“‘Rosa Carried Me in Her Tummy.’ One Sentence Stopped the Wedding Cold”

She told Carmen immediately.

Carmen panicked.

Why?

Because if the baby was born before the five-year trust audit, Carmen feared the newborn could create a competing interpretation of firstborn succession.

The lawyers were wrong about that.

Carmen did not care.

She ordered Isabella's obstetric dates adjusted by four weeks.

Not medically.

Administratively.

Insurance forms.

Family announcements.

Wedding planning.

She wanted the birth after the audit.

"Did your doctor know?"

"My private doctor did."

"Who?"

Isabella whispered, "Leon."

Of course.

Leon had kept treating the family under referral arrangements even after disappearing publicly.

Another reason Carmen kept him hidden.

Brooks added prenatal record fraud to the investigation.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because by then lying had become the normal language in your family."

That hurt.

"And yours?"

"Mine too."

Isabella's father had benefited from the planned Reyes-Cruz merger.

Maybe not the fertility fraud.

Enough.

Marco canceled the merger.

Isabella supported him.

At thirty-six weeks, doctors ordered rest.

"If something happens during delivery, don't let Carmen make decisions."

Marco answered, "She won't."

"I need to say something."

"I knew enough to hurt you."

"Yes."

"I loved Valentina."

"I know."

"I was afraid if I told Marco, he would see you differently."

"He should have."

"Yes."

No forgiveness.

But truth.

Valentina climbed onto the bed.

"Is my baby brother coming soon?"

"Maybe."

"Did Grandma pick his tummy too?"

The adults froze.

Then Rosa said gently, "No, sweetheart."

"Good."

If Isabella delivered before the trust audit, Carmen planned to petition that Valentina's shares be consolidated with the newborn's future interest under a family management trust.

Trustee:

Carmen Reyes.

"She was going to use both children."

"And tomorrow morning, before the criminal hearing, she plans to call an emergency board vote."

"For what?"