My stepsister begged me to be her surrogate after years of failed IVF — but at 8 months pregnant, I overheard her on the phone saying, “She can’t find out the truth before the baby is born.”

“I’m not a good person in this story,” Marcus said.

“I signed documents I shouldn’t have.

I let things go on too long because I wanted Penelope to be happy and I didn’t ask enough questions.

I know that.” A breath.

“But this part I can stop.

So I’m stopping it.”

“Does she know you’re calling me?” Joel asked.

“No.

She’s upstairs.

I told her I was going to the pharmacy.” A pause.

“She’s going to know eventually.

When you don’t sign today, she’ll figure it out.”

“What will she do?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” he said.

“I’ve been married to her for eleven years and I’m not sure I know her as well as I thought I did.” The words came out flat.

Not cruel.

Just honest in a way that sounded like it cost him something.

“But I know she loves that baby.

Whatever else she’s done, that part is real.”