Page 239 of My Husband’s New Fiancée

Outside, Valeria is waiting for me.

The moment she sees me, her face lights up.

I walk toward her without slowing down. She slips her hand into mine as though it has always belonged there.

And as we head home together, Bianca’s shadow finally stops following us.

66. The Nursery

Valeria

Friday, June 23

Summer had slowly reclaimed our lives.

I know it before the results even appear.

What we call intuition is often just silent reasoning finally reaching its conclusion.

Mine just did.

I stare at the screen. The data aligns with that rare kind of coherence no scientist mistakes for chance: stable, and reproducible. The molecule behaves exactly as I hoped—active only within a therapeutic framework, impossible to misuse. It will only heal.

I did it.

Three quick knocks sound at the door.

I go to open it.

Louane barely studies my face for a second before smiling.

“You did it.”

That’s not a question.

“Yes,” I say.

My voice barely trembles. Her eyes shine.

“What do you need?”

“Validation testing. Final protocol lock.”

She nods.

“I’ll handle it.”

No further questions. She understands.

When she leaves, I take my phone and call Dante. He answers on the first ring.

“Valeria?”

“Come to the lab.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m okay. The baby too.”