Chapter 8: The Fall
The morning light filtered through the large windows of the penthouse, but for Lía, it offered little solace. She sat at the kitchen island, absentmindedly stirring her coffee. Her thoughts churned endlessly: the pregnancy, Alejandro's distance, and the relentless pressure from her father. The weight of it all felt unbearable, yet she had no choice but to carry on.
She placed a hand on her abdomen, barely showing any signs of life growing within. "It's just us," she whispered, her voice cracking. "We'll figure this out."
Arriving at her father's office later that day, Lía was greeted with his usual disdain cloaked in a polished exterior. Julio's sharp eyes scanned her from head to toe as if appraising a flawed asset.
"You're late," he remarked coldly, without glancing up from his papers.
"I'm only a few minutes behind schedule," Lía responded, attempting to maintain her composure.
Julio finally looked up, his expression hard. "When will you stop making excuses? If you can't handle simple tasks, how do you expect to hold onto your marriage? Or this company's reputation?"
Lía clenched her fists under the table, biting back a retort. She needed to survive this meeting, not escalate it.
To make matters worse, Valeria, her ambitious rival, entered the room moments later. As always, Valeria exuded confidence, her sharp heels clicking against the polished floor.
"Good morning," Valeria said, her tone dripping with false sweetness. She shot a pointed look at Lía. "I hope you're ready for today's presentation. It's a shame to keep investors waiting."
Lía nodded silently, determined not to rise to the bait.
The presentation itself was grueling. While Lía had prepared diligently, Valeria seemed intent on undermining her at every turn.
"Actually, Lía," Valeria interjected midway through, "that proposal might be a bit ambitious, given your... limited experience."
Lía's cheeks burned, but she forced herself to remain calm. "The projections are based on reliable data. I believe it's a risk worth taking."
The investors exchanged skeptical glances, and Julio's disapproving frown deepened.
As the meeting dragged on, Lía began to feel lightheaded. She hadn't eaten much that morning, and the stress was taking its toll. Her vision blurred slightly, but she pressed on, refusing to show weakness.
When the meeting finally ended, Julio pulled her aside.
"Is this how you intend to handle responsibility?" he snapped. "If you fail here, don't think Alejandro will stick around. You're already hanging by a thread as it is."
Lía swallowed hard, her hands trembling. "I'm trying my best, Father."
"Your best isn't good enough," he retorted, turning away without another word.
Meanwhile, across town, Camila was hard at work. While Lía struggled under the weight of her responsibilities, Camila had grown increasingly suspicious of Sofía's sudden reappearance.
Sitting in a cozy café with her laptop open, Camila sifted through news articles and social media posts. There wasn't much about Sofía that seemed out of the ordinary, but Camila's gut told her there was more to the story.
Finally, she found a lead: a recent photo of Sofía at an event overseas, standing beside a man whose name sounded familiar—Victor Ferrer, a notorious corporate shark known for hostile takeovers.
"This can't be a coincidence," Camila muttered, scribbling down notes.
She decided to dig deeper, determined to uncover whatever connections Sofía might have to Alejandro's business or personal life.
Lía left her father's office in a daze, her mind racing with his cruel words and the overwhelming weight of her situation. She had another meeting to attend that afternoon, but as she walked toward the bus stop, her body began to betray her.
The world tilted, her vision swimming as her breath quickened. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her legs felt like they might give out at any moment.
"Just a little farther," she whispered, clutching a nearby lamppost for support.
But her body had reached its limit. As she stepped onto the crosswalk, her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the pavement.
The sounds of concerned voices surrounded her as strangers rushed to her aid. Someone called for an ambulance, while another offered her water. Lía's eyes fluttered open briefly, her heart pounding as she tried to focus.
"I'm fine," she murmured, though it was clear she wasn't.
In the distance, she thought she saw a familiar face—a young woman with sharp features and piercing eyes. It was Valeria, standing a few feet away, watching impassively.
"Figures," Valeria muttered under her breath, barely audible over the commotion. Then she turned and walked away, leaving Lía to fend for herself.
When Lía awoke in the hospital, the sterile white walls and the faint smell of antiseptic greeted her. A nurse entered the room, offering a kind smile.
"You're lucky someone called for help," the nurse said. "It seems like you've been pushing yourself too hard."
Lía nodded weakly, her hand instinctively moving to her abdomen. "Is the baby... okay?"
The nurse's expression softened. "Yes, but you need to take better care of yourself. Stress and exhaustion aren't good for you or the baby."
As the nurse left the room, Lía leaned back against the pillow, tears welling in her eyes. She was relieved, but the reality of her situation weighed heavily on her.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her phone buzzing on the bedside table. She picked it up and saw a message from her father:
"Rest up. You have another meeting tomorrow. No excuses."
Lía closed her eyes, her tears falling silently. For the first time, she wondered if she had the strength to keep going.