LOGINCamila’s POVThe house is finally quiet. The laughter from movie night has disappeared, the lights in the hallway are dim, and somewhere downstairs the grandfather clock quietly counts each passing second.I can’t sleep. Every time I close my eyes… I see Alejandro losing his company. Mom collapsing. Reporters shouting. Those photographs. The threats. It all circles back to one thought. Me.I quietly sit at the small desk beside the bedroom window. A blank sheet of paper waits in front of me. The pen feels strangely heavy. “…Just write.” The first line refuses to come. I try again. Dear Alejandro…The words blur almost immediately. I wipe my eyes before the tears can fall onto the page. “I’m sorry.” My voice is barely a whisper. I force myself to keep writing. By the time you read this… My hand stops. Fresh tears slide onto the paper.“No…” I crumple the page. Then smooth it out again. I don’t have enough strength to start over. Another deep breath. Another attempt. Thank you… The word
Alejandro’s POVBy the next morning, I make one decision. Camila is not going anywhere alone. Not until we know who has been watching us. She folds her arms the second I tell her. “…Seriously?” I nod. “Seriously.”She sighs dramatically. “Alejandro.” “Camila.” “I’ve survived twenty-six years.” “I know.” “I can walk to another room.” “I know.” She narrows her eyes. “You keep saying ‘I know.’” “Because I do.”“And?” “And you’re still not going alone.” She throws both hands into the air. “This is unbelievable.” Mrs. Harper quietly walks into the dining room carrying fresh coffee. She looks between us. “…Who is winning?”Camila immediately points at me. “He thinks I need security to cross the hallway.” Mrs. Harper takes a thoughtful sip. “He has a point.” Camila blinks. “…You too?” Mrs. Harper smiles. “I like cautious men.” “I liked you five seconds ago.”“You still do.” “I know.” Mrs. Harper laughs. “See?” “He learned from Alejandro.” Even Dylan joins the conversation as he walks in. “Wh
Camila’s POVThe cameras are waiting before I even reach the hospital. Bright flashes explode across the parking lot while microphones rise above the crowd, and somehow the noise feels even louder after everything that happened yesterday.I stop walking. “…Not again.” Karen looks through the windshield. She lets out a slow breath. “They started arriving before sunrise.” Brian glances toward the entrance. “They’re multiplying.”“I think reporters reproduce by headlines.” Karen almost laughs. “I wish that wasn’t believable.” The security guard opens my car door. “I’m sorry, Ms. Camila.” “It’s not your fault.” He nods respectfully. “We’ll get you inside.”The moment my shoes touch the pavement— “There she is!” Every camera swings toward me. Questions come flying all at once. “Mrs. Vega!” “Did you manipulate Alejandro Vega?” “Did you marry him for his company?”“Is he hiding evidence for you?” I keep walking. No answers. No eye contact. Just one step after another. A microphone suddenly a
Alejandro’s POVThe lobby of Vega Pharmaceuticals feels different the moment I walk inside. Conversations stop halfway through sentences, employees lower their voices, and even the security guards stand a little straighter as though everyone already knows today won’t end quietly.I step out of the elevator. The boardroom doors are already open. Victor is there before me. Coffee in one hand. Calm smile. Perfect suit. “Good morning, Alejandro.” I meet his eyes. “Morning.” His smile never changes. “I hope Maria is recovering.”“She is.” “I’m glad.” He sounds sincere. That’s what makes him dangerous. Dylan catches up beside me carrying three folders and a paper cup. He looks at Victor. “…You smile too much before meetings.” Victor chuckles softly. “I’ll try smiling less.”“Please do.” “It seems to bother you.” “It absolutely does.” I almost smile. Almost. The directors slowly take their seats. Nobody jokes. Nobody chats. The room feels tighter than it did last week. Director Collins clear
Camila’s POVThe doctor smiles before he even reaches us. The tension that has been squeezing my chest for hours loosens just enough for me to breathe again, and somehow that tiny smile feels brighter than the hospital lights.“She’s stable.” My knees almost give out. “…Really?” He nods gently. “She’s exhausted.” “But she’s responding well.” “We’ll keep her for observation.” A sob escapes before I can stop it. “Thank you.”The doctor smiles kindly. “She asked about you first.” Fresh tears sting my eyes. “That sounds like Mom.” Alejandro quietly places one hand against the middle of my back. Not pushing. Not guiding. Just reminding me that I’m still standing.The doctor gives us one last reassuring nod. “You can see her soon.” As he walks away, Brian lets out the longest breath I’ve ever heard. “I’ve been holding that in for six hours.” Karen glances at him. “I noticed.” “My lungs noticed too.”Even Dylan manages a tired smile. “I was about to invoice the hospital for emotional damage.
Alejandro’s POVThe hospital hallway feels colder than any boardroom I’ve ever entered. The white walls blur together while the red emergency light above the operating room stays on, reminding me every second that some things matter far more than quarterly reports.Camila sits beside me without saying a word. Her hands remain tightly clasped together. Every few seconds she looks toward the operating room doors. Then back down again. My phone vibrates. Once. Twice. Three times.I don’t even look at the screen. Another vibration follows almost immediately. Then another. Finally, I pull it from my pocket. Victor Calling. I stare at the name. The ringing stops. Only to begin again. Dylan this time.I answer. “What?” His voice comes quickly. “Where are you?” “The hospital.” A brief silence follows. “…You’re still there?” “I never left.” He lets out a slow breath. “The board is already seated.” “I know.”“Victor says they’re waiting.” “I know.” “They’re asking whether you’re coming.” I look
Alejandro's POV"What exactly is so funny?"The moment the words leave my mouth, the entire table goes silent.Good, because judging by the expression on Camila's face, whatever happened before I arrived wasn't funny at all.Several women suddenly become very interested in their drinks,others avoid
Camila's POVI hate everything about this.I hate the contract sitting inside my purse. I hate the black SUV carrying me away from the apartment I've lived in for the last four years. Most of all, I hate the fact that less than twenty-four hours after signing that contract, my mother's treatment pl
Alejandro's POVThe door closes behind Camila, and for the first time all afternoon, the conference room falls silent.I should be relieved as the meeting is over, the contract remains unsigned. Nothing has changed.Instead, I find myself staring at the door she walked through, replaying the conver
Camila's POV"I want you to be my wife for sixty days."For a second, I honestly think I've misheard him.Maybe the air conditioning in this ridiculously expensive conference room is too loud. Maybe exhaustion is finally catching up to me after three consecutive double shifts and months of survivin







