“I was afraid I could never have children,” Victoria said, her voice breaking. “Before Oliver, I went to a private clinic. I chose genetic donors without telling you. I paid for everything in secret. Grace was born first. Then I became pregnant with Oliver. I panicked. I did not know how to explain another baby. I was terrified of losing you, losing our life, losing everything we built.”
Christopher stared at her, his expression hollow.
“So you hid her,” he said. “Inside a wall.”
Victoria nodded, sobbing. “I thought I would find a solution later. I told myself it would be temporary. Days turned into months. I was too ashamed to fix it. I was trapped in my own lie.”
Sirens approached outside, their distant wail growing louder.
Christopher closed his eyes, fighting nausea.
“You left a child to suffer in darkness while we lived in comfort,” he said. “There is no explanation that can save this.”