Chapter 2: The Man Who Answered My Wife
The first thing I noticed was the silence.
Not the silence inside the nightclub. The music was still pounding. People were still laughing.
It was the silence coming from my phone.
For nearly an hour, Camila had called repeatedly.
Then nothing.
I checked the screen.
No missed calls.
No messages.
I should have been relieved.
Instead, something uncomfortable settled in my stomach.
I unlocked my phone and opened our conversation.
My last message to her, sent three hours earlier, was simple.
Don't wait up. I have business.
Her reply had been:
Okay, sweetheart. Please drive safely.
I stared at those words.
She had called me sweetheart.
Even after I had barely spoken to her all week.
Even after I had ignored her at breakfast that morning.
Even after she had asked whether I could attend the final ultrasound appointment, and I had told her to send me the pictures.
I put the phone away.
Valeria noticed.
"What's wrong?""
"Nothing.""
"You look distracted.""
"Just tired.""
She reached for my hand.
"Come on. Let's dance.""
I allowed her to pull me toward the music.
For the next few minutes, I pretended everything was normal.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I almost rejected it.
Almost.
"Hello?""
A man's voice answered.
"Is this Mateo Villarreal?""
"Who is this?""
"Your wife is at San Gabriel Hospital.""
My blood turned cold.
"What?""
"She was brought in approximately fifteen minutes ago. Are you her husband?""
I stood so quickly that my chair fell backward.
"What's happened?""
"There's been an obstetric emergency. You need to come immediately.""
"Is my wife alive?""
There was a pause.
"She's receiving treatment.""
"What about my son?""
"Sir, please come to the hospital.""
The call ended.
I stared at the screen.
Valeria approached me.
"Mateo?""
I grabbed my jacket.
"Get my driver.""
"What's happening?""
"My wife is in the hospital.""
Her expression changed.
"Is the baby—"
"I don't know.""
Diego stood.
"Take my car. Your driver might take too long.""
I was already moving.
Outside, the night air hit my face.
My Mercedes was parked near the entrance, but I didn't wait for the valet.
Diego tossed me his keys.
"Take mine. I'll follow.""
I started the engine.
My hands were shaking.
For the first time in months, I was driving without caring about the speed limit.
The entire journey, I kept calling Camila.
No answer.
I called her again.
Nothing.
Then I called our housekeeper, Rosa.
She answered on the fourth ring.
"Señor Mateo?""
"Where is Camila?""
A sob escaped her.
"At the hospital.""
"Who called the ambulance?""
"Nobody.""
"What do you mean nobody?""
Rosa was crying now.
"I came back from the grocery store and found her on the floor.""
My grip tightened around the steering wheel.
"How long was she there?""
"I don't know, señor. The front gate was locked. I had to call the security supervisor to open it.""
"Why didn't security answer?""
"Because the new supervisor said nobody was allowed to open the gate without your authorization.""
I almost ran a red light.
"What?""
"Your instructions, señor. Last month. You said nobody was to enter when you were away unless you approved it.""
I remembered.
I had installed a new security system after a break-in at one of my dealerships.
I had told the guards to follow strict authorization procedures.
Even for emergencies.
Even for my wife.
"How did she get to the hospital?""
Rosa hesitated.
"Mr. Serrano.""
My foot pressed harder against the accelerator.
"Who?""
"Señor Alejandro.""
I felt something cold move through my chest.
"Alejandro Serrano?""
"Yes. He came to the house. He found her.""
I nearly missed the next turn.
"Why was he at my house?""
"I don't know. But he carried her to his car.""
I said nothing.
Rosa continued.
"He told the security guards that if they didn't open the gate, he would break it down himself.""
I ended the call.
Alejandro.
Of all people.
Six years earlier, Alejandro Serrano had been my closest friend.
We had attended university together. We had built our first business together. When my father's company nearly collapsed, Alejandro had invested his own money and helped me secure a contract that saved the entire operation.
He was the kind of man who remembered promises.
I was the kind of man who broke them.
Our friendship ended when I accused him of stealing a construction contract.
The accusation was false.
I knew it was false.
But admitting the truth would have meant accepting responsibility for a financial disaster I had created.
So I let him take the blame.
I spread rumors. I turned mutual friends against him. I used my family's influence to push him out of the business.
He lost his position, his reputation, and almost his entire company.
Before leaving Monterrey, he stood outside my office and said:
"One day, Mateo, you'll need someone you can't buy. I hope you remember what you did when that day comes.""
I had laughed.
Now that same man had carried my pregnant wife to the hospital.
I arrived at San Gabriel Hospital in less than fifteen minutes.
The automatic doors opened.
I rushed toward the reception desk.
"Camila Villarreal. Eight months pregnant. She was brought here by Alejandro Serrano.""
The receptionist looked at her computer.
"Are you her husband?""
"Yes.""
"Please wait. The medical team is still working.""
"I don't want to wait.""
"Sir, you need to calm down.""
"Tell me where my wife is!""
A nurse approached.
"Mr. Villarreal?""
I turned.
"Yes.""
"Your wife is in emergency surgery.""
The words hit me harder than any physical blow.
"Why?""
"She suffered significant bleeding after a fall. The baby showed signs of distress.""
"Is he alive?""
"We're doing everything possible.""
I grabbed the edge of the counter.
"Let me see her.""
"She's in surgery.""
"I said let me see my wife!""
The nurse's expression hardened.
"Shouting won't help her, sir.""
I stepped back.
For the first time in my life, money couldn't get me what I wanted.
I couldn't call a director, threaten a manager, or purchase an exception.
I was just a frightened man standing in a hospital corridor.
Then I saw him.
Alejandro was sitting near the emergency entrance.
His white shirt was stained with blood.
There was blood on his sleeve, his hands, and the front of his trousers.
He stood when he saw me.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I walked toward him.
"What happened?""
Alejandro looked at me.
"Your wife fell.""
"I know that.""
"Then why are you asking me?""
I clenched my jaw.
"How did you find her?""
"I came to your house.""
"Why?""
"I needed to deliver something to Camila.""
"What?""
He ignored the question.
"Your gate was locked. I rang the bell. Nobody answered. Then I heard someone screaming.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did you see?""
"Your wife was lying at the bottom of the staircase. Her phone was on the floor, just out of reach.""
I looked down at his bloodstained hands.
"Was she conscious?""
"Partially.""
"What did she say?""
Alejandro's jaw tightened.
"She asked me to save her baby.""
I closed my eyes.
He continued.
"She kept apologizing because she couldn't stand up. She was worried about getting blood on my clothes.""
My throat tightened.
"Why didn't security open the gate?""
"Because they were waiting for your authorization.""
I couldn't answer.
Alejandro stepped closer.
"Do you know how long she was lying there?""
I looked away.
"She called me.""
"How many times?""
I said nothing.
"How many times, Mateo?""
I swallowed.
"Seventeen.""
His expression changed.
"Seventeen?""
"I was busy.""
Alejandro stared at me as if he had never seen anything so disgusting.
"She called you eighteen times?""
I nodded.
"And you didn't come?""
"I told her to call an ambulance.""
"She couldn't reach the gate. She couldn't stand. She was bleeding.""
"I didn't know it was that serious.""
Alejandro laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
"She told you she thought your son was dying.""
I couldn't breathe.
He turned away.
"Do you know what she asked me when I carried her to the car?""
I shook my head.
"She asked me not to tell you she had been crying.""
My eyes burned.
"She said she didn't want you to be upset.""
I looked at the blood on his shirt.
"Is she going to survive?""
Alejandro didn't answer immediately.
Then he said:
"The doctors are trying to save both of them.""
I sank into the nearest chair.
For several minutes, I heard nothing but the steady beeping of a monitor somewhere behind the operating-room doors.
Then Alejandro spoke again.
"There's something else you need to know.""
I looked up.
"What?""
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small envelope.
It was damp at the edges.
"Your wife asked me to give you this if anything happened to her.""
I stared at the envelope.
"What's inside?""
"Read it.""
My hands trembled as I opened it.
Inside was a folded sheet of paper.
Camila's handwriting.
Mateo,
I know you've been unhappy with me lately. I know you don't want to be home as much as you used to.
I wanted to tell you something tonight, but I didn't want to ruin your evening.
The doctor found something during the last scan. I was going to tell you after you came home.
I hope you're happy when you finally meet our son.
I love you.
At the bottom, she had written a date.
And beneath it, a sentence that made my heart stop.
If Alejandro is the one who brings this letter to you, please don't blame him. He has always been kinder to me than you realize.
I looked up.
Alejandro was watching me.
"What does that mean?""
He slowly sat down.
"It means your wife and I have been keeping something from you.""
Before I could ask another question, the operating-room doors opened.
A surgeon stepped into the corridor.
"Mr. Villarreal?""
I jumped to my feet.
"Yes. My wife?""
The surgeon removed his mask.
"We managed to stabilize her, but there's a serious complication.""
I grabbed Alejandro's arm without realizing it.
"Tell me about my son.""
The surgeon looked directly into my eyes.
"Your son is alive.""
My knees nearly gave way.
"But there's something you need to understand. The next few hours will determine whether he survives.""
Then he added:
"And your wife has been asking for someone.""
"Me?""
The surgeon hesitated.
"No, Mr. Villarreal.""
May you like
He glanced toward Alejandro.
"She asked for Mr. Serrano.""
