Chapter 36 Not Your Child

“Cruz...” “I just received news that you were seen at the police station holding Maria. You’re already divorced from her, so what are you doing?” Cruz asked, his voice laced with concern. Johnson felt incredibly awkward but quickly tried to explain. “I was just there to drop off my brother, and then I saw Maria, and…” He hesitated, struggling to find the right words. “And I found out that Maria is pregnant…” Hearing those three words, Cruz fell silent. Johnson, unsure of Cruz’s reaction, continued, “I wanted to make sure Maria got rid of the baby, but then her sister jumped off a building. I don’t know how to deal with this.” Cruz narrowed his eyes. “Come back to Los Angeles. I’ll handle this.” Johnson, however, was reluctant to let it go. “But the baby Maria is carrying is mine…” Cruz’s tone became sharp. “That child is not yours.” He spoke with absolute certainty. That night, Maria had been drugged, but Cruz hadn’t been. He knew Maria’s situation better than anyone. The ch