Unveiling the Truth

Mrs. Martins got into the car and asked their family driver, Phil, to take her home. She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in her heart. As they drove, she tried to process everything she had just learned.

As soon as Phil started driving, Mrs. Martins pulled out her phone and called Raphael. "Raphael, come home immediately. We need to talk."

When they arrived at the house, Mrs. Martins got out of the car and went inside. The nanny, Maria, greeted her with a smile. "Hello, ma'am. How was your day?"

Mrs. Martins forced a smile. "It was fine, Maria. How's Matthew?"

"He's doing great, ma'am. He's been sleeping all day," the nanny replied while sitting down.

Mrs. Martins picked up Matthew and hugged him tightly. As Maria stood up to take him back, Mrs. Martins asked her to sit down. "Maria, I need to ask you some questions. Please tell me the truth, everything you know."

Maria looked concerned but promised to answer sincerely. Mrs. Martins asked her if she had witnessed anything suspicious about Sophia, and Maria shook her head. "No, ma'am. Nothing at all."

But when Mrs. Martins asked if she knew anything strange or weird about Sophia, Maria hesitated...

Raphael's car pulled into the driveway, and he jumped out, sensing the urgency in his mother's voice. He greeted the driver and rushed into the house, finding his mother and the nanny in the living room.

The nanny, Maria, was speaking in a hushed tone, "I've noticed something strange, ma'am. I haven't said anything because I didn't want to assume..."

Mrs. Martins encouraged her to continue, "What is it, Maria? You can trust me, tell me everything you know."

Maria hesitated, "I've never seen Sophia breastfeed Matthew, ma'am. But a wet nurse comes to the house when everyone is out. She breastfeeds him, and then leaves. I asked her once what she was doing, and she said Sophia paid her for the job."

Raphael's eyes widened as he entered the room, overhearing the last part of the conversation. The nanny's eyes darted to him, and she quickly stood up, taking Matthew from Mrs. Martins.

"I-I'll just put him down for a nap," Maria stuttered, hurrying out of the room.

Mrs. Martins turned to Raphael, her expression grave. "We need to talk, son."

Raphael's eyes blazed with concern. "What was that about my wife and a wet nurse? What is Maria saying? Mom! A stranger has been breastfeeding my son for how long and why?"

His mother guided him to a seat and sat him down. "Raphael, there's something I need to tell you. The detectives came yesterday and..."

"What detectives?" Raphael interrupted, his brow furrowed.

"The ones investigating Dorothy's death," Mrs. Martins replied gently.

Raphael's expression changed from confusion to shock. "Dorothy? Our former maid? How can she be dead? Did she kill herself?"

Mrs. Martins shook her head. "No, dear. The detectives said Sophia is involved in her death."

Raphael's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? That's impossible!"

Mrs. Martins took a deep breath and recounted her conversation with the detectives, her visit to Dr. Maloney, and the nanny's revelation about the wet nurse. Raphael listened, his face pale and his mind reeling with questions and doubts.

As his mother finished speaking, Raphael slumped back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the floor. "This can't be true. My wife Sophia would never...kill someone and...and Dorothy...poor Dorothy, I can't believe this, mom."

Mrs. Martins placed a hand on his arm. "We need to get to the bottom of this, son. The truth must come out."

Raphael's eyes narrowed. "What truth, mother? How are we supposed to get to the bottom of this? And how can we believe the nanny isn't lying?"

His mother raised an eyebrow. "Why would you think the nanny is lying, Raphael? What would she gain from that?"

Raphael stood up in frustration and paced around the living room, his mind racing. "I don't know, but I won't have anyone lying about my wife, Sophia. Never. No."

He sat back down, determination etched on his face. "I need to know the truth to silence these lies and make the detectives realize they've got it all mixed up about Sophia."

Mrs. Martins leaned forward. "How do you plan to do that, Raphael?"

He shook his head. "I don't know yet, but I'll protect my family and about Dorothy, I will have to investigate Dorothy's case."

Mrs. Martins' eyes locked onto his. "I think I can suggest something. A DNA test."

Raphael's eyes widened. "A DNA test? What for?"

His mother's voice was calm. "To prove if Sophia birthed Matthew."

Raphael's face went blank, his mind reeling with the implications. "What! A DNA test...that's...that's... ridiculous, mom, how can you say that?"

His mother's words hung in the air, "That's what we need to do, my son, I'm not suspecting Sophia, but everything points to her, that she is involved in a crime, son, if anything had happened to Dorothy, remember that you owe her and we must make it up to her, even in her death." The conversation ended abruptly, with Raphael's mind reeling in disbelief.

He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease, his thoughts consumed by the possibility that Sophia might be involved in Dorothy's death. He couldn't return to his office, his mind too preoccupied with the disturbing revelations.

Without a word, he got up and went upstairs, his feet heavy with the weight of his thoughts. He couldn't face his wife, couldn't bear the thought of looking at her, not yet.

He found himself in the nursery, his eyes fixed on the small figure of his son, Matthew, sleeping peacefully. Raphael's heart swelled with sadness as he approached his son, his hand reaching out to pat Matthew's soft hair.

He stood there, frozen in grief, his mind wrestling with the dark secrets that threatened to tear his family apart. The silence in the nursery was deafening, a stark contrast to the turmoil that raged within him.