Chapter 5: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Replace Me
When I returned home, Mateo was sitting at the kitchen table.
The same table where we had eaten breakfast every morning.
The same table where we planned vacations.
The same table where we once celebrated when we got approved for our mortgage.
Now there was a folder sitting between us.
Another folder.
I almost laughed.
“Do all Cárdenas family problems come with paperwork?””
Mateo looked exhausted.
“I deserve that.””
I sat across from him.
“What did you find?””
He pushed the folder toward me.
“I went to my father’s office after everyone left.””
“You went back?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I needed answers.””
I opened the folder.
Inside were copies of emails.
Financial records.
Letters.
And one photograph.
A younger Mateo stood beside a woman I immediately recognized.
Camila.
She was beautiful.
Not in a threatening way.
In a way that made me understand why his family remembered her.
She looked like someone who belonged in their world.
Perfect clothes.
Perfect smile.
Perfect confidence.
I placed the photo down.
“So this is her.””
Mateo nodded.
“She was my girlfriend for three years.””
“Three years.””
“Yes.””
“And everyone expected you to marry her.””
“Yes.””
I looked through the documents.
“When did you end things?””
“Two years before I met you.””
“Why?””
He was quiet.
Then he answered.
“Because I realized I loved the life everyone wanted for me more than I loved the person living it.””
I looked at him.
“What does that mean?””
“It means I was with Camila because she made everyone else happy.””
That was the first honest thing I had heard all day.
“She wasn’t a bad person.””
“I know.””
“She cared about me.””
“But?””
“But I felt like I was playing a role.””
I looked down at the picture again.
“And then you met me.””
“Yes.””
“And everything changed.””
“Yes.””
I believed him.
That was the hardest part.
Because the truth was, Mateo and I had been happy.
Not perfect.
But real.
We had fought about money.
We had disagreed about family.
We had gone through stressful months.
But we had built something together.
Something nobody else had chosen for us.
I turned another page.
Then I stopped.
There was an email printed near the bottom.
From Beatriz.
To Camila.
My eyes narrowed.
“What is this?””
Mateo leaned forward.
“I found it this morning.””
I read the first line.
*We need patience. He still believes he made his own decision.*
My stomach dropped.
I kept reading.
*Valeria will eventually understand she is not part of this family. The house situation will force clarity.*
I looked up.
Mateo looked devastated.
“She knew.””
“Yes.””
“She planned this.””
“Yes.””
I put the paper down.
“So the dinner wasn’t a test.””
“No.””
“It was a trap.””
Mateo nodded.
I stood and walked toward the window.
For years, I had tried to build a relationship with his family.
I brought gifts.
I remembered birthdays.
I attended events.
I tried.
Not because I needed their approval.
Because they were important to the man I loved.
But now I realized something painful.
They had never been trying to know me.
They had been waiting for me to fail.
“Mateo.””
“Yes?””
“Did Camila know?””
He looked confused.
“Know what?””
“That your mother was trying to bring her back?””
Silence.
Then Mateo slowly shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
That answer bothered me.
Because there was another possibility.
One I didn’t want to consider.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“What if she did?””
Neither of us spoke.
Because suddenly the past did not feel like the past anymore.
It felt like something walking toward us.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice spoke.
“Valeria?””
I froze.
Because I recognized the name before the voice.
“Who is this?””
A pause.
Then:
“This is Camila Torres.””
Mateo stood immediately.
The room went silent.
“What do you want?”” I asked.
“I think you deserve the truth.””
I looked at Mateo.
He looked terrified.
“About what?””
“About the agreement.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“How do you know about that?””
“Because my father wrote it.””
“And?””
“And because I was never the person who wanted Mateo to marry me.””
That surprised me.
“What?””
Camila sighed.
“I know what your family thinks. I know what they told you.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
Her voice became softer.
“Your husband was not the one who walked away.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It means I left first.””
I said nothing.
“Valeria, you need to understand something.””
“What?””
“The Cárdenas family doesn’t want me back.””
A pause.
“They want control back.””
The line went quiet.
May you like
Then she said:
“And your husband is not the only person who was lied to.””
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