Julianne helped Matthew up first. Then Sofia. Before entering, he looked at Marcus with a calm that enraged him more than any scream.
“Ever before you learned to pretend that you owned my life.
The driver closed the door. The truck started.
Α 11:40 a.m., Julianne and her children crossed migration at Mexico City International Airport. Α the same time, Marcus arrived at a private clinic in Santa Fe, where the Henderson family had gathered as if they were going to crown an heir. His mother wore blue flowers. Roxanne recorded videos to send to chat family. Penelope was lying on the stretcher, carefully made up, a hand on the belly.
Marcus came in smiling.
“Well, Doctor. Tell us how my son is coming. Strong, right? A real Henderson.
Dr. Vance placed the gel on Penelope’s abdomen and moved the transducer patiently. The screen showed shadows, measurements, heartbeats. Αally, everyone held their breath with emotion. Then the doctor’s face changed. He checked the date. He moved the device again. He measured again.
Marcus’ mother slowly lowered her flowers.
Doctor, is something wrong?
Dr. Vance did not respond immediately. He looked at Penelope, then Marcus. His voice was soft, professional and devastating.
“Mr. Henderson, before you talk about the sex of the baby, there’s something about the dates that everyone needs to hear.
And in that instant, Marcus’ cell phone began to vibrate with a call from Julianne that he could no longer answer.
PÑRTE 2
Dr. Vance turned off the sound of the monitor, and that silence was worse than any scream. Penelope barely incorporated, pale under the makeup, while Roxanne stopped recording. Marcus took a step to the screen, as if he could correct reality by looking at it with fury.
What do you mean by the dates?
The doctor took a deep breath.
According to the measures, the pregnancy does not have the time you reported. It does not coincide with the date on which Mr. Henderson claims to have initiated the relationship with the patient.
Marcus’ mother pressed the blue flowers against her chest.
“That can’t be. My son left his wife for this baby.
Penelope opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Marcus looked at her slowly.
“Penelope.
She shook her head, already crying.
“Marcus, listen to me.
“No. Speak clearly.
Dr. Vance held his voice.
—In addition, the prenatal test they ordered last week is already in work. The clinic was authorized by both to review it today.
Marcus smiled nervously, like a man about to fall and still pretending to be sitting.
“Perfect. Then say it. Tell me family that’s my son.
The doctor lowered the folder.
The test indicates that you are not the biological parent.
Roxanne let out an insult. Marcus’s mother dropped the flowers. Penelope broke in tears.
I didn’t know how to tell you!
Marcus backed up like the stretcher burned.
Who is it?
Penelope covered his face.
“I didn’t want to lose you. You promised me everything. You said if I was a kid you were going to give me the last name, the house, the life that Julianne had.
“Who is it?” Marcus repeated, with such a low voice that he silenced everyone.
The door opened before she responded. A young man, in a driver’s uniform at an event company, appeared in the hallway asking for Penelope. She was stiff. Marcus understood before anyone spoke.
Meanwhile, over the ocean, Julianne looked out the plane window. Matthew was sleeping with his head on his lap. Sofia was now drawing a larger house, with 3 people holding hands. Julianne’s cell phone vibrated relentlessly: Marcus, Roxanne, Marcus’s mother, unknown numbers. He didn’t answer. He just opened a message from his lawyer: “Everything registered. As soon as it lands, the asset reversal is executed. The condo, van and business accounts were not in Marcus’s name. They were protected in your father’s trust.”
