Chapter 50: Despicable

Chapter 50: Despicable
AUTHOR’S POV

Kathrine tilted her head at the sound of the door opening and looked up to see Ava rushing in, eyes swollen and red. “What’s wrong?” Alarm sharpened her voice as she sat up on the bed.

Ava crossed the room in a few quick steps and collapsed against her, burying her face against Katherine’s chest. Her sobs were raw and desperate. “He’s in love with her, Mom.”

Kathrine’s stomach tightened. “Who?”

“Mera. He’s in love with her.” Ava’s voice cracked, and the words echoed in Kathrine’s chest like a blow. She already knew they could never be together, but knowing didn’t make it hurt any less. Her heart broke for her daughter nonetheless.

“Did he say that to you?”

“He didn’t have to,” Ava choked out. “It’s obvious. He couldn’t even deny his feelings for her. How can he do this to me? How can he hurt me like this? I was good to him. I gave him five years of my life. I loved him the best I could… and now he just falls for someone else?”

Kathrine smoothed a hand over her back, trying to comfort her, but inside, her chest burned with anger. She hated him for this. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry,” she murmured, wishing her touch could somehow pull the pain out of Ava’s body and into her own.

“I’m such a fool,” Ava whispered. “I promised myself I’d never stay with someone who cheated on me, no matter how much I loved them. But I was ready to give him another chance. I was willing to go against everything I am because I loved him. And this is what I get. You were right, Mom. I should’ve listened. He was never good for me. If I had, I wouldn’t feel like this. I wouldn’t be this broken.”

“I wish I were wrong,” Kathrine said quietly, keeping her arms around her even as Ava’s sobs dragged on.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours until Kathrine felt something inside her snap. She couldn’t just sit here and watch her suffer, not when she knew the truth.

“I need to get out of here,” she suddenly said, pulling back.

Ava blinked at her, tears streaking her cheeks. “What are you talking about?”

Kathrine was already moving toward the edge of the bed. She couldn’t do this here. She couldn’t tell Ava what she knew in a sterile room with people coming in and out. They needed to be home... alone.

“I need to go home, Ava. We need to get home.”

“You know you can’t go home until your test results come back.”

“I know,” Kathrine said, her voice firm. “But I’m going.”

Ava shook her head. “Mom, please. I don’t have the energy to deal with this right now.”

Kathrine hesitated, then turned back, lowering herself beside her again. Reaching up, she cupped her daughter’s damp cheeks. “There’s something I need to tell you. Something I can’t say here.”

“What is it?”

“I can’t talk about it here, Ava. Please, let’s go home.”

Confusion clouded Ava’s expression, but before Kathrine could go on, a knock echoed throughout the room. The door swung open, and August stepped in.

He opened his mouth, but Ava cut him off without looking away from her mother. “Please talk to her, because I don’t have the energy for this. I can’t believe how selfish you’re being right now, Mom,” she said, her words landing like a slap.

Before Katherine could respond, Ava was at the window, her hands raking through her hair in frustration.

•••

CAMILO

Minutes later, I arrived at my place and walked inside. Pulling out my phone, I called my driver, telling him he’d be driving me to the meeting. Then I messaged Pedro, telling him to get the guys ready to come with me.

After that, I headed straight for Camila’s room. I had someone posted outside her door. She knew the truth now. So she wouldn’t run off and hurt anyone, but I still wasn’t sure she wouldn’t hurt herself. That’s why I had her guarded whenever I wasn’t here.

Soon, I’d be able to stay with her as Mera was getting released. I’d arranged for a helper, and her babysitter would be there for Noa so I could focus on Camila.

I stepped into the room to find her bed empty. “Camila?” I called out but got no answer. “Camila!” Still nothing.

Opening the surveillance app on my phone, I rewound the feed to see her get up from the bed and disappear inside the bathroom. I fast-forwarded to see that she hadn't come out. The time was 3:33 p.m.when she went in, and it was now 3:47. p.m.

Maybe she had an upset stomach or something. Or maybe she was cleaning up. But the longer I waited, the heavier the dread pressed into my chest.

I got up and went to the bathroom door. “Camila? Are you alright in there?”

Still silence.

My heart started pounding, and I knocked harder. But there was still no answer. Panic surged through me, and I kicked the door once, twice, before it flew open.

“Cami-” The word caught in my throat, and my heart stopped. “Oh, God, no. No, no, no,” I muttered, stumbling toward the tub while water ran over the edge, pooling onto the floor.

“No!” Climbing in, I grabbed her, dragging her out. And my knees nearly gave as I lowered her to the tiles. “Camila! Wake up! Come on, wake up!” My voice broke, my hands shaking as I slapped at her cheeks. “God, no. Please. Camila!”

I laid her flat and started CPR. One. Two. Three. Breathe. Again. Again. She didn’t move. She didn't open her eyes.

This couldn’t be happening.

I kept pumping her chest. I should have been here for her. I shouldn’t have left her alone. The thought of losing her made my stomach twist painfully. I couldn’t lose my sister, not like this.

“Camila, please wake up. You can’t leave me like this. Please. I need you. Please wake up,” I pleaded, my voice shaking with fear and desperation, before tears I didn't even feel escaped and dripped onto her face.

Finally, she coughed. It was faint at first, but it was enough to send my heart lurching in my chest. Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused, before water spilled from her mouth.

Quickly sitting her upright, I held her as she gagged and choked. And I didn’t wait for her to finish before pulling her into my arms. I buried my face in her hair, sobbing harder now, my chest tightening with relief and lingering terror.

She clung to me, both of us trembling as if the shock had hollowed us out from the inside.

“I was so scared. I thought I lost you. I was so scared, Camila,” I confessed, my voice breaking as I held her like my grip alone could take her pain. She tightened her hold on me, too, her fingers digging into my back.

“I tried to wash him off me, Camilo,” she whispered, hoarsely. “He doesn’t want to come off. I can’t scrub him off. I don’t want to live.”

The words pierce me as if they were made of glass. “No. Please don’t say that. Don’t ever say that. I love you, and I need you,” I said quickly, terrified of what she might do if I let her terrifying thoughts fester.

“I hate myself, Camilo. I… hate myself so much. He killed my son. He killed my baby, and I let him touch me. It hurts so much. What kind of person am I? I’m a despicable person… I-”

“You didn’t know,” I cut in, my voice desperate.

“I… I almost got you killed. I almost got Tata killed. I tried to kill Mera. I hurt her.”

“You didn’t know what he was planning, Camila. No one knew. He fooled all of us.”

Her voice cracked. “But not you. You tried to warn me, but… I didn’t listen. I didn’t listen, and I brought an enemy into our home.”

“Shhh… It’s okay. It’s over now."

“You were right. I’m a fool,” she choked.

“No. You loved him. Love fools the best of us.”

Her shoulders shook. “I’m so sorry, Camilo… I’m so… sorry.”

Pressing my cheek to her hair, I held her as tightly as I could. “Shhh… It’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay, and I’ll be right here with you. I promise.”

I meant it with everything in me. I wasn’t letting her out of my sight again.