Chapter 42: Cruel

Chapter 42: Cruel
AUTHOR’S POV
AT THE HOSPITAL

Augustine entered Katherine's room and noticed her opening her eyes, looking disoriented. “You’re up. How are you feeling?" he asked, sitting in the chair next to her bed.

"Better than a few hours ago. Where’s Ava?"

"She had to rush to the office, but she will be back soon.” He expression instantly changed to a frown at his response, most likely due to the late hour.

“What time is it?" she asked, to which August replied it was 5:05 p.m. “She couldn't reschedule the meeting, only the time, so it's at six and-" August began to elaborate but was cut short when he noticed Katherine's eyes welling up with tears, leaving him wondering if it was because Ava was away.

"Hey, it's alright. Ava will be back soon. Everything will be OK," he assured her gently, reaching for her hand, realizing that the heart attack had her shaken. He didn't blame her; anyone would be terrified.

But her response caused August to pause. "It will never be okay, August. She's going to hate me forever for this," she said, confusing August.

Did she believe Ava blamed her for the heart attack? She wouldn’t. August reflected before asking. “Hate you for what? Ava doesn’t blame you for this. It’s not your fault."

“You don't understand," Katherine replied, turning to her side and facing away from him. “She will never forgive me. I’ve ruined her life. I shouldn’t have kept it from her." August stood and walked around the bed to sit in front of her again. He wanted to observe her more closely, unsure whether he should call the doctor because she did not appear to be in the right frame of mind.

"What are you talking about? I don’t understand," he asked, and she took his hand. "Promise me you'll be there for her. Promise me you won't let her go through this alone."

"Go through what? You’re not making any sense."

"Please promise me, August. Promise me," she pleaded, and her desperate tone made him even more concerned. "Alright, I promise. I’ll be there for her. I will be there for her whenever she needs me. Now tell me what is going on."

"Ava's father is..." she began, but broke down in tears again.

"Ava's father is what?" he asked, panicked, despite feeling he already knew the answer. Ava had no relationship with her father, but hearing he had died would still hurt. However, Katherine's next words froze him in place.

"Ava's father is Camilo's father." August jumped to his feet, his eyes wide with shock.

“What are you talking about? Camilo who? De La Cruz? Her fiancé?" he asked, and Katherine nodded. "You’re telling me she’s marrying her half-brother? Why? How?"

The questions poured out of him, his brain struggling to process the revelation, and Katherine curled up on the bed, sobbing uncontrollably.

How did something like this happen? He walked over to the window, lacing both hands on top of his head in disbelief, thinking to himself that Katherine might be right... Ava might never recover from the revelation.

Right then, as if on cue, his phone rang, and it was Ava. He swallowed hard, picked it up, and walked out, not wanting her to hear her mother's sobs.

••••

MEANWHILE

Ava put down her phone after checking in on her mother and finished preparing for her meeting. Worry weighed heavily on her. Her mother had been crying since she awoke. Then again, the heart attack had been a major scare, so her reaction was entirely justified.

She was grateful that August stayed with her. And it also helped that her mother adored him. Thinking about her mother's fondness for August sent Ava's thoughts back to Camilo, and her heart sank all over again.

She still couldn’t believe what he had done. She trusted him, and he threw that trust back in her face. Now, she couldn’t imagine ever trusting him again. The fact that he cheated hurt like hell, but who he cheated with made things ten times worse.

Ava had treated Mera like a sister. She had been nothing but kind to her since she came into their lives. How could Mera be so cruel? How could she look Ava in the face every day, knowing what she was doing? And how could he?

A knock on the door startled Ava out of her spiraling thoughts, and she turned around to see who it was. "I'm sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you," Camilo said as he walked into her office.

How on earth did he know her location at all times? She wondered.

"Are you following me?"

"Baby, I just want to talk to you."

She grabbed her files and bag and tried to move past him, saying, "I am late for a meeting." However, he blocked her way and returned the files to the desk after taking them from her hands.

"What are you doing? I have a client waiting for me, Camilo."

He yelled, louder than he meant to, "Then they can continue to wait!" before pausing and closing his eyes. "Ava, I love you," he repeated, this time with more gentleness. "I know I’ve hurt you, and there’s nothing I can do to undo it. But I beg you for the chance to spend the rest of my life making amends. I made a terrible mistake, and I’m sorry. I swear it will never happen again. I don’t want to lose you. Please… just give me one more chance.

You’ve hurt me, Camilo. I trusted you with my heart, and you broke it. My mother and I argued for years because she didn't think you were a good fit for me, and you proved her right. I cannot put into words how much this hurts. But the fact that you did it with Mera makes it even worse. I trusted you to spend time with her and comfort her when needed. You all made a fool of me."

"Baby, I’m sorry. I never meant to, I swear. I-"

"How many times did it happen?"

"What?" he questioned, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"You and her... how often did you sleep with her?"

"Once. It happened once and-"

"When?"

"About two or three months back. Ava, do we have to do this?"

"Where was I?"

"Ava, please-"

"Where was I, Camilo? Was I next door, in your bedroom, while you were screwing her? Was it you… I heard with her?" She struggled to contain her tears, her voice breaking, and his eyes made it impossible. They screamed the answer: yes.

Camila had told her it was that night but somewhere deep inside she still hoped Camila was wrong. She hoped Camilo didn't screw someone while she was right next door. She hoped he wasn't that heartless. And hearing that he was stirred something inside her.

Her hands flew to her stomach, feeling weak as tears poured from his eyes. He tried to hold her, but she placed her hand firmly on his chest, stopping him, her decision suddenly crystal clear.

She removed her engagement ring.

"Baby, please... please don’t do this," Camilo pleaded, his voice breaking but Ava grabbed his hand and placed it.

She loved him wholeheartedly, but she couldn't commit to a life with a man who could make her listen to him make love to another woman. She would never be able to trust Camilo again, so there was no point.

Gathering her files, she left him standing there.