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“No,” I interrupted. “It’s only in my name.”
Silence.
Thick. Heavy.
I saw them turn pale one by one.
First Adrian.
Then my mother-in-law.
And then the rest.
The pregnant woman’s hand froze mid-movement on her belly.
For the first time… she seemed insecure.
—So —I continued—, what you called a “discussion”… actually means that you are here without any right.
My mother-in-law stood up abruptly.
—Maria, don’t exaggerate!
“I’m not going to do this,” I said calmly. “I’m going to take action.”
I approached the table.
I picked up the phone.
—I can call the police right now… or you can leave on your own.
Nobody spoke.
Adrian finally tried.
—Maria… it doesn’t have to go that far…
I looked at him.
And for the first time in years…
I felt nothing.
No love.
Nor anger.
Just clarity.
“You crossed the line,” I said, “the moment you brought your pregnant lover to MY house.”
The word echoed.
My house.
My mother-in-law tried again.
—We can talk about this…
“I’m not your daughter,” I replied.
Final. Definitive.
Silence fell.
But this time…
It wasn’t comfortable.
Not for them.
One by one…
They stood up.
Avoiding my gaze.
Without saying a word.
As if they finally understood…
The last one to get up was the pregnant woman.
He stopped in front of me.
As if he wanted to say something.
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