Chapter 2 - The woman in red
For several seconds, I genuinely wondered whether Marco had lost his mind.
Then Valerie took the microphone.
Her smile told me this had been rehearsed.
“I know this must be difficult for everyone.”
I almost laughed.
Difficult?
She had entered my son’s birthday party holding my husband’s arm and announced she was his mother.
Valerie turned toward me.
“Especially Andrea.”
“Stop this.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you aren’t.”
Her smile widened.
“You’re right.”
Guests shifted uncomfortably.
My mother stood near the cake, visibly shaking.
My father started toward Marco.
I raised one hand.
“Dad.”
He stopped.
I wanted Marco talking.
Because arrogant people often destroy themselves when nobody interrupts them.
Valerie continued.
“Five years ago, Andrea desperately wanted a child. But there were… complications.”
My chest tightened.
That part was true.
After two miscarriages, I had undergone fertility treatment.
But Leo had been born after a carefully documented gestational-surrogacy arrangement.
Marco knew that.
Valerie pointed at herself.
“I carried Leo.”
Whispers spread.
That was the first lie.
Then came the second.
“Andrea paid me to disappear.”
“What?”
“She wanted everyone believing Leo was completely hers.”
I stared at Marco.
He nodded solemnly.
As though confirming sworn testimony.
Valerie turned toward the guests.
“But I’ve regretted giving up my child every day.”
Then she crouched in front of Leo.
“Sweetheart.”
Leo backed away.
She opened her arms.
“I’m your real mommy.”
“No.”
His voice was tiny.
Valerie’s expression twitched.
“Leo, darling—”
“My mommy’s there.”
He pointed at me.
A few guests murmured approval.
Marco immediately stepped forward.
“Son, you don’t understand.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Leo.”
“I want Mommy.”
Marco’s jaw tightened.
I recognized that expression.
He hated losing control.
Valerie stood.
Then walked to the birthday display.
A framed photograph showed Marco, Leo, and me during our Christmas vacation.
She picked it up.
“Cute.”
Then dropped it onto the grass.
“You won’t need that anymore.”
I stepped toward her.
“Get out of my house.”
Valerie laughed.
“Your house?”
Marco wrapped an arm around her waist.
Then he said the sentence that revealed what this performance was really about.
“Not for much longer.”
I looked at him.
“What have you done?”
His smile returned.
“Something I should have done years ago.”
May you like
He reached into his jacket.
And pulled out a thick legal envelope.
