CHAPTER 2: THE TRUTH THEY BURIED
Rebecca Montgomery rose from her chair.
"You manipulative woman!" she shouted.
Mariana calmly faced her.
"For eleven years, you told everyone I couldn't give Ryan children."
She removed a folder from her handbag.
"Today, let's discuss the medical records."
Alexander handed copies to several guests, including reporters covering the wedding.
Within minutes, whispers spread across the ballroom.
The documents revealed everything.
Mariana had never been infertile.
Her condition had been misdiagnosed for years.
After proper treatment, she conceived naturally.
Seven weeks pregnant.
The very day Ryan divorced her.
The crowd turned toward Ryan.
His face turned white.
Mariana continued.
"But there is more."
She revealed another report.
This one belonged to Ryan.
Years earlier, a specialist had discovered that Ryan himself had fertility issues.
The doctor had informed him privately.
Ryan had hidden the truth.
Instead, he allowed Mariana to endure years of blame, humiliation, and emotional torture.
Vanessa looked at him in horror.
"You knew?"
Ryan couldn't answer.
"You let me believe she was the problem?" Vanessa whispered.
Rebecca's mouth trembled.
The woman who had mocked Mariana for over a decade suddenly had nothing to say.
Mariana looked down at her children.
"These three beautiful children grew up without a father because their father chose pride over love."
The youngest girl squeezed Mariana's hand.
"We're okay, Mommy."
Several guests wiped tears from their eyes.
Vanessa slowly removed her engagement ring.
The ballroom watched.
Then she placed it in Ryan's hand.
May you like
"It's over."
And with that, she walked away.
