are light as feathers to me,” joked the delighted Philip. “But what about school?” “Yes, Lizochka, it seems you’ll need to take a year off after giving birth.” “I’ll switch to distance learning, like my mom. She had me at nineteen and managed everything. But let’s agree right away, Phil. After the wedding, you’re moving in with us. Respect your mother from a distance. I’ve known for a long time she won’t accept me. She has quite a character.” “Only for your peace of mind, Lizochka,” agreed Philip. Elizabeth and Philip filed their application at the registry office and went their separate ways home.
Liza had guests at her apartment. A friend of her father’s came with his wife and son Alexander, sixteen years old but looking older. At home, Philip informed his parents about the new event in his life and warned them to prepare for the wedding. Angelina Semyonovna disliked this and in the evening went to Elizabeth’s parents to create a scandal. She pressed the doorbell several times, but no one answered. They were setting the table in the living room, and music was playing, similar to the doorbell melody, and no one paid attention as they weren’t expecting anyone. Guest Alexander was taking a shower at that time and was surprised that no one was reacting to the doorbell. He wrapped a towel around his hips and opened the door. Angelina Semyonovna was initially bewildered, but realizing she had a phone in her hand, she pressed record and started filming the hallway, starring Alexander in such attire. “Are you here to see Anna Nikolaevna?” Sasha, not understanding the movement of this woman’s phone, asked.
“Not anymore,” and Philip’s mother hurried down the stairs. At home, she showed Philip the recording, emphasizing that they took a long time to open the door. “Recognize Liza’s hallway? It’s still unknown who she’s pregnant by.” “I get it, mom. You were right. She’s not the one for me.” Philip sent an angry message to Elizabeth on her phone, then turned it off completely. Liza didn’t understand anything but couldn’t get through to Philip, and she went to him despite the late hour. Angelina Semyonovna anticipated that Liza would run to her son for clarification and watched her approach from the window. When she saw the girl, she rushed to the hallway and opened the door herself. Not letting Liza in, she stepped out onto the stair landing. “And what did you want from Philip? He’s already asleep. And you, playing both sides? Continue to entertain yourself with other guys, two-faced,” and, returning to her own apartment, she slammed the door shut. Elizabeth didn’t understand anything and started crying, sitting down on a step. After some time, she returned home. In the kitchen, Anna Nikolaevna was washing dishes, and her tearful daughter hugged her. “Lizonchka, what’s wrong? The wedding is soon, and you should be happy.” “Mom, there won’t be anything anymore, except that I’m carrying his child. It seems his mother stirred things up after learning that we applied for marriage,” and she showed her mother the fiancé’s message about the unknown Liza cheating on Philip. “If Philip behaved like this, he will continue to obey his parents. God has kept him away from you.
We’ll raise the child ourselves,” her mother tried to console her. After the fallout with Philip, Elizabeth struggled to recover and had a difficult pregnancy. She was rushed to the maternity ward while her parents were at work. She gave birth to a son under anesthesia, as it was the only way. Later in the ward, she was informed that the baby was stillborn. After the paperwork, the deceased newborn’s body was given to the parents, and they buried him. Elizabeth was still in the maternity ward, so she missed the ceremony. After this incident, Philip’s parents quickly sold their apartment and moved out of the area. “It’s for the best, daughter. You struggled with random encounters with Philip, and he just walked past with a haughty look.” “I also hope, mom, that I’ll forget him faster.” Eight years passed. Elizabeth worked as a translator in a small firm, and suddenly, Philip entered her office…
Eight years passed. Elizabeth worked as a translator in a small firm, and suddenly, Philip entered her office.
The years had changed him — the once playful student had become a serious man with streaks of gray in his hair and sharp lines etched around his eyes. He froze when he saw her, the papers in his hand trembling slightly.
“Elizabeth… Lizochka,” he whispered, as though afraid she would vanish like a memory.
Elizabeth looked up from her desk, stunned. For a moment, her heart stopped, and then, gathering her composure, she rose to her feet.
“What are you doing here, Philip?” Her voice was calm, but the tremor beneath it betrayed the storm in her chest.
“I… I didn’t know you worked here. I’ve been sent by the hospital for a translation project. But Lizochka… I also came to find you. I need to tell you the truth.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What truth could possibly matter now? You abandoned me when I needed you most.”
Philip swallowed hard, shame flickering in his gaze. “I didn’t know. About the baby. About what my mother did. I only learned a few months ago, Lizochka. She lied to me. She lied to both of us.”
Elizabeth froze. Her pulse quickened. “What are you talking about?”
Philip lowered his voice, his hands shaking. “Your son didn’t die. He was taken. My mother arranged everything — the paperwork, the false death certificate. She gave him to my relatives. He’s been raised as their child all these years.”
Elizabeth’s world collapsed around her. The room spun, and she gripped the edge of her desk to steady herself. Tears blurred her vision. “No… no, I buried him. I buried my baby!”
Philip’s face twisted with grief. “It was all staged. They gave your parents the body of another newborn who had died that same night. Lizochka, your son is alive. He’s eight years old. And he looks… exactly like you.”
Elizabeth staggered back, her breath coming in ragged gasps. A thousand memories crashed into her — the night of the birth, the cold words from the doctors, the small coffin lowered into the earth. Her knees buckled, and Philip rushed forward to catch her.
“Don’t touch me!” she cried, pushing him away. “You knew something was wrong back then, but you trusted her lies instead of me. My whole life was destroyed because of you and your family.”
Philip’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I know. And I will never forgive myself. But Lizochka, I swear to you, I’ll do everything to make it right. I’ll help you bring him back.”
Elizabeth stood trembling, torn between rage and a spark of desperate hope. “If this is true, Philip… if my son is alive… I will move mountains to get him back. But understand this—” her voice broke, her eyes burning with both fury and love— “I will never forgive betrayal. Not yours. Not your mother’s. My son will know who I am. And he will never call Angelina ‘grandmother.’”
Philip bowed his head, broken. “Then let me stand beside you, not as your husband, not even as a man you once loved—but as the father who owes his child everything.”
Elizabeth’s heart ached. In that moment, one truth shone brighter than all the pain: her son was alive. And nothing in the world would stop her from finding him.
