When the time came, she felt a burst of excitement. She tapped a fork against her wine glass to get everyone’s attention. The room fell into a hushed silence, every face turned toward her. Evan was by her side, arm around her waist, smiling at her with curiosity. This was the moment.
“I want to thank you all for coming,” Marina began, her voice shaky with emotion. “I know some of you traveled far to be here. And I promise you, it was worth it. We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”
She turned to Evan, her heart swelling with love. “We’re having a baby.”
The room erupted. Cheers, laughter, hugs, and tears filled the air. Her mother cried, her father clapped with excitement. Carrie was jumping up and down, shouting, “I knew it!” Everyone was overjoyed.
But then, Evan froze. His arm fell from her waist. His face drained of color, his body stiffened.
Marina’s smile faltered. “Evan, aren’t you excited? We’re going to be parents.”
And then, in a heartbeat, everything changed.
The slap came without warning. A sharp, resounding crack that echoed through the room. The pain exploded across her cheek, and she stumbled back, crashing into the gift table. The music kept playing for a few more seconds before someone turned it off. And then, silence.
Marina stared up at Evan, her mind reeling, her face burning. He was standing there, fists clenched, his chest heaving with anger.
“Evan, what—” she started, but he didn’t let her finish.
“You cheating whore!” he screamed, his voice full of venom. “Did you really think you could pass off another woman’s baby as mine?”
