Chapter 3 Time to breathe

Camila didn't know how long she had been at Elira's apartment, hiding from the world that had suddenly become so unfamiliar. Days blurred together-each one darker than the last. Her phone rang constantly, but she ignored it. Messages from Rafaël. From people at work who wondered where she was. But Camila wasn't ready to face any of it.

She needed time. Time to breathe. Time to heal, if that was even possible after what Rafaël had done to her.

Two weeks had passed since she walked out of their penthouse, and the only thing that kept her grounded was her job. She had to keep moving, keep pretending everything was fine, even when it felt like her entire life had fallen apart.

On a quiet Thursday afternoon, as Camila sipped her coffee at the small café she often frequented, her phone buzzed. This time, it wasn't Rafaël. It was a number she didn't recognize. Hesitating, she answered.

"Camila?" The voice was soft but unmistakable.

She froze.

"Amara," she said, her voice cold.

"I know you're angry," Amara said quickly. "But I need to talk to you. It's about Rafaël and Elias."

Camila's stomach turned. "What could you possibly have to say to me?"

There was a long pause, and for a brief moment, Camila wondered if Amara had hung up. But then the woman spoke again, her tone more urgent.

"I'm not calling to defend him. I'm calling because there's something you don't know. Something that you deserve to hear from me, not from Rafaël."

The words sliced through the air like a knife, and Camila felt her chest tighten. She didn't want to listen. She didn't care anymore. But something in Amara's voice made her hesitate.

"Go ahead," Camila said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Amara took a deep breath. "I didn't plan for any of this to happen. But Rafaël... he hasn't been truthful with you. About everything. About me. About Elias. There are things he hasn't told you that are important."

Camila's heart raced, her mind screaming to hang up, but her curiosity-her need for the truth-kept her rooted to the spot. "What things?"

"I can't explain everything over the phone," Amara replied, her voice cracking. "But I'll meet you. Tomorrow. I'll tell you everything, Camila. Please... just give me a chance to explain."

Camila sat in silence for a moment, her fingers gripping the edge of the table as the words settled over her like an icy storm. She didn't want to meet Amara. She didn't want to hear another word about Rafaël and his lies. But deep down, she knew she couldn't walk away from this. She had to know the truth, no matter how much it hurt.

"Fine," she said, her voice resolute. "Tomorrow. But this better be good."

Amara's voice softened. "It will be. I promise."

The next day, Camila stood outside the café where she was supposed to meet Amara. Her heart hammered in her chest, a mixture of dread and anticipation pooling in her stomach. She had no idea what to expect, but she knew one thing for sure-there was no turning back now.

A woman approached her, and Camila recognized her immediately. Amara had the same striking auburn hair, the same elegant composure. But there was a weariness in her eyes, a vulnerability that made Camila pause. This wasn't just the woman who had stolen her husband. This was a mother. And from the way she carried herself, someone who had been carrying the weight of secrets for far too long.

"Camila," Amara greeted her softly, her voice sincere. "Thank you for agreeing to meet me."

Camila didn't say anything at first. She simply nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Let's sit," Amara suggested, motioning to a quiet corner of the café. They sat across from each other, the air thick with unspoken tension.

"Get to the point," Camila said, her patience thinning.

Amara hesitated, then took a deep breath. "I'm not the villain here, Camila. I know what Rafaël has done to you, and I know it looks like I'm just another part of his betrayal. But I'm not. I never wanted to be part of this."

Camila folded her arms, her eyes hard. "Then why did you keep the secret for so long? Why didn't you tell me about Elias?"

Amara's eyes flickered with pain. "I tried. I tried to tell him to tell you. But Rafaël was so afraid of losing you. He begged me to keep it quiet. He promised he would make it right, that he would tell you everything. But he never did. And every day I watched him lie to you, and I hated myself for letting him do it."

"Then why didn't you leave?" Camila's voice was sharp, the bitterness in her words cutting deep.

Amara sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Because of Elias. He's Rafaël's son. I couldn't take him away from his father. But I also couldn't keep living a lie. I just... I didn't know what to do."

Camila's mind raced. She had been so consumed by her own pain and betrayal that she hadn't considered the full complexity of the situation. Amara wasn't just a woman scorned-she was a mother, caught in a tangled web of lies that Rafaël had spun around both of them.

"Elias," Camila said quietly, her voice trembling. "What happens to him now?"

Amara's gaze softened. "I don't want him to suffer. He deserves to know the truth. He deserves a relationship with his father, with you. But Rafaël's been too afraid to face it. He doesn't know how to fix this."

Camila stood abruptly, her heart pounding in her chest. "I don't know if I can ever forgive him for this. I don't know if I can ever look at him the same way again."

Amara stood too, her expression filled with understanding. "I don't know what the future holds, Camila. But I want you to know, I'm not trying to take anything from you. I just want what's best for Elias."

Camila's mind spun with everything she had just learned. She felt betrayed, yes-but she also felt a deep sorrow for the child who didn't deserve any of this.

"Thank you," Camila said, her voice breaking. "For telling me the truth."

Amara gave a small nod. "I hope, one day, you can forgive him. For both of your sakes."

Camila watched as Amara walked away, her heart heavy with the weight of everything she had just learned. There was so much she didn't understand, so much that still didn't make sense. But one thing was clear: her marriage with Rafaël could never go back to what it was.

She had a choice to make now.

And she wasn't sure what the right answer was.