The room spun.
“Your… what?” I whispered.
“Maria is my wife,” David said again, as if he were discussing the weather. “We were married six years ago. Long before I met you.”
I grabbed the back of the chair to stay upright.
“That’s impossible,” I said. “You showed me papers. A divorce decree. Signed by a judge.”
“Forged,” Maria said, stepping into the room. “Just like that signature on your little contract.”
She looked at David.
“I told you she’d figure it out eventually,” she said.
David looked at me with absolutely no remorse.
“I needed access to your family’s money,” he said simply. “Your father’s fortune. The only way to get full control was to marry you. Legally, or otherwise.”
“Otherwise?” I said, my voice trembling.
“The marriage between us was never legal,” Maria said. “He was still married to me. You were never actually his wife, Elena. You were just… a convenience.”
I felt as though I had been gutted.
Every word, every promise, every kiss—all of it a lie.
“And Jacob?” I asked, my voice barely audible. “Is he even yours?”
David hesitated.
Then he looked at Maria.
And she smiled—a broad, terrible smile.
“Jacob is mine,” she said. “Biologically. David and I… we couldn’t have children. Until I found a doctor who helped. But there were complications. So… we needed a surrogate.”
I stared at them both, uncomprehending.
“You used me?” I said.
“Your family has excellent genes,” David said. “And plenty of money. Perfect arrangement. We marry. You give birth. We take the child. We take the inheritance. And we walk away.”
My hands clenched into fists.
“So why didn’t you just leave after he was born?” I asked. “Why wait three years?”
“Because your father is still alive,” Maria said. “And until he dies and the will is read… we need Jacob in our custody. And we need you out of the way.”
She stepped closer.
“Today was just the beginning, Elena. I was supposed to hurt him a little. Scare you. Make you run. But you didn’t run. So now… we have to make you leave.”
I looked at David.
“And you let her do it?” I said. “You let her burn your own son?”
“Our son,” David corrected. “And he’s strong. He’ll be fine.”
I felt a surge of pure, blinding rage.
“You are monsters,” I whispered.
David checked his watch.
“The lawyer will be here in an hour,” he said. “You will sign the papers. You will relinquish all claims to Jacob. And you will leave this house. Today.”
Maria walked past me. Whispered in my ear as she went:
“Sign, Elena. Or next time… we won’t miss.”
