Valerie smiled as if she had already won.

She took the microphone and said, “I’m sorry, Andrea, but Leo is my child. Five years ago, Marco and I had a baby. You couldn’t have one, so you paid me to disappear. But now I want my son back.”

Gasps spread through the guests.

My parents looked shocked. My business partners whispered among themselves.

Valerie knelt and opened her arms toward Leo.

“Come here, sweetheart. Come to your real mommy.”

Leo stood near the stage, clutching his toy car. I was about to defend myself, but before I could say a word, my little boy stepped back.

He looked at Valerie with fear and anger.

“You’re not my mama!” Leo shouted.

Everyone froze.

Then he pointed at her and said, “You’re the bad lady I saw in Papa’s room yesterday.”

Marco’s face changed instantly.

“Leo,” he stammered, “what are you talking about?”

Leo ran to me and held my hand tightly.

“I heard her, Mama,” he said. “She told Papa to put something in your coffee so people would think you were sick. Then they could take the house and your company.”

The microphone slipped from Marco’s hand.

Valerie turned pale.

Part 3

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