Chapter 3 The Look That Broke Me

The soft whoosh of the curtains dancing in the morning breeze filled the room as the Saturday sun filtered in. I leaned down and kissed Carlos on the cheek.

"I'll be back soon," I said, forcing a smile. "Just need to grab a few things before tonight's fundraiser."

Carlos didn't look up from his phone. "Don't be long. I need you to write my speech."

As I turned toward the door, I stopped short. Daniela and Mateo were in the hallway, standing like guards.

"Going somewhere?" Daniela asked sweetly, though her eyes held no kindness.

"I'm meeting Sofia and the architect for the hospital project," I replied, trying to move past.

Daniela stepped in front of me, silk robe swishing. "Always running. No wonder Carlos thinks you're... not enough."

I froze. "What did you say?"

Mateo, standing beside her, chimed in, voice sharp. "That's why Daddy spends more time with us. You're not fun."

"Mateo, stop," Daniela said, without really meaning it. Her lips curled into a smile. "But he's not wrong."

My hands shook. "Carlos is not your father. Stop filling his head with lies."

"Lies?" Daniela laughed softly, a cruel sound. "The only lie is your marriage. Five years, and still no children. Not even that baby you lost."

Her words hit me like a slap. I felt my breath catch. My voice broke. "How dare you..."

Footsteps echoed on the stairs. Carlos appeared, face hard to read.

"Emily's upset again," Daniela said with a dramatic sigh. "So emotional. Over nothing."

I turned to Carlos, voice trembling. "She's bringing up the baby. The one we lost. That's cruel, Carlos. Say something."

Carlos slowly came down the stairs. "You need to stop clinging to the past. It's not healthy."

"Not healthy?" My heart pounded. "She's using our pain to hurt me!"

Daniela gave a fake gasp. "I only said it was sad... that you never had a child."

Mateo tugged Carlos's sleeve. "She called me a liar, too."

"I didn't!" I said quickly.

"Enough," Carlos snapped. "Every morning, it's the same with you. Daniela and Mateo are family. When will you accept that?"

"Family?" I laughed bitterly. "Is that what we're calling it now?"

Carlos stepped closer, gripping my arm. "What exactly are you implying?"

I pulled away. "Let me go. I know what's going on between you two."

Carlos's eyes narrowed. "This paranoia of yours... maybe you should talk to Dr. Mendez again. Clearly, the anxiety meds aren't working."

"I don't need pills! I need a husband who defends me!"

Daniela slid up behind him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "She's getting hysterical again. Maybe I should take Mateo upstairs."

Carlos turned. "No, we're leaving. I promised to take Mateo to the baseball field. You" he pointed at me" clear your head. And when we come back, I expect you to apologize to him."

"Apologize? For what?!"

"For creating a toxic environment," he said coldly. "For making a child feel unwelcome in his home."

"This is MY home too!" I shouted. "I have rights here!"

Daniela let out a mocking laugh. "Please. Everything is in Carlos's name. The house. The cars. Even your precious foundation? Funded by him."

I turned to Carlos, hoping, begging, for him to speak up. He said nothing.

Daniela smirked. "Without Carlos, you're nothing."

"That's enough, Daniela," Carlos muttered, but his voice was soft, empty.

I grabbed my Mercedes G-Class G 63 AMG keys from the table. Clink. My fingers trembled.

"I'm leaving."

Behind me, Carlos called, "Be back by three. You need to get ready."

I didn't answer. I slammed the door shut. BANG.

As I walked to my car, blinking away tears, I saw it, through the front window. Carlos and Daniela, close together. Whispering. Laughing.

Café Mariana buzzed with soft clinks of cups and chatter. I spotted Sofia right away-her red Louis Vuitton scarf bright in the crowd. Next to her sat a man I recognized from photos: Alejandro Vega.

He stood when he saw me, tall and calm, with tousled dark hair and kind eyes.

"Emily!" Sofia stood and hugged me. She whispered, "You look terrible. What happened?"

I tried to smile. "Morning chaos. I'll explain later."

She held my arms. "Emily, this is Alejandro Vega, the architect I told you about."

Alejandro offered his hand. "Mrs. Reyes, it's an honor. Your work with the foundation is inspiring."

His voice was deep, with a soft accent. When I shook his hand, a strange warmth shot up my arm. Our eyes met, and I forgot to breathe for a moment.

"The pleasure's mine, Mr. Vega," I said.

"Please, Alejandro."

Sofia cleared her throat. "Coffee's coming. Shall we go over the presentation?"

For the next hour, Alejandro showed us designs for the children's hospital. His passion was clear in every word. When he spoke about making spaces that helped kids heal, his whole face lit up.

"My wife," he said softly, "passed away from cancer three years ago. She was a pediatric oncologist. These designs... they're her dream."

"I'm so sorry," I said, touched by his honesty.

He looked at me. "Thank you. I'm hoping to build something that keeps her spirit alive."

The way he said it, it made my chest ache. He was open with his pain. Loving. Honest.

So different from Carlos.

Sofia glanced at me. "Emily, Alejandro has some concerns about the budget. Maybe you can explain?"

I nodded. "Of course."

Alejandro pulled out papers. "There are some gaps in the numbers. What your team gave me doesn't match what was announced publicly. It's like money's missing."

My stomach dropped.

"I've noticed that too," Sofia added. "I tried to tell you before"

"Not here," I said quickly, looking around. "Let's talk later. At the fundraiser."

Alejandro nodded. "Of course. I didn't mean to worry you."

"No. I'm glad you brought it up," I said. "I just..."

My phone buzzed. A message from Carlos:

Where are you?

Sofia raised an eyebrow. "He's checking up on you again?"

"I should go," I muttered, standing.

Alejandro stood with me. "If I crossed a line, Emily"

"You didn't," I said. "And please, just call me Emily."

He smiled. Gentle. Warm. And something in me softened. "Emily, then. Until tonight."

As I stepped outside, the cold air stung my cheeks, but it wasn't the wind that made me shiver.

It was the feeling that everything I believed in, my marriage, my home, my work, was a lie.

And Alejandro Vega may be the only one willing to uncover the truth with me.