I felt my breath catch. That savings had taken us months to pull together, and every cent was meant for the hospital.
“What are you talking about?” I whispered. “Javier, that money is for our delivery.”
Before I could say any more, his mother stepped in with a dismissive look. “My son can decide what to do,” she said sharply. “He knows what’s best.”
He snapped back in frustration, raising his voice. I had seen him irritated before, but not like this—not so harsh, not so sudden. His words stung, and the tension in the room thickened.
I felt overwhelmed and stepped back, but in the confusion, I stumbled near the edge of the pool. My balance was already fragile from the pregnancy, and before I knew it, I slipped. The world tilted, and I fell into the water. The shock of the cold made me gasp, and I struggled to right myself.
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