Chapter 34: Karma

Chapter 34: Karma
CAMILA

Lorenzo continued to hold me as I sobbed into his arms, my body shaking with rage. I couldn’t believe Mera had done this to me. I trusted her, and she made a fool of me. 

I believed her when she said sleeping with my brother was a mistake, only for her to turn around and accuse Lorenzo of something so heinous.

How could she do that to me? How could she do that to him? He had been nothing but good to her. I... had been nothing but good to her. 

I rescued her and her baby when they had no one. I gave them a home, a family. I fought with my brother when he didn’t want her to come with us… and she repaid me by stabbing me in the back? By trying to destroy Lorenzo’s life? How could she be so cruel?

“I’m… I’m sorry, Lorenzo.”

“What? Why? You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“I do. I brought her into our lives. Camilo was right when he said we should leave her behind."

“Hey, you didn’t know.”

“I almost ruined your life. I brought a traitorous bitch into our family, and she nearly ruined everything. Lorenzo, I protected her. I believed she was a good person. I was a fool.”

“Hey! You cannot blame yourself for another person's actions. You could not have predicted this. And… maybe she made a mistake--”

“No, she didn’t! This is what she does,” I told him, pulling back and sitting upright, guilt washing over me for not telling him what she had done. Maybe if I had, he would’ve kept his distance from her. “She slept with Camilo, Lorenzo.”

“Wait. What?”

"She slept with him while Ava was in the next room, then looked her in the eyes the next morning with no remorse. She’s evil.”

“Damn! That’s cold. I’m sorry. I would’ve stayed away from her if I knew.”

“No, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you,” I said, and he pulled me back against his chest again.

Just then, a knock came at the door, and Camilo walked in. I felt something twist in my stomach at the sight of him. “If you are going to ask me to let her stay, just turn around and leave because it is not going to happen," I said, straightening up, and he sighed, running his hand through his hair.

"Of course, I am going to ask you to stop this madness, Camila... because I have no idea what the hell is going on. Why won’t you tell me what the hell happened? Why are you two fighting?"

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I told him, looking away.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to, Camilo!”

“Goddammit!" he exclaimed, approaching the bed and sitting next to me. "I know you care about her, and I see that whatever you believe she did hurt you. What happened, Sis? Por favor, háblame.“

“I can’t, Camilo. I can’t talk about it.”

“Okay, then, don’t you think it’s better to wait for the two of you to calm down before asking her to leave? Won’t you regret it? Because I know you love her like a sister, and sisters fight sometimes, but it doesn’t mean they should chase each other away. Look at how we fight.”

“This is different. I want her gone. I don’t ever want to see her again.” My voice broke at the end, and he pulled me into a hug. He held me for a long moment, then kissed the top of my head before leaving the room.

I knew he was confused, and I hated keeping him in the dark, but I could not bear the thought of him siding with her. He despised Lorenzo and thought Mera was a good person. I could not handle that right.

••••
MERA

“What are you doing? Where are you going?” Camilo asked as he entered my room. “Mera, she didn't mean it. She’s just angry. What exactly happened here? Why won’t you tell me what happened?” I didn’t reply; instead, I kept packing.

My body ached, but my heart was something else entirely. It bled with every breath I took, and I just wanted to get out.

“Mera, please talk to me,” he said, reaching for my hand, but I pulled away.

“Don’t, please. I want to be alone.”

“How am I supposed to leave you alone when you’re like this?” Again, I said nothing, and after closing my bag, I picked it up to carry it to the door, but he gently took it from my grasp.

“Camilo, please. I can’t do this with you. I--” 

“Where will you go?”

“That’s none of your concern! Just give me my bag and leave me alone!” I snapped, my voice breaking at the end. And he set the bag down and tried to hold me, but I didn’t let him. 

I couldn't stand his touch, and he froze as I leaned on the dresser, devoid of strength due to the twisting in my stomach that wouldn't let me stand upright. I wished he would leave me alone.

“Okay, I’ll back off. I have an apartment in—”

“I have a place to stay.”

“Where?”

“A hotel.”

“Then we’ll cancel it. There’s no need for you to stay in a hotel.”

“He’s right, Mera,” Ava said, walking in. “You don’t have to stay in a hotel. You can even come stay with me. We have plenty of room at home, and my mom wouldn’t mind.”

“Thanks, but I just want to be alone with my baby right now.” Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks as she pulled me into a hug.

"Okay, but at least tell us which hotel you will be staying at," Camilo said, before picking up my bags and carrying them downstairs. Ava and I pulled away from the hug, and I took Noa into my arms while she grabbed my handbag.

Upon getting downstairs, we found Camilo and Fern talking to each other. They stopped as soon as they saw us, and Camilo opened the car door for me.

Getting into the car, Fern started the engine, and I didn’t look back at Camilo and Ava as we pulled away, but I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. This wasn’t how things were supposed to happen. Yes, I had known I’d move out someday, but not like this; not hated by someone who meant so much to me.

I didn’t blame Camila for not believing me. Why would she? I had slept with Camilo and betrayed Ava. It was the price of betrayal. It was karma.