Chapter 3
Adrian stood abruptly.
“Maria, that's private!”
I looked up at him.
“Private?”
He suddenly realized what he'd said.
I continued.
“You brought your mistress and your entire family into our home to discuss my replacement. But the moment I mention the money you secretly moved, privacy becomes important?”
Vanessa turned toward him.
“Adrian, what money?”
He didn't answer.
I looked directly at her.
“Did he tell you he was using our savings to rent your apartment?”
Her lips parted.
“What?”
“Did he tell you that the furniture, the jewelry, and those romantic weekend trips were paid for using money we were saving to start a business?”
Vanessa stared at him.
“Adrian?”
He rubbed his forehead.
“It's not what she's making it sound like.”
I almost laughed.
It was exactly what I was making it sound like.
For years, I'd deposited most of my bonuses into our joint savings.
We had discussed opening a small café.
Adrian said he wanted to leave his exhausting sales job and become his own boss.
I believed him.
I worked overtime.
I skipped vacations.
I wore the same black office shoes until the soles began to separate.
And my husband had been spending that money on another woman.
That was the part that hurt more than the jewelry.
Not because of the amount.
But because every peso represented something I'd sacrificed for a future he had already abandoned.
Lilibeth stood.
“Enough! Adrian made a mistake, yes, but he's still your husband. And Vanessa is carrying our grandchild.”
I looked at her.
“Then support your grandchild.”
She nodded firmly.
“Of course we will.”
“Wonderful. You can start by offering them your house.”
Her expression vanished.
“Our house?”
“Yes. Vanessa needs somewhere to live. Adrian needs somewhere to stay. You're so concerned about keeping them together. Surely you'll welcome them.”
Ernesto coughed.
“That's complicated.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“How?”
“Well, our house is small,” he said.
“Three bedrooms.”
“Marco is still living with us.”
I turned toward Marco.
He looked down at his shoes.
“And Camille visits with her children every weekend,” Lilibeth added quickly.
I nodded thoughtfully.
“So there's no room.”
“Not comfortably,” she admitted.
I leaned back.
“That's fascinating.”
Nobody spoke.
I looked around the room.
“All six of you decided that I should sacrifice my marriage, my dignity, and my home so Adrian and Vanessa could be comfortable. But the moment I suggest that one of you make a sacrifice, suddenly everything becomes complicated.”