Chapter 18 - What Lukas Chose
Nobody spoke after the recording ended.
Then the next audio file started.
Peter asked what would happen if I refused to take the baby.
Ingrid laughed.
"Evelyn has wanted a child for years. Give her two weeks with an infant and she will forgive anything."
My hands stayed flat on the table.
I would not let her see them shake.
The recording continued.
Peter asked about Sophia.
"If she becomes difficult, St. Brigid has handled difficult women before."
Elisa turned off her camera.
Lukas stood.
"Enough."
Ingrid looked at him.
"Sit down."
He did not.
"You used me."
She almost smiled.
"I protected you."
"You let me blame Evelyn for infertility for years."
"Would you rather have felt like less of a man?"
His face twisted.
I watched ten years of our marriage collapse inside one sentence.
Lukas turned toward me.
"I should have told you."
"Yes."
"I was ashamed."
"So you let me be ashamed instead."
He had no answer.
That was our marriage in its simplest form.
The board voted to suspend Ingrid's authority pending investigation.
Miriam confirmed that without a qualifying biological descendant, the trust shares would pass to the workers foundation on Lukas's fortieth birthday.
Ingrid stared at the directors.
"You will regret this."
Ruiz stepped beside her.
"You need to come with me."
As Ingrid was escorted out, she leaned close to me.
"You think you won?"
I looked at her.
"No. I think you got caught."
She smiled.
May you like
"Then ask Sophia who paid for her prenatal test."
Sophia went pale.
