Mrs. Stella’s joy was uncontainable as she clutched Valeria’s hands, her excitement brimming over. “We need to share this wonderful news!” she exclaimed, already reaching for her phone on the nearby table. “This is a moment for celebration, Valeria. Markus’s child—our family’s future!”

Valeria watched her mother-in-law with a faint smile, but her mind was elsewhere. As Mrs. Stella began dialing numbers with practiced efficiency, Valeria’s thoughts drifted to Markus.

How ...