Chapter 5: A Permanent Shadow
The days after Alejandro left for his business trip stretched endlessly, each hour heavier than the last. Lía found herself retreating into the quiet corners of the penthouse, where every shadow felt like a reminder of her growing doubts. She clutched her coffee mug tightly, staring out at the sprawling city skyline, wondering if her marriage to Alejandro had ever stood a chance.
Camila's voice echoed in her mind from their phone call the night before: *"You deserve better than this, Lía. You don't have to stay in a loveless marriage just to prove something to your father—or to yourself."*
That evening, Camila arrived at the penthouse unannounced, her vibrant energy filling the otherwise lifeless space. She carried a bottle of wine in one hand and a bag of takeout in the other.
"I couldn't let you mope around alone," Camila said, setting the food on the kitchen counter. "You've been too quiet since the dinner."
Lía managed a small smile. "I appreciate it. I've just been...thinking."
"About what?" Camila asked, pouring two glasses of wine.
Lía hesitated before answering. "About whether Alejandro and I were doomed from the start. It's clear he doesn't care about this marriage, and maybe...maybe he never will."
Camila placed a comforting hand on Lía's shoulder. "Listen to me. This isn't your fault. Your father forced you into this, and Alejandro's baggage with Sofía isn't something you can fix. You've done everything you can to make this work."
"I just keep wondering if there's more I could do," Lía admitted, her voice trembling. "If I could somehow make him see me differently."
Camila's expression hardened. "You shouldn't have to beg for someone's attention, Lía. Alejandro needs to wake up and realize what he's losing—or you need to think about walking away."
The words struck a chord, but Lía couldn't bring herself to agree. "I'm not ready to give up yet," she said softly.
Camila sighed, frustration flashing across her face. "Then promise me one thing: don't lose yourself trying to save something that isn't worth saving."
The next morning, Lía received an unexpected call from her father.
"I need you to help with a project," Julio said briskly, wasting no time on pleasantries. "It's a proposal we're presenting to a major client, and I want you to be part of it."
Lía hesitated. Her father rarely involved her in the business side of things, preferring to keep her in the background as a pawn for his schemes. "Why me?" she asked cautiously.
"Because I said so," Julio snapped. "Be at the office tomorrow morning. Don't embarrass me."
The following day, Lía arrived at the sleek offices of her father's company, feeling out of place in her tailored dress and heels. She was introduced to the team working on the project, which included Valeria, a senior manager with a sharp tongue and a reputation for being ruthless.
From the moment they met, Valeria's disdain for Lía was palpable. "Ah, the boss's daughter," Valeria said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Here to play at being part of the team?"
Lía bristled but kept her composure. "I'm here to contribute," she said evenly.
Valeria smirked. "We'll see about that."
The tension between them grew as the day progressed. Valeria seemed determined to undermine Lía at every turn, criticizing her suggestions and dismissing her input.
During a break, Lía retreated to the break room, her confidence shaken. She was pouring herself a cup of coffee when Valeria entered, her heels clicking against the tiled floor.
"You're out of your depth here," Valeria said, leaning casually against the counter. "You might fool everyone else, but I see right through you. You're just a spoiled little girl pretending to matter."
Lía clenched her fists, her temper flaring. "You don't know anything about me," she shot back.
Valeria's smile was cold. "I know enough. And if you think you can coast through this project on your last name, you're in for a rude awakening."
As the days wore on, Lía threw herself into the project, determined to prove Valeria wrong. She spent late nights poring over reports and preparing presentations, fueled by a mix of anger and a desire to prove her worth.
But the strain began to take its toll. By the end of the week, Lía found herself feeling unusually tired and lightheaded. Her hands trembled as she flipped through a stack of documents, and a wave of dizziness forced her to sit down.
"Are you okay?" one of her colleagues asked, concern evident in their voice.
"I'm fine," Lía said quickly, brushing off the question. But the truth was, she didn't feel fine at all.
One evening, as Lía sat in the penthouse trying to gather her strength, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Alejandro. She stared at the screen in disbelief before answering.
"Alejandro?" she said hesitantly.
"I need you to sign some papers for the house renovation," he said without preamble. "I'll have them sent over tomorrow."
The coldness in his tone stung, but Lía forced herself to respond calmly. "How's the trip?"
"It's fine," he said curtly.
Before she could ask anything else, he added, "I'm busy. I'll call you later." The line went dead.
Lía stared at her phone, a mix of frustration and sadness welling up inside her. She couldn't shake the feeling that Alejandro was slipping further away with every passing day.
That night, as Lía prepared for bed, the dizziness returned. She gripped the edge of the bathroom sink for support, her vision swimming.
"What's wrong with me?" she murmured, her voice trembling.
As she straightened up, a sudden realization hit her, sending a chill down her spine. Could it be...?
Her hand instinctively went to her stomach, the possibility dawning on her with startling clarity.
For the first time in weeks, Lía felt a flicker of hope—mixed with fear. If she was pregnant, everything was about to change. But how would Alejandro react?
And what would it mean for a marriage that already felt like a shadow of what it should have been?