My husband returned early from deployment to surprise me—only to walk in and find me eight months pregnant, cornered by his mother holding a burning iron, exposing a nightmare he never expected.

She got pregnant to trap you. I was only trying to protect your daughter.”

Andrés looked at the iron.

“Protecting her with that?”

Mercedes glanced down at the burning metal but did not let go of it.

“It was to frighten her. Nothing more. She needed to sign before she destroyed your career.”

Mariana pointed to the papers with a shaking hand.

“She told me continue reading …