Camila's POV
My hands trembled as I stared at the message on my phone, my breath coming in short, uneven bursts.
"I thought you should know I'm pregnant with Matthew's child."
I read it again. And again. The words didn't change, but my world did.
This had to be a mistake. A sick, twisted joke.
Matthew and I had been together for years. Through highs and lows, heartbreaks and struggles. He had been my rock, my safe place, the man who swore to stand by my side no matter what.
And now? Now I was supposed to believe he had a child on the way with someone else?
My chest tightened, and for a moment, I thought I might throw up.
My mind raced, grasping at any possible explanation that wouldn't shatter my heart into a million pieces. Maybe it was a prank. Maybe someone was trying to ruin our relationship.
But deep down, a sickening voice whispered the truth.
I needed answers.
Forcing my legs to move, I stepped into the living room, where Matthew sat on the couch, his eyes fixed on the TV, completely unaware of the storm about to crash down on him.
I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. "We need to talk."
He turned his head, his brows furrowing at the tone of my voice. "What's wrong?"
I tightened my grip on my phone. "I got a message."
My voice wavered, the weight of the words pressing down on me. "Someone… someone is claiming she's pregnant with your child."
The air in the room grew thick, suffocating.
Matthew froze.
His body stiffened, his hand clenched into a fist on the couch. His face paled, but he didn't say a word.
I held my breath, waiting, hoping praying that he would laugh, tell me it was ridiculous, that it was some horrible misunderstanding.
But he didn't.
His silence was deafening.
A cold dread wrapped around my spine. "Is it true?" My voice cracked, betraying the storm inside me.
Matthew inhaled sharply and ran a hand through his hair. "Camila, there's something I need to tell you."
My stomach dropped. "Tell me what, Matthew?"
He hesitated for just a moment, but it was long enough. Long enough for me to know the answer before he even said it.
"I…" He exhaled, looking away. "I've been unfaithful."
I felt the floor beneath me vanish. My chest tightened, my pulse roaring in my ears.
The pain was instant and excruciating, like a blade twisting in my heart.
"You cheated on me?" My voice was barely above a whisper.
His head hung low. "I didn't mean for it to happen, Camila. It was a mistake."
I laughed at a hollow, humorless sound. "A mistake?"
My hands shook as I clenched them at my sides. "A mistake is forgetting to take out the trash, Matthew. This? This is betrayal."
"I know," he whispered, his voice thick with regret. "I know I hurt you, and I can't take it back. But I swear, it was never about love. It didn't mean anything—"
"It didn't mean anything?!" I cut him off, my voice rising. "Matthew, you slept with another woman! And now she's pregnant with your child!"
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "You told me you loved me. You promised me forever. And the whole time, you were lying to me?"
"I love you, Camila," he said, desperation in his voice. "I never wanted to hurt you. I was just…
" He swallowed hard, rubbing his face. "I was under pressure. We've been trying for so long. We've done everything, seen doctors, taken medication and nothing worked. And I—" His voice cracked. "I felt like I was losing hope."
I flinched as if he had struck me. "So because I couldn't give you a child, you ran into someone else's arms?"
"That's not what I meant," he said quickly. "I was weak, I made a terrible choice, and now… now I have to live with it."
I shook my head, my heart breaking more with every word. "You made that choice, Matthew. You didn't slip and fall into her bed, you chose to betray me."
His hands reached for mine, but I stepped back. "Don't," I snapped. "You don't get to comfort me. Not after this."
His eyes filled with pain. "I know you're angry. I know I hurt you. But please, Camila, don't let this be the end of us. Let me make it right."
"Make it right?" I scoffed. "How? By pretending this never happened? By sweeping your betrayal under the rug and playing house like nothing is wrong?"
His shoulders slumped. "I'll do anything. I'll spend the rest of my life proving to you that you're the only woman I love."
I let out a shaky breath, trying to hold myself together. "I have one question, Matthew."
He nodded quickly. "Anything."
"Would you have ever told me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "If she hadn't sent me that message, would you have ever confessed?"
His face paled. His mouth opened, then closed. He hesitated again.
And that was my answer.
I felt my chest cave in, my breath coming in short, shallow gasps. My entire body trembled as I whispered, "You would have let me marry you, thinking I was enough. You would have let me live a lie."
Matthew's face twisted in anguish. "Camila, please—"
I turned away. "We're done, Matthew. The engagement, the future I thought we had it's over."
I started toward the door, my mind clouded with rage, betrayal, and devastation.
Then, my phone buzzed again.
I glanced down, expecting another message from the woman who had stolen my future.
But it wasn't her.
It was from an unknown number.
I almost ignored it, but something in my gut told me to read it.
When I did, my blood turned to ice.
"He lied to you again, Camila. She's not the only one."
I stopped breathing. My body went rigid, my heart hammering against my ribs.
I slowly turned to Matthew, my eyes burning into him with fury.
He watched me cautiously, probably assuming I was reading another message from her. But he had no idea.
No fucking idea.
I let out a sharp, bitter laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. Then, I snapped my gaze back to him and snarled, "What the fuck, Matthew? If she's not the only one, then how many are there?"
Matthew's eyes widened in pure, undeniable fear.