The Lies We Tell Ourselves

Chapter 12: The Price of a Broken Heart

Camila's POV

The air in my office felt thick, heavy with the stale scent of stale coffee and the lingering tension of Eric's presence. He stood in the middle of the room, his face a mask of anger and betrayal, his body radiating the kind of energy that could ignite a room in flames.

'You seriously fired Vanessa and severed ties with my family's firm behind my ex-wife? You did all this for Selena?' he spat, the words dripping with venom. He was wearing that same smug smirk he'd always worn, the one that had always grated on my nerves. He was arrogant, entitled, and he had the audacity to question my choices.

'That is exactly what I did,' I countered, my voice cool and controlled. There was no need for theatrics. He knew the truth. He knew that I had chosen Selena over his pathetic attempt at a family, over his venomous family, over everything he stood for.

'How long until you get sick of her?' he challenged, his eyes narrowed. 'How long until you get sick of Kelly? She has a ten-month-old daughter, you know. The screaming, the crying—it's all too much.'

My eyebrows shot up, my patience wearing thin. My heart ached for Kelly, my daughter, the beautiful, innocent little girl who deserved so much more than the toxic environment Eric had created. And Selena, my Selena, she deserved nothing but peace and love.

'Leave my office, Eric,' I snarled, my voice laced with steel. 'You threw your wife away, and I picked up the broken pieces. Trust me, Selena is a goddess compared to Vanessa. I should know, I've fucked them both.'

The words hung in the air, heavy and charged. His eyes widened, his face drained of all color. He'd never been able to handle the truth, the raw and unfiltered reality of his actions and the consequences they had wrought.

'You fucked my wife?' he gasped, his voice a pathetic squeak.

'Your ex-wife,' I corrected, my voice a low growl. 'And yes, she was screaming my name, wetting my sheets, not thinking of you at all. And they live in my house now. They're mine, not yours. So thank you for picking that whore Vanessa, because it gave me my daughter and Selena, who will one day be my wife.'

I stood up, my anger finally boiling over. I reached out, my hand a blur of motion, and slapped him across the face. My ring, a hefty, silver band, cut into his skin, leaving behind a stinging red mark. His eyes were wide with shock and pain, his face contorted in a grimace.

'Get out,' I growled, my voice raw with anger. 'And don't ever come back.'

He stumbled back, his words a mumbled apology, and fled my office, leaving behind a miasma of betrayal and regret. I stood there, my heart pounding in my chest, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I had done it. I had finally cut all ties with Eric and his toxic world.

And now, I was free to build a new life with Selena, a life filled with love, laughter, and the promise of a future brighter than any they had ever dreamed of.