Two babies meant child support.
Two babies meant public truth.
Two babies meant the story he had built with Paula was no longer romantic.
It was evidence of his stupidity.
Dr. Salinas printed the ultrasound images.
She handed them to me, not to him.
“Laura, I want you to schedule bloodwork and another scan. You’ll need careful monitoring.”
I nodded through tears.
Diego stepped forward.
“Let me see.”
I pulled the photos close to my chest.
“No.”
His face darkened instinctively.
“What do you mean, no?”
“I mean no.”
He stared at me as if the word did not belong in my mouth.
For eight years, I had softened my voice for him.
Explained.
Apologized.
Tried to keep peace.
Not now.
Not with two heartbeats still echoing in my ears.
“You walked in here to humiliate me,” I said. “You don’t get to hold the first picture of my babies.”
His jaw tightened.
“Our babies.”
I laughed.
The sound surprised all of us.
Even me.
“Our?”
Paula went very still.
Diego swallowed.
“Laura, listen—”
“No. You listen.”
My voice shook, but it did not break.
“You called me a traitor. You left me for your coworker. You let your mother call me a disgrace. You posted online that I was a lie. You brought Paula to a meeting where you tried to strip me of my house, my dignity, and my child’s rights.”
I looked down at my belly.
“Children’s rights.”
Diego closed his eyes.
“Laura, I was angry.”
“You were cruel.”
He opened them.
“That’s not fair.”
I almost smiled.
“Fair? Diego, fair is what you ask for before you burn the house down, not after you realize you’re still inside it.”
Paula’s face flushed.
“Don’t speak to him like that.”
I turned to her.
“And you don’t speak to me at all.”
Her mouth opened.
I raised one hand.
“No. You came into my ultrasound appointment behind my husband, proud to watch me be humiliated. You stood there waiting for a doctor to measure my shame. The only reason you’re quiet now is because the truth pointed at you instead.”
Dr. Salinas stepped between us slightly.
“This appointment is over. Mr. Diego, Ms. Paula, you need to leave.”
Diego did not move.
“Laura, we need to talk.”
I looked at the doctor.
“Can you call someone from reception?”
