Chapter 3: The Woman Who Trusted Another Man
I couldn't understand what the surgeon had just said.
My wife was fighting for her life.
Our son was barely surviving.
And she was asking for Alejandro.
Not me.
"Why does she want him?"" I demanded.
The surgeon looked uncomfortable.
"Mr. Villarreal, your wife has been through a traumatic experience. She has repeatedly asked whether the man who brought her here is safe.""
Alejandro stepped forward.
"Is she conscious?""
"Briefly. We've stabilized her blood pressure, but she needs close monitoring. The baby has been transferred to neonatal intensive care.""
"Can I see her?""
The surgeon nodded.
"One person at a time. Briefly.""
I moved toward the doors.
"Then I'll go first.""
But Alejandro didn't move aside.
"She asked for me.""
I stared at him.
"She's my wife.""
"And she's the woman I carried down your staircase while you were drinking tequila.""
I grabbed his shirt.
"Watch your mouth.""
He didn't flinch.
"Or what? You'll destroy another man's life because you can't stand hearing the truth?""
The surgeon stepped between us.
"Enough. This is a hospital.""
I released Alejandro.
He straightened his shirt.
Then he looked at me.
"Go ahead, Mateo. See your wife.""
I turned toward the operating-room doors.
But before I could enter, a nurse approached.
"Mr. Villarreal, there's a problem.""
"What now?""
"Your wife is becoming distressed whenever we mention your name.""
I felt as though someone had struck me.
"That's impossible.""
"She became agitated when she learned you were here. Her heart rate increased, and she began crying.""
I stared at the nurse.
"She's afraid of me?""
The nurse didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
Alejandro closed his eyes briefly.
Then he said something I would never forget.
"She wasn't afraid of dying, Mateo. She was afraid of dying while still waiting for you.""
The nurse looked toward him.
"Mr. Serrano, she has been asking for you.""
He nodded.
"Tell her I'm here.""
I watched him walk through the doors.
The man I had once called my brother was about to comfort my wife.
And I was standing outside.
Alone.
Alejandro entered the recovery room several minutes later.
Camila was pale beneath the hospital lights.
An IV line ran into her arm. A blood-pressure monitor wrapped around her wrist. Her dark hair was tangled against the pillow.
She looked smaller than I remembered.
Not because she had changed.
Because I had forgotten how fragile a person could become when nobody was there to protect them.
Her eyes opened when she heard his voice.
"Alejandro?""
He approached the bed.
"I'm here, Camila.""
She tried to move.
"Don't get up," he said gently.
"You've been through enough.""
"Where's my baby?""
Alejandro pulled a chair closer.
"He's in the neonatal unit. The doctors are taking care of him.""
"Is he breathing?""
"Yes.""
"Did you see him?""
"I saw him for a moment.""
She started crying.
"He's so small.""
Alejandro took a tissue from the bedside table.
"He's a fighter.""
Camila closed her eyes.
"I was so scared.""
"I know.""
"I called Mateo.""
Alejandro looked down.
"I know.""
"Many times.""
"I know.""
She swallowed.
"Did he come?""
Alejandro hesitated.
Then he answered honestly.
"He's here now.""
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"Of course he is.""
She turned her face toward the window.
Alejandro said nothing.
After a moment, Camila reached for his hand.
"Thank you.""
"You don't have to thank me.""
"You came.""
He lowered his head.
"I should have come sooner.""
"No."" Her fingers tightened around his.
"You came when I needed someone.""
He looked at her.
"Camila, you need to rest.""
She nodded.
Then, after a long silence, she whispered:
"Did you give him the letter?""
"Yes.""
"Did he read it?""
"Yes.""
She closed her eyes again.
"Then he knows.""
"Not everything.""
Her eyes opened.
Alejandro leaned closer.
"There's something you should tell him yourself when you're strong enough.""
Camila shook her head.
"Not yet.""
"He's going to find out.""
"I know.""
"He's already suspicious.""
She looked toward the door.
"Then perhaps it's time he learned what he really did.""
Outside the recovery room, I was pacing.
I had called my private physician, the hospital director, and three people who might be able to get me more information.
None of them could tell me anything useful.
I had never felt so powerless.
When Alejandro finally came out, I rushed toward him.
"How is she?""
"Exhausted.""
"Did she say anything?""
"Yes.""
"What?""
"She asked about the baby.""
"That's it?""
He looked at me.
"She asked whether you were angry.""
I blinked.
"Angry about what?""
"About me bringing her here.""
I shook my head.
"This is ridiculous. Why would she think that?""
Alejandro stared at me.
"Because she knows you.""
I looked away.
Then I remembered the letter.
"What was the medical finding she mentioned?""
His expression hardened.
"You should ask her.""
"She can't talk right now.""
"Then wait.""
"I don't have time to wait.""
He laughed bitterly.
"Funny. You had plenty of time to ignore eighteen phone calls.""
I stepped closer.
"Tell me what you know.""
Alejandro studied me for several seconds.
Then he reached into his jacket again.
This time, he removed a folded medical document.
I recognized the hospital logo.
"What is that?""
"Something Camila gave me two weeks ago.""
I took it.
The first page contained her name, her date of birth, and several medical observations.
I skimmed the document.
Then I saw the highlighted section.
*Maternal-Fetal Assessment.*
There were additional notes about a potential complication involving the placenta.
The physician had recommended immediate monitoring and restricted activity.
At the bottom was another note.
Patient's husband informed of recommended precautions.
I looked up.
"When was this?""
"Two weeks ago.""
"Why didn't she tell me?""
Alejandro's face changed.
"She did.""
I shook my head.
"No, she didn't.""
"She called you from the clinic.""
I remembered a call.
A brief conversation while I was negotiating the purchase of a new dealership.
Camila had asked me to come home early.
I had told her I was in a meeting.
She had mentioned that the doctor wanted to discuss something.
I had replied that I trusted the doctor and she should handle it.
I had forgotten the conversation completely.
Alejandro watched the realization spread across my face.
"She didn't want to worry you," he said.
"So she called me.""
My throat tightened.
"You?""
"She asked me to help arrange transportation to her appointments.""
"Why didn't she ask me?""
"She did.""
The answer was immediate.
And devastating.
"She asked you first," Alejandro continued.
"Then she asked again. Then she stopped asking.""
I looked down at the document.
A date was printed near the bottom.
Two weeks earlier.
I remembered that day.
I had taken Valeria to a luxury resort outside the city.
Camila had sent me a photograph of the ultrasound.
I had barely looked at it.
I had replied with a thumbs-up.
A thumbs-up.
For the son I had supposedly spent years praying for.
I rubbed my forehead.
"Why did you get involved?""
Alejandro leaned against the wall.
"Because Camila needed help.""
"She's my wife.""
"Then perhaps you should have acted like her husband.""
I wanted to hit him.
Instead, I looked at the medical document again.
There was another page.
A handwritten note had been attached to the back.
I recognized Camila's handwriting.
Alejandro,
If anything happens to me, please make sure Mateo knows I never wanted to keep anything from him.
I only wanted to give him the family he always dreamed of.
My eyes moved to the final line.
I don't know if he will forgive me for what I'm about to do, but I hope someday he understands.
I stared at Alejandro.
"What was she planning?""
He didn't answer.
"Tell me.""
He folded his arms.
"She was going to leave you.""
The words seemed to echo through the corridor.
I laughed instinctively.
It was an absurd idea.
Camila had spent years building a life with me.
She had never threatened to leave.
Not when I worked late.
Not when I missed anniversaries.
Not even when I started coming home smelling of another woman's perfume.
"You're lying.""
"Why would I lie?""
"She loves me.""
"She did.""
I stepped toward him.
"What does that mean?""
Alejandro lowered his voice.
"It means loving someone doesn't mean accepting everything they do to you.""
I shook my head.
"She wouldn't leave while pregnant.""
"She had already made arrangements.""
"What arrangements?""
"An apartment. A lawyer. A temporary place to stay after the baby was born.""
My heart began pounding.
"Who helped her?""
"I did.""
I stared at him.
For a moment, I couldn't form a sentence.
The man I had ruined was helping my wife prepare to leave me.
And somehow, he had become the person she trusted most.
"Why?"" I finally asked.
Alejandro looked at me with an expression I couldn't understand.
"Because she asked me to help her protect her son.""
"Our son.""
"Yes. Your son.""
He paused.
"But there's something else, Mateo.""
I waited.
"Camila didn't just ask me to help her leave.""
He looked toward the recovery-room doors.
"She asked me to help her uncover what happened to the money you claimed was missing from your company six years ago.""
My blood ran cold.
The money.
The missing construction funds that had destroyed Alejandro's career.
The accusation that had ended our friendship.
The scandal I had buried with lawyers, influence, and years of silence.
I grabbed his arm.
"What does Camila know?""
Alejandro pulled away.
"More than you think.""
Before I could respond, a nurse rushed out of the recovery room.
"Mr. Serrano! Mr. Villarreal!""
We both turned.
"Your wife is awake, and she's asking to speak with both of you.""
I hurried toward the door.
But the nurse stopped me.
"One more thing.""
"What?""
She looked between us.
"She says she wants the truth about the money before she signs the documents.""
My stomach dropped.
"What documents?""
The nurse handed me a sealed hospital envelope.
My name was written across the front.
May you like
And beneath it, in Camila's handwriting, were six words:
The truth about our son's real inheritance.
