“He threw her out into the street while she was pregnant, believing she had been unfaithful: 10 years later, a red light showed him 4 pairs of eyes identical to his own and he discovered the truth that brought him to his knees.”

“Roberto, stop the car,” Mauricio ordered. His voice sounded strange, hoarse.
“Sir, we’re at a green light, I can’t…”
“Stop the damn car!” he shouted, with an urgency that made the driver slam on the brakes, pulling abruptly to the side of the road.

Mauricio rolled down the window. The hot air and street noise rushed in. The girls jumped. The one who seemed to be the leader stood up, shielding the other three with her small body.

“Would you like some gum, sir?” the little girl asked. Her voice… it was the same musical cadence he had tried to forget for a decade.

Mauricio took off his sunglasses. The girls looked at him curiously, but without recognition. He searched their faces for any trace of deception, but found only a crushing truth.

Ten years ago. The memory hit him like an acid tide.

He had thrown Victoria out of the mansion. He had dragged her out of his life, accusing her of the worst thing a man can be wronged to do: betrayal. The doctors had assured him that he was sterile, that it was impossible for him to father children. When Victoria arrived, beaming with joy, with the results of her multiple pregnancy, he saw in that happiness irrefutable proof of her infidelity.