“A big issue?” I laughed gently. “Adrian committed adultery. Arriane knowingly got involved with a married man. Under Philippine law, both are criminal offenses.”
Arriane’s face paled.
Adrian sat up straight. “Maria, wait—let’s not drag this into court. We can settle this privately.”
“Settle?” I raised an eyebrow. “You invited me to my own home to tell me to walk out and give her my place as wife. And now you want to settle?”
My sister-in-law, Janelle, cut in. “You’re overreacting! People make mistakes. He’s going to be a father. Be mature about it.”
“Oh, trust me,” I said, “I’m being more mature than any of you.”
The room tensed.
“Third,” I continued, “before you all ‘kindly’ pushed me to leave this marriage… you should have checked your facts.”
Adrian frowned. “What facts?”
I looked straight into his eyes.
“I went to the hospital yesterday,” I said. “For a routine checkup.”
I paused, letting the moment sink in.
“And I found out that I, too… am pregnant.”
The room exploded.
“What?!”
“You’re lying!”
“No, that can’t be—!”
“WHY didn’t you say anything earlier?!”
Arriane’s face drained of color, her lips trembling. “No… no, he said you two weren’t… you two weren’t trying anymore…”