Book 3: Chapter 40

Camila was momentarily speechless, clearly taken aback. “You… you cheated on her?” she repeated, the disbelief evident in her tone. For once, she seemed at a loss for words, something Esmeralda had never thought possible.

“Yes,” Diego said quietly, his voice thick with what almost sounded like regret. “And that’s why she’s been distant. I’m the one who put this distance between us. Esmeralda has every right to feel the way she does.”

Camila let out a sharp sigh, as though grappling with the unexpected complication this revelation brought.

“Diego, why on earth would you do that?” she asked, her voice lower now, less accusatory, as though she were attempting to understand.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, sounding defeated. “It… it was a mistake, a terrible mistake. And I’m paying for it now. Every day, I see what I’ve done to our marriage, how much I’ve hurt her.” His voice softened, almost a whisper. “But she’s still here. She hasn’t left, hasn’t walked away, an