"Papá! Axel wants to talk to you! NOW!"
I fought the urge to rub my temples. Dios mío, I could feel the headache forming already.
Camilla turned back to , vibrating with excitent. "You really should have told sooner, Axelito." She grabbed my arm like we were best friends. "I would have prepared everything! Flowers, candles, the entire romantic atmosphere! But no matter. We can still fix it."
Axelito? What the heck?
I wanted to roll my eyes but smiled instead. "You’re absolutely right, Camila."
Her chest puffed with pride. "I always am."
Oh, this was going to be fun. With this fucking dumb Camilla, everything was going to go way easier than I had planned.
I tilted my head as if I was in deep thought. "Actually, before we begin, do you mind fetching Rosa and..." I paused dramatically, watching her eyes widen in anticipation, "...María José?"
Camila gasped so violently that I feared she might pass out.
"María José? María José?" She clutched her chest like I’d just proposed to her. "You an to tell you want to announce it in front of her?"
"Of course." I sighed, as if it pained . "She needs to let go of that childish crush she has on . It’s about ti she faces reality."
Camila squealed, bouncing on her toes like an overexcited chihuahua. "Finally! I’ve been saying this for months, but does anyone listen to ? No! But you, Axelito... you’re a man of reason! A man of action! Rosa and I are going to beco sisters-in-law. I don’t care who marries you as long as it’s not María José! I will gladly help with this!"
Before I could even smirk at my victory, she turned around and took off like a woman on a mission, nearly trampling a poor maid in the process.
******I barely had ti to adjust my posture before Camila ca racing back, dragging Rosa behind her like an auctioned goat at the market.
"There he is!" Camila sang, presenting like a feast before a starving guest.
The second Rosa’s eyes landed on , her lips parted in a gasp, and... Dios mío—she ran into my arms, burying her face in my chest.
Oh, Axel! she breathed. I knew you’d co for !
I swallowed back the bile. What the fuck was this art? Why was she acting like she didn’t sneak out at night and go beyond the pack borders every Wednesday and Saturday?
Hell, she was a damn good actress. Poor Axel must think she was showing him real love. The idea that Axel was going to marry a woman like her made my insides tingle.
I smiled. Axel’s smile. The soft, reassuring one that probably made María José’s heart race.
"I always co for you, Rosa," I murmured, stroking her hair. "You’re the only woman in my eyes. No one else cos close."
Rosa let out a shaky breath, and her entire body trembled in my arms. She clutched at my shirt like a heroine in a show, her eyes glassy with emotion.
"I... I have been waiting for this mont my whole life," she whispered, her voice thick with tears.
Yes, you have, but not for the reason you’re making it seem.
Anyway, whoever Rosa truly was was none of my business. What I needed to do was to play my part and ruin Axel’s life.
I cupped her cheek, my thumb brushing away a crocodile tear on her face and I leaned in. It was just enough to make it look intimate. Just enough to make María José see.
And oh, she saw.
I felt her before I spotted her. I caught a hold of her scent. It was crisp like rain-soaked lilies. It curled through the air, flooding to my senses before my gaze finally landed on her.
She stood near a corner, partially hidden behind a grand column. She was watching us... particularly , Axel with wide stricken eyes.
Even from the distance, I could see the way her throat bobbed and the way her hands gripped her scarf tightly like she’d already realized Axel had just ruined her life.
Not to worry, María José... Big Bad Daddy Luis will get it fixed and all will be well and good again.
Ah... finally, everything was perfect.
I turned my attention back to Rosa and... Dios, forgive because I ran a hand through her hair, pulling her even closer.
I was whispering softly. "I was a fool, Rosa. A fool for not telling you sooner."
She inhaled eyes searching my face. "Axel..."
I tilted her chin up and let my lips ghost over her forehead, pressing a feather-light kiss against her skin.
That apparently, didn’t settle well with soone.
A sharp thud resounded in the air and the sound of sothing—no, soone, hitting the floor followed.
I turned my head just in ti to see María José on her hands and knees, her breath coming out in shaky gasps.
Rosa gave one of her best performances as she gasped. "María José..."
I waved casually. "Ah, María José! I didn’t see you there." I gave her my best Axel smile. "How are you, hermanita?"
Her head snapped up at the word. I had called her sister. Her face was pale, eyes rimd with unshed tears. She looked utterly and devastatingly broken.
For a split second, my chest ached to see her in so much pain. However, sacrifices needed to be made for the greater good.
I crushed the feeling.
Camila, thanks to her wretched soul, made the mont even better.
"Oh, what’s wrong with you now?" she scoffed, striding over to María José. "You look like you just lost your puppy.
María José flinched. Her eyes were still darting between and Rosa who was still wrapped in my arms.
Camila gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth. "Wait! don’t tell ..." She bent to et María José’s height on the floor, shooting her so death glares. "You actually thought he ca here for you?"
María José visibly swallowed. Damn, her throat was working hard.
Camila snorted. "Please, María José. Axel ca here to say it to your face. He wants Rosa, not you." Her smile was cruel. "So you better know your place and get the hell out of our way."
The silence was deafening.
And then, María José did sothing unexpected.
She looked at .
Directly. I gulped. I hadn’t expected that.
She was looking at like she needed to say it. Like she refused to believe it unless it ca from my mouth. Or more like unless I looked into her eyes and said it.
Her lips trembled. "Axel..."
Her voice was small. She was barely whispering. My heart was protesting against my actions. But I needed to hurt now so that we would enjoy everlasting peace together in our cute house and with our cute kids.
I tilted my head, arching a brow at my soon-to-be wife. "Didn’t you hear Camila?"
María José let out a gurgling sound like she was being strangled.
I took a step forward, smiling sweetly. "Or do you need to slap the words into your ears?"
And thus, she recoiled like I had struck her already. A single tear slipped down her cheek.
And Dios mío, sothing in my chest twisted again.
Hard.
I hated doing this to her but I guess it was okay. I’d fix her later.
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