Franco dropped the paper and turned to Jessica.
“If… if I’m infertile…” he said, shaking, “then who is the father of the child you’re carrying?!”
Jessica turned pale, as if about to faint.
“H-Honey… that test is fake! Valerie is lying! She’s just jealous!” she cried.
“Fake?” I laughed. “I also hired a private investigator. Do you know who Jessica chats with every night? Her gym instructor.”
I pulled photos from my bag and threw them into the air. Pictures of Jessica and the gym instructor embracing fluttered down around us.
“No!” Doña Matilda screamed. “Impossible! My grandchild!”
Franco lunged at Jessica, furious.
“You lied to me?! I fed you! I bought you a condo! And you’re pregnant with another man’s child?!”
“I’m sorry, Franco! I thought you’d never find out!” Jessica sobbed.
Doña Matilda slapped her hard. “Get out of our lives, you trash!”
Chaos erupted on stage. Franco screamed. Doña Matilda cried. Jessica ran as the guards chased her out.
Amid the chaos, I walked down from the stage—smiling.
Franco rushed to me, full of regret.
“Valerie… my wife…” he said, kneeling. “Forgive me. I didn’t know I was the problem…”
I shoved his hand away.
“Don’t touch me,” I said coldly. “We’re done, Franco. I’ve already called my lawyer. Because of your infidelity and abuse, I’m filing for annulment. And per our prenuptial agreement—since you cheated—I get half of your assets. Prepare yourself.”
“Valerie, please! I love you!”
“You don’t love me,” I replied. “You only loved the idea of having a child. Now that you know you can never have one, you are useless to me. Goodbye, Franco. Enjoy your empty life.”
I turned my back on them. I left the mansion, the party, and my judgmental husband behind.
As I walked away, I heard things breaking and people crying inside. The party that was supposed to mark their ‘new beginning’ became the end of their family.
And me?
I was finally free.
And at last, I proved that I was never the one who was lacking.
