Bianca smiled slightly. “It seems you forgot that I am part of this family too, at least until today.”
Derek shifted uncomfortably. Walter cleared his throat but did not speak.
Bianca continued. “You invited me to a meeting in my own home to tell me to leave so my husband can live here with his partner and her child. You planned my future without asking my consent. That tells me everything I need to know.”
Kevin scoffed. “You can get another place. This is about the baby.”
Bianca tilted her head. “Interesting that you care about a child so much when none of you cared about the wife your son betrayed.”
Talia lifted her chin. “You should think about the bigger picture. Children matter more than pride.”
Bianca looked directly at her. “I agree that children matter. That is why I will not raise mine in a house built on deception.”
Derek’s eyes widened. “What do you mean, yours.”
Bianca placed a hand on her abdomen, not dramatically but with quiet certainty. “I had a medical appointment yesterday. I am pregnant.”
Shock spread through the room. Cynthia gasped. Paige sat forward. Walter’s jaw dropped. Talia’s hand tightened over her stomach.
Derek stood abruptly. “Why did you not tell me sooner.”
Bianca met his gaze without blinking. “You were too busy creating a future with someone else.”
Cynthia rushed to Bianca’s side. “Hija, this changes everything. We can fix this. You stay. That other woman can go. This baby is our blood.”
Talia’s voice trembled. “You promised to accept me.”
Cynthia snapped back, “We did not know Bianca was carrying our grandchild.”
Bianca gently stepped away from Cynthia’s reach.
“You are only willing to respect me now because of what I carry,” Bianca said. “Not because of who I am.”
The room erupted in arguments, overlapping voices and accusations. Bianca allowed the noise to rise and fall before raising her hand.
“There is something else,” she said quietly.
Everyone fell silent again.
“I have spoken to an attorney,” Bianca continued. “He confirmed that this house belongs solely to me. I have the legal right to ask anyone to leave if I feel unsafe or disrespected.”
Cynthia’s eyes widened. “You would not throw us out.”
Bianca’s smile was calm. “You told me to walk out of my own home to make room for betrayal. I simply return the suggestion.”
Walter stood quickly. “Think of appearances. Neighbors talk.”