Chapter 4: The Woman From His Past
The room felt smaller after Camila spoke.
Everyone was waiting.
Waiting for Mateo to explain.
Waiting for me to react.
But I refused to give them the satisfaction.
I looked at Camila.
“Go ahead.””
She looked surprised.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
She took a breath.
“Before Mateo married you, our families planned for us to be together.””
“I know that part.””
“No,” she said softly.
“You don’t.””
Mateo stood.
“Camila.””
But she continued.
“My father helped Ernesto expand his company. In return, Ernesto promised that our families would stay connected.””
I looked at Mateo.
“And that meant marriage?””
He closed his eyes.
“I was twenty-six.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“No,” he admitted.
“It isn’t.””
Camila looked down.
“Mateo ended things because he met you.””
I stared.
“Me?””
She nodded.
“He chose you.””
For the first time, she didn’t sound angry.
She sounded hurt.
“But your family never accepted that.””
Beatriz immediately interrupted.
“Enough.””
“No,” I said.
“Let her finish.””
Beatriz looked at me.
“You think this woman is your friend?””
“No.””
I looked at Camila.
“But I think she knows something I don’t.””
Camila slowly nodded.
“Your family believes Mateo made a mistake.””
Mateo looked furious.
“That’s not true.””
His mother answered.
“It is.””
The honesty shocked everyone.
Beatriz stepped forward.
“You changed after meeting Valeria.””
Mateo stared.
“Yes.””
“You stopped listening.””
“I became my own person.””
“You became controlled by her.””
I almost smiled.
That was the story they needed.
That a woman who worked hard and protected her own home must have manipulated a man.
Mateo looked at me.
“I’m sorry.””
I didn’t answer.
Not because I didn’t forgive him.
Because I needed him to understand.
Sorry was not enough.
Ernesto tapped the document.
“This is simple. Sign the agreement, and everyone moves forward.””
Mateo looked at the paper.
“No.””
The word shocked them.
Ernesto frowned.
“What did you say?””
“I said no.””
Beatriz stepped closer.
“Think carefully.””
“I am.””
“You’re choosing her over your family?””
Mateo looked at me.
Then back at them.
“I’m choosing my wife.””
Nobody spoke.
For a moment, I saw the man I married.
Not the son who spent years trying to please everyone.
My husband.
Then Ernesto smiled.
A cold smile.
“Good.””
Mateo frowned.
“What?””
“Because now we know.””
“Know what?””
Ernesto closed the folder.
“That you were never going to cooperate.””
My heart sank.
“What does that mean?””
He looked at Beatriz.
She nodded.
Then she pulled out another envelope.
“We expected this.””
Mateo grabbed it.
Inside was a letter.
His expression changed immediately.
“What is it?””
He looked at me.
Then at his family.
“It’s from my grandfather’s lawyer.””
I stood.
“What does your grandfather have to do with this?””
Mateo slowly unfolded the paper.
Then his hands started shaking.
Because at the bottom of the letter was a name.
May you like
A name none of us expected.
Mine.
