“No,” she says, her voice thin. “You told me she was exaggerating. You told me she used the pregnancy to manipulate you. You never said the baby was already born.”
You look at Rodrigo then.
So that was his story.
You were manipulative.
Emotional.
Conveniently pregnant.
You almost laugh.
Not because it is funny.
Because even now, sitting three feet away from his newborn son, Rodrigo’s first instinct is still damage control.
“Renata,” Rodrigo says quietly, “this isn’t the place.”
You look around the room.
Actually, you think, it is exactly the place.
David Harrow clears his throat.
“Ms. Vale’s presence was not disclosed to us as part of today’s meeting.”
Fabian Crane shifts uncomfortably.
“She is here as Mr. Castellan’s emotional support.”
Your attorney looks at him over his glasses.
“Mr. Crane, this is a divorce settlement conference, not a couples retreat.”
Renata’s face flushes.
Rodrigo finally speaks to you.
“Camila, why didn’t you tell me he was born?”
You blink once.
Carefully.
“Because when I went into labor, you were in Miami with her.”
Renata goes pale.
Rodrigo looks down.
“I didn’t know.”
“You didn’t answer.”
“I was in a meeting.”
“You posted a photo from a yacht two hours later.”
The room becomes very quiet.
Rodrigo’s eyes flicker toward Renata, then back to you.
“You could have called my assistant.”
You almost smile.
“My water broke at 2:13 a.m., Rodrigo. I was not interested in going through your calendar.”
David Harrow closes his pen gently.
“Perhaps we should continue.”
“Yes,” you say. “Let’s.”
That is when the meeting truly begins.
