The millionaire’s autistic son hadn’t yet walked until the new employee did something that seemed to say, “This can’t be happening. My son has never walked toward anyone.” Sebastián’s eyes filled with tears as he watched Matías take his first hesitant steps toward Camila. The two-year-old, who for months had remained motionless in his silent world, now stretched his small arms toward the woman in the blue uniform who waited for him kneeling on the floor.

“Come here, my love,” Camila whispered, her voice trembling. “You can do it, Matías.” The boy smiled for the first time in weeks and took another step, then another. His legs trembled, but he didn’t stop until he reached Camila’s arms, who hugged him tenderly as tears streamed down her cheeks.

 She accomplished what I never could, Sebastián thought, feeling a mixture of gratitude and something deeper he didn’t dare name. “Mr. Restrepo,” Camila said, turning to him. “Look what your son did.” Sebastián approached slowly, his heart pounding, and knelt beside them. And for the first time in two years, Matías looked him straight in the eyes. “Dad,” the boy murmured.

 The word struck Sebastián like lightning. Matías had spoken, had walked, all in the same day. “I don’t know how to thank you,” Sebastián said to Camila, his voice breaking with emotion. Camila looked at him intently. In her brown eyes, there was something that made him feel naked, vulnerable. “You don’t have to thank me for anything,” she replied. “Matías is special.”

 He just needed someone to believe in him. Like I need someone to believe in me, Sebastián thought, lost in the gaze of this woman who had transformed his life in three months. The moment was broken when Matías slipped out of Camila’s arms and wobbled toward his father. Sebastián picked him up, hugging him tightly as the boy laughed.

 “Cami!” Matías called, pointing at her. “Cami, beautiful!” Camila blushed and sat up in her blue uniform. Sebastián noticed how the fabric clung to her slender figure, how her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted her white apron.

 “What’s happening to me? She’s my employee,” he mentally scolded himself, but he couldn’t look away. “I should be making dinner for the little one,” Camila said, avoiding his eyes. “He’s used up so much energy today. Camila, wait.” Sebastián stopped her, “You did it today, it’s a miracle.” She turned around, and for a moment the air between them crackled with electricity. Sebastián took a step toward her, forgetting he was holding Matías in his arms. “Mr. Restrepo, I just…”

The sound of the front door interrupted her words. High heels clicked against the marble of the foyer as she approached the living room. “Sebastián, my love.” Isabela’s melodious voice filled the space. “I came to see you.” Isabela Córdoba stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing the scene.

 Sebastián held Matías in his arms, Camila stood beside them, toys scattered on the floor, and a palpable intimacy hung in the air. His green eyes hardened as he studied the young employee. “Isabela,” Sebastián said, his voice losing all its previous warmth. “I wasn’t expecting to see you today.” “Clearly,” Isabela replied. Her perfect smile didn’t reach his eyes.

 “And who is she?” Camila straightened her shoulders, maintaining her dignity despite feeling like an insect under a microscope. “Camila Vázquez, ma’am,” she said firmly. “I’m Matías’s caregiver.” “Ah, the new employee.” Isabela approached with feline grace. “I’ve heard about you.” What could she have heard? Camila wondered, feeling a warning shiver run down her spine. Camila has been extraordinary with Matías, Sebastián interjected. He walked for the first time today. Isabela raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow. Seriously, how convenient. Isabela’s tone made Camila feel as if she had done something wrong. Sebastián noticed the attention immediately. Isabela, Camila is a certified occupational therapist, he explained. Matías has made incredible progress under her care. Of course, Isabela smiled, she must be very talented.

 Matías began to stir in his father’s arms, reaching out his little arms toward Camila. “Cami, Cami!” the boy cried. Isabela watched the scene with calculating eyes, observing the way Matías was searching for the maid, the way Sebastián was looking at her, the ease between the three of them. “This is more dangerous than I thought,” she thought.

Isabela reflected, her mind already drawing plans. Well, Isabela said in a sweet voice, “I’d better let you work, dear. Children need routine, don’t they?” Camila nodded, taking Matías from Sebastián’s arms. Their fingers brushed briefly, and they both felt the electric shock of the contact.

 “Sebastián,” Isabela continued, “could we talk in private? I have something important to discuss with you.” Sebastián hesitated, watching Camila walk away with her son. “Sure,” he finally replied. As Camila disappeared down the hall with Matías, Isabela approached Sebastián and touched his arm possessively. “My love,” she murmured. “I think we need to talk about appropriate boundaries with the servants.”

 Sebastian frowned. “What are you talking about?” Isabel smiled at him, but her eyes held a coldness Sebastian had never seen before. “Oh, Sebastian, you’re so innocent,” she whispered. “There are things a man in your position can’t afford to ignore.” “What exactly is she implying?” Sebastian wondered, feeling a growing unease in his chest.

 “Isabela, Camila is an excellent professional,” he said, subtly freeing himself from his cousin’s grip. “Matías has improved more in three months than in two years.” Isabela walked to the window, observing the garden as she calculated her next move. “Of course you say that, my love, but sometimes employees take advantage of their employers’ gratitude.” Sebastián followed her, confused.

 What exactly are you talking about, Sebastián? Isabela turned, her green eyes gleaming with feigned concern. You’re a widower, vulnerable, and she knows it. Vulnerable. The word resonated in Sebastián’s mind like a slap in the face. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Camila was preparing Matías’s dinner with trembling hands.

 The boy played in his high chair, babbling words only she seemed to understand. “Cami’s sad,” Matías said, touching her cheek with his little hand. Camila forced a smile. “No, my love, Cami, it’s okay.” “Liar,” she thought. “That woman is going to cause me trouble.”

Matías stared at her with those blue eyes identical to his father’s. “Is Daddy sad too?” The question surprised her. This two-year-old saw things that adults pretended not to notice. “Your daddy loves you very much,” she told him, avoiding the real question. Back in the living room, Isabela had begun her subtle but lethal attack. “I’ve done a little research on her,” she murmured, approaching Sebastián.
 “Her family has enormous debts. Her mother’s medical treatment costs a fortune.” Sebastian tensed. “That’s none of our business, Isabella.” “It isn’t.” Isabella smiled. A young, attractive woman, in financial need, working in the home of a widowed millionaire. How dare she insinuate that? Sebastian thought, feeling anger rising in his chest. Camila isn’t that kind of person, he said firmly. Oh, my innocent cousin. Isabela stroked his arm. All women are that kind of person when money is involved. Sebastián pulled away sharply. Enough, Isabela. I won’t tolerate you insulting someone who has helped my son so much.

 Isabel noticed the change in his tone, the defensive way he pronounced the maid’s name. Worse than I thought, she reflected, alarmed. He’s already getting attached to her. A shout of joy from the kitchen broke the tension. Matías had started clapping and shouting. “Cami, dance! Cami, dance!” Sebastián smiled involuntarily at his son’s laughter. Isabel watched him, that hawk-like smile. “Let’s see what’s going on,” she suggested in a honeyed voice.

They headed to the kitchen, where they found Camila dancing salsa while preparing the vegetable puree. Matías was laughing uproariously, trying to imitate her moves from his chair. “Dad!” the boy shouted when he saw them. “Cami, you dance beautifully.” Sebastián leaned against the doorframe, watching the scene with an expression Isabel immediately recognized. Adoration.

This has to end now. Isabela decided, feeling her wedding plans crumble before her eyes. Camila stopped when she saw them, blushing to the roots of her black hair. “I’m sorry, Mr. Restrepo. Matías was a little restless. And don’t apologize,” Sebastián said gently.

“I love seeing you so happy.” The words slipped out before she could stop them, laden with an intimacy that made Isabela clench her fists. Camila looked at him in surprise, feeling butterflies in her stomach. “I just wanted Matías to eat well.” “And you’re doing a great job,” he replied, his eyes never leaving hers.

 Isabel cleared her throat loudly. “Well, I think we should let the employee finish her work,” she said curtly. “Sebastián, could we continue our conversation?” Sebastián hesitated, glancing back and forth between Isabela and Camila. “Sure,” he finally said, though his reluctance was obvious.

 Before leaving, she approached Matías and kissed him on the forehead. “Be good to Cami.” “Yes, yes, Dad,” the boy replied. “Cami is my friend.” “Friend,” Camila thought, feeling a strange pang in her chest. “Is that what I am to him?” Isabela observed the exchange with calculating eyes, the way Sebastián lingered with the employee, how his eyes softened when he looked at her, the natural comfort between the three of them.

 When they returned to the living room, Isabela had already made her decision. Sebastián said in a sweet but determined voice, “I think it’s time we talked seriously about your future.” “My future?” Isabela moved closer to him, placing her hands on his chest. “Our future, my love. Matías needs a proper mother, a woman of your social standing.”

Sebastian tensed beneath her hands. “Isabela, I don’t think this is the right time.” “It’s not the right time.” Isabela smiled, but her eyes hardened. “Sebastián, you’re 32 years old. Matías needs stability, and that employee might be confusing the appropriate lines.”
 Here we go again, Sebastian thought, feeling exhaustion creep into his body. Isabel noticed his resistance and changed tactics. “I’m just asking you to be careful,” she murmured, moving closer. “I’ve seen the way she looks at you and the way you look at her.” Sebastian stepped back, uncomfortable with the proximity and the accusations. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Isabel smiled triumphantly. “Exactly, that’s the problem, cousin.”Don’t you realize what’s happening under your own roof? She headed for the door, but before leaving, she turned back one last time. Just remember, Sebastián, maids come and go, but family is forever. When Isabela left, Sebastián was left alone in the living room, his thoughts in turmoil. She’s right.

 I’m confusing gratitude with something else. The sound of Matías’s laughter from the kitchen interrupted her thoughts. A genuine laugh, full of joy, the likes of which she hadn’t heard in two years. Whatever is going on, she thought, I can’t risk losing that. But in her Mercedes-Benz, Isabela was already making calls. “I need you to investigate everything about a Camila Vázquez,” she said into the phone.

 She still finds something she can use against him. The war had started three months ago. “I can’t take this kid anymore!” the nanny shouted, storming out of the penthouse. “It’s impossible.” Sebastián closed his eyes, feeling the frustration build in his chest. The fifth nanny in two months. Matías was crying inconsolably in his room, and he had an important meeting in an hour.

 What kind of father am I if I can’t even find someone to babysit my own child? The doorbell rang at exactly 3 p.m. Sebastian opened the door expecting to find another older woman, probably stiff and impatient. Instead, he found a young woman with black hair pulled back in a ponytail, dressed in black pants and a simple white blouse. Her brown eyes looked directly at him, not at all intimidating.

“Mr. Restrepo, I’m Camila Vázquez,” she said firmly. “I’m here for the caregiver job.” Sebastián studied her skeptically. She was young, perhaps 28, and definitely didn’t seem to have experience with difficult cases. “Do you have experience with special needs children?” he asked without inviting her in.

 “I’m a certified occupational therapist,” she replied. “And yes, I have experience with autistic children.” Too young, too pretty. “She won’t last a week,” Sebastián thought. But Matías’s cries intensified from the room. “Come in,” he finally said.

 Camila entered the elegant penthouse, but her attention wasn’t drawn to the expensive furniture or the artwork. Her eyes immediately focused on the hallway from which the shouting was coming. “Can I see him?” Sebastian asked. He hesitated. “He’s having one of his episodes. Five nannies have quit because they didn’t understand that he’s trying to communicate something.” Camila interrupted gently. “Children don’t cry for no reason.”

 Without waiting for permission, she walked toward Matías’s room. Sebastián followed her, bracing himself for another failure. They found the boy sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth, tears streaming down his cheeks. The previous nanny had left toys scattered everywhere, creating a visual chaos that clearly overwhelmed him.

Camila sat on the floor several feet away without speaking. She simply began picking up the toys, silently organizing them by color. Gradually, Matías’s crying subsided. The boy watched her curiously as she tidied up his space. “Hello, Matías,” Camila murmured without looking directly at him.
“My name is Camila, but you can call me Cami if you want.” That’s not going to work, Sebastián thought. Matías doesn’t respond to strangers, but to his surprise, the boy stopped rocking and stared at her. Camila began to hum a soft song, a vallenato that her grandmother used to sing to her when she was little. The melody filled the room with warmth, and for the first time in weeks, Matías smiled. Sebastián felt as if a weight had been lifted from his chest. “How?” he began to ask. “Autistic children need predictability and calm,” Camila explained softly. “Too much stimulation overwhelms them.”

 Matías crawled slowly toward her, still cautious, but clearly interested. “Okay, little one,” Camila told him. “You can come closer when you feel ready.” In five minutes he accomplished more than I have in months, Sebastián thought, feeling a mixture of admiration and something akin to hope.

 An hour later, Matías was sitting next to Camila, quietly playing with colored blocks as she named each one. “She’s hired,” Sebastián said as they left the room. Camila smiled, and for the first time since he’d arrived, Sebastián truly noticed her face. She was naturally beautiful, without excessive makeup or artifice.

 “Focus, Sebastián, she’s your employee,” he mentally scolded himself. Two weeks later, Sebastián arrived home early from work, something unusual for him. For days he had been finding excuses to return home earlier, telling himself it was to check on Matías’s progress. Liar, he thought. It’s to see her.

 She found Camila in the garden teaching Matías to identify flowers. The boy pointed to each one as she patiently named them. “How is he today?” Sebastián asked, sitting down on the grass next to them. Camila looked at him in surprise. In two weeks, this was the first time he had sat down at her level. “Very well, today,” Flor said for the first time.

Sebastian smiled genuinely. “Really, Flor!” Matias suddenly exclaimed, pointing at a rose. A pretty flower, just like Cami. Sebastian and Camila looked at each other, both feeling the weight of the moment. It was the first time Matias had made such an emotional comparison. “You’re right, son,” Sebastian murmured. “Cami is as pretty as flowers.”

Camila blushed and looked away. “What’s happening to me? He’s my boss,” she thought, feeling butterflies in her stomach. That night, after putting Matías to bed, Sebastián found Camila in the kitchen preparing dinner. “Do you mind if I join you?” he asked. “I haven’t eaten.” Camila nodded nervously. It was the first time they had dinner together.

 As they ate, Sebastián discreetly observed her. He ate with elegant yet simple manners, without pretension. “Can I ask you something personal?” he finally said. Camila tensed. “It depends on how personal. Why did you accept this job?” he asked. “You’re an occupational therapist. You could earn more at a clinic.” Camila lowered her gaze, toying with her fork.

 Sometimes life puts us in situations where we have to choose between what we want and what we need. There was pain in her voice, Sebastián noticed. Something had hurt her. “And what did you choose?” “What my family needed,” she replied simply. Sebastián felt an inexplicable connection with that answer. He, too, had spent years choosing responsibility over personal happiness.
 “I understand that feeling,” he murmured. Camila looked at him, surprised by the vulnerability in his voice. “Seriously, Sebastián hesitated. I’ve never told anyone what really happened during Matías’s birth. My wife died giving birth to Matías,” he finally said. “The doctors told me I had to choose between saving her or saving him.” Camila felt as if the air had been sucked from her lungs. “My God, Sebastián, I didn’t know. I chose my son,” he continued, his voice breaking. “And ever since, every time I look at him, I remember that decision. That’s why he can’t connect with Matías,” Camila understood. “He feels guilty for being alive.” Without thinking, she reached out and touched his hand.

 “It wasn’t your fault,” she said gently. “You saved the life of a beautiful child.” Sebastián felt as if something inside his chest had broken. For the first time in two years, someone understood him without judging him. “Sometimes I feel like I’m a failure as a father,” Matías confessed. “He responds better to you than he does to me.” “That’s not true,” Camila replied. “He loves you.”

 She just needs time to process everything. Just like you, she thought, but didn’t say it. They sat in silence, their hands clasped on the table. The air between them crackled with electricity, with mutual understanding. Camila murmured, “Sebastian. I don’t know what I would have done without you.” She felt her heart race.

 Sebastian, I… Camila’s phone rang abruptly, breaking the moment. She looked at the screen and paled. “Sorry, I have to answer,” she said, freeing her hand. It’s the hospital. She stepped away to talk, but Sebastian could see her growing agitation. “What? When?” he heard her say. “Yes, I’m coming right away.” She turned back, tears welling in her eyes. “I have to go,” she said.

 “It’s a family emergency. Do you need a ride?” “No, I’ll take a taxi.” Thank you. Sebastián watched her hurriedly gather her things. Camila stopped her. “If you need anything.” She turned around, and for a moment he saw real terror in her eyes. Thank you, Sebastián, but there are things I have to face alone.

 What secret is she hiding? Sebastian wondered as he watched her leave. And why do I feel like it’s my problem now too? Camila’s soft voice drifted down the hallway like a caress. Sebastian stopped in the doorway of his penthouse, completely forgetting the meeting he had just finished. “I’m early again,” he thought, but he didn’t bother denying it anymore.

 She followed the sound to Matías’s room, where she found a scene that took her breath away. Camila was sitting in the nursing chair that hadn’t been used since his wife’s death, with Matías nestled in her lap. She was singing a vallenato song softly while the boy played with his simple silver necklace.

 “Oh, my darling girl, how I love you, how I adore you,” he sang softly. She looks like a mother, Sebastián thought, feeling a strange pang in his chest. Matías raised his head and saw him in the doorway. “Dad!” he shouted, jumping off Camila’s lap. “Cami sings beautifully.” Camila jumped, blushing at the sight. “Mr. Restrepo, I didn’t hear you arrive.”

 “Matías didn’t want to take his nap, and don’t apologize,” he interrupted, moving closer. “I love hearing you sing. I love everything about you,” he thought, but held back. “It’s a song my grandmother used to sing to me,” Camila explained, adjusting her blouse. Children respond well to traditional music. Sebastián sat on the edge of the bed, watching Matías climb back onto Camila’s lap.

“Will you teach me?” he asked. “Maybe I can calm him down when he cries too.” Camila looked at him in surprise. In three weeks, this was the first time he’d asked to actively participate. “Of course,” she smiled. “But you have to relax first.” “Relax. Children sense tension,” she explained, “take a deep breath and loosen your shoulders.”

 Sebastián obeyed, feeling the day’s stress melt away. In this room, with her and Matías, the outside world ceased to exist. “Now sing with me,” Camila murmured, starting the melody again. Their voices blended harmoniously, and Matías closed his eyes, completely relaxed in Camila’s arms.

 “This feels like family,” Sebastián thought, alarmed by the naturalness of the moment. When Matías fell asleep, they carried him to his crib together. Their hands accidentally brushed against each other as they tucked him in, and they both felt a jolt. “Sastián,” Camila whispered. “We should leave the room.” He nodded, but neither of them moved. They were very close, breathing the same air, lost in each other’s eyes.

 “A kiss!” thought Sebastian, fighting the urge. The doorbell abruptly broke the spell. “That must be my assistant with the documents,” Sebastian muttered, reluctantly turning away. But when he opened the door, he found Isabela, beaming. “Surprise, dear cousin,” she said, stepping in uninvited.

 “I thought I’d visit you.” “Damn it,” Sebastián thought. “Why now?” Isabela hadn’t expected to see him today. “That’s exactly why I came,” she laughed. “Men need surprises in their lives.” Isabel was wearing a red dress that accentuated her perfect figure, designer shoes, and flawless makeup. She was the epitome of Bogota sophistication.

 “Where’s Matías?” he asked, looking around as he napped. “And the new employee?” he asked with feigned innocence. “I heard you hired someone young.” Sebastián tensed. News traveled fast in his social circle. “Camila is great with Matías,” he replied carefully.

 At that moment, Camila left the hallway, walking silently so as not to wake the child. Upon seeing Isabela, she stopped dead in her tracks. “Trouble,” she immediately thought, recognizing the kind of woman she was facing. “You must be the famous employee,” Isabela said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m Isabela Córdoba, Sebastián’s cousin.”

 Camila Vázquez, she replied with dignity. Nice to meet you, Miss Córdoba. Isabela studied her from head to toe, noticing the simple but clean clothes, the professionally styled hair, the absence of expensive jewelry. And where did you study? Isabela asked in a sweet but inquisitive tone. National University, occupational therapy, Camila replied.

 “I’m also certified in child therapy—smart and well-prepared,” Isabela thought, alarmed. “Worse than I expected. How interesting!” She smiled falsely. Sebastián has always valued education. The tone made Camila feel like an insect under examination.

 “May I offer you something to drink, Miss Córdoba?” he asked politely. “Oh, how sweet! Coffee would be perfect.” As Camila headed to the kitchen, Isabela immediately approached Sebastián. “She’s very young,” she murmured. “Are you sure she can handle Matías? She’s been amazing with him,” Sebastián replied, feeling the need to defend her.

 Matías has made more progress in three weeks than in previous months. Too defensive, Isabela noticed. He’s already emotionally involved. Camila returned with a tray of coffee, moving gracefully around the room. Isabela watched as Sebastián followed her with his eyes. “Sit with us, dear,” Isabela said in a honeyed voice. “I’d love to get to know you better.”

 Camila hesitated, looking at Sebastián for guidance. “Please,” he said, “you’re part of this family.” The word resonated in the air with a weight that all three felt. Isabela clenched her jaw almost imperceptibly. Then Camila began her questioning.

 “Do you have your own family?” “My mother,” Camila replied carefully. “I live with her. And my father died when I was 15.” “Vulnerable, in need of money,” Isabele described. “Boyfriend? A pretty girl like you must have suitors.” Camila blushed. “I don’t have time for personal relationships,” she replied. “My work and my mother take up all my attention.”

 Sebastian felt a strange satisfaction at that response. “Why am I glad she’s single?” he wondered, alarmed. “How dedicated!” Isabela exclaimed. “Although I suppose working in such a beautiful house must be stimulating.” The comment held hidden venom. Camila sensed it, but maintained her composure.

 “Working with Matías is very rewarding,” she replied diplomatically. A cry from the room interrupted the conversation. Matías had woken up. “I’ll go get him,” Camila said, getting up. “I’ll go with you,” Sebastián added automatically. Isabela watched them walk away together, noticing the natural synchronization of their movements. “This is worse than I imagined,” she thought. “They act like a couple.”

When they returned with Matías, the boy immediately reached out to Isabela, but she instinctively recoiled. “Oh, my love, could you get my dress dirty?” she said with a forced laugh. Matías frowned and turned to Camila, who took him without hesitation. “Cami!” the boy cried.

 “Isabella doesn’t like Matías.” An awkward silence filled the room. Children are so direct, Isabela laughed nervously. They don’t understand the subtlety of elegant clothes, but Camila carries him around regardless of his attire, Sebastián thought, making involuntary comparisons. Isabela stayed for another hour, observing every interaction between Sebastián and Camila.

 She noticed how he smiled when she spoke, how she blushed when he looked at her—the natural comfort between the three of them. When he finally left, Sebastián felt a palpable relief. “Everything alright?” Camila asked, noticing his tension. “Perfectly fine,” he lied. Isabela can be intense, she can be dangerous, Camila thought, but she didn’t say it. That night, after putting Matías to bed, they sat on the balcony reviewing the day’s exercises. The city glittered below them.

 creating an intimate atmosphere. “Sebastian,” Camila said softly. “Can I ask you something?” “Anything you want.” Isabela, and you? He hesitated. “Sorry, it’s none of my business. There’s nothing between Isabela and me,” he replied quickly. “She’s my cousin, but sometimes she forgets boundaries. Why do I care so much if she knows that?” Sebastian thought.

 Camila felt a strange warmth in her chest at that answer. “Good,” she murmured. “I mean, it’s good to know to understand the family dynamics that affect Matías.” They both knew that wasn’t the real reason for her question. Two days later, Isabel called Sebastián. “How’s the new employee?” she asked casually. “She seems very dedicated.” Sebastián felt an internal alarm.

 Why do you ask? For no particular reason, Isabela laughed. Just family curiosity, but Sebastián, yes. Be careful with young, attractive employees. Sometimes they mistake professional gratitude for other feelings. The line went dead, leaving Sebastián with a sense of threat he couldn’t quite define.

 What is Isabela planning? she wondered, glancing toward the room where Camila was playing with Matías. And why do I feel the need to protect them both? Camila’s phone vibrated insistently as she helped Matías with his fine motor skills exercises. She glanced at the screen, her face paling at the sight of San Ignacio Hospital. Camila Vázquez heard the nurse’s professional voice. Her mother has had a complication.

 She needs to come immediately. The world stopped. The colorful blocks fell from her trembling hands as Matías watched her, confused. “What kind of complication?” she murmured, moving away so the boy wouldn’t hear. “The doctor will explain when he arrives, but it’s urgent.” Camila hung up and slumped onto the sofa, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks.

 At that moment, Sebastián came home from work earlier than usual. Arriving early for her again, he thought, but his smile faded when he saw her crying. “Camila, what happened?” He rushed to her, sitting down beside her without hesitation. “My mother,” she whispered, “is in the hospital,” and I don’t know if her voice completely broke.

 Sebastián felt a pang in his chest seeing her so vulnerable. I hate seeing her suffer, he thought, alarmed by the intensity of her reaction. “Breathe,” he said gently, taking her hands. “Tell me what’s going on.” Camila looked at him through her tears, fighting the urge to let him comfort her. “She has cancer,” she finally confessed. “Advanced stage, that’s why I took this job.”

 Sebastian felt as if he’d been punched. “Cancer, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” “Because it’s my problem, not yours,” she replied, wiping her cheeks. She needed a well-paying job to pay for her treatment. That’s why she’d looked so desperate in the interview, Sebastian realized. It wasn’t just a job for her.

 Camila, I started, but she stood up abruptly. I have to go to the hospital, she said. You could stay with Matías until I find someone who— Of course, he interrupted. But I’m not going to let you go alone, Sebastián. You can’t. I can and I will. He said firmly. Matías is coming with us. Camila looked at him in surprise.

 In four weeks, it was the first time he’d made an impulsive decision related to his feelings. “It’s not necessary,” she murmured, “but her voice revealed how much she needed that support.” “Yes, it is necessary,” he replied, moving closer. “It’s necessary for me.” “What am I saying?” Sebastian thought. Since when are her problems my problems? During the drive to the hospital, Camila told him the whole story.

 Her mother, Elena Vázquez, had been diagnosed six months earlier. She was a strong woman who had raised Camila alone after her husband’s death. “She worked cleaning offices at night,” Camila explained. “She never complained, never asked anyone for help.” “Just like her daughter,” Sebastián remarked. Camila smiled sadly.

I suppose so, but when he got sick everything changed. The medications and chemotherapy treatments cost a fortune. That’s why you left your job at the clinic. They paid me well, but not enough, he admitted. Your offer was three times my previous salary. Sebastián felt a strange mixture of guilt and admiration.

 He had hired a desperate woman, but she had turned out to be exactly what Matías needed. Was it chance or fate? he wondered. At the hospital, they found Elena Vázquez, conscious but weak. She was a 55-year-old woman, with the same brown eyes as his daughter and a warm smile despite the pain. “My daughter,” she murmured when she saw Camila.

 “You shouldn’t have come so fast, Mom. You scared me,” Camila said, taking her hand. “How are you feeling?” Elena noticed Sebastián, who was holding Matías in his arms. “And who is this handsome gentleman?” she asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Camila blushed. “Mom, this is my boss, Sebastián Restrepo, and this little prince is Matías.”

“Mrs. Vázquez,” Sebastián said, approaching. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Camila speaks of your strength constantly.” Elena studied Sebastián with shrewd eyes. “My boss,” she murmured. “Interesting. Bosses don’t usually come to the hospital with their employees.” “This woman sees too much,” Sebastián thought, feeling exposed. “The doctor arrived with good news.”

It had been a scare. Her levels had stabilized, and Elena could go home the next day. “But she’ll need more intensive care,” the doctor explained. “And the next round of chemotherapy needs to be moved up.” Camila felt the weight of responsibility fall on her shoulders again.

 “How much will it cost?” she asked, her voice strained. The doctor mentioned a figure that made Camila pale. “I need to think about my options,” she murmured. Back in the penthouse, Camila excused herself to call her supervisor at the clinic, hoping to make up some work hours. Sebastián overheard her from the kitchen as he prepared Matías’s dinner.

“I understand you’ve already hired someone else.” “No, no problem. Thanks anyway.” When she hung up, Sebastian could see the defeat in her eyes. Everything’s fine, perfectly fine, she lied, just rearranging a few things. She’s lying, he thought. She’s desperate and doesn’t want him to know.

 After putting Matías to bed, they met in the kitchen. Camila was washing the dishes mechanically, lost in thought. “Camila,” Sebastián said gently, “about your mother’s medical expenses.” She didn’t interrupt him without turning away. “Don’t even think about it. You don’t even know what I was going to say. You were going to offer money,” she turned to him, “and I can’t accept it.” “Why not?” “Because you already pay me enough,” she replied.

 I’m not going to take advantage of your kindness. Sebastian moved closer, closing the distance between them. And what if it isn’t kindness, what if it’s something more? Camila felt the air thicken between them. Sebastian, we can’t. We can’t what, he murmured, moving even closer. be attracted to each other.

 He said it, he said it out loud, Camila thought, her heart racing. You’re my boss, she whispered weakly. And you’re the woman who saved my son, he replied. The woman who’s saving me. Their faces were inches apart. Sebastián raised his hand and gently stroked her cheek. “Let me help you,” he murmured. Let me take care of you like you take care of us.

 Camila closed her eyes, fighting the urge to give in. “If I accept your money, everything between us will change,” she murmured. “Everything has already changed since the first day you arrived here.” He leaned toward her, their lips almost touching. Camila felt all her resistance crumble. Just one kiss, she thought.

 “What could happen with a kiss, Cami?” Dad. Matías’s voice from his room broke the spell. They pulled apart abruptly, both breathing heavily. “He has nightmares sometimes,” Sebastián explained, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll go with him,” Camila said, needing some distance to think. “We’ll go together,” he corrected. “Together.” The word resonated between them with a meaning that went beyond simply taking care of Matías.

 When they finally calmed the child and returned to the living room, the intimate moment had passed, but the tension remained. “About the money,” Sebastián began. “Let me think about it,” Camila interrupted. “It’s an important decision.” “It is,” he agreed, “but Camila, yes, whatever we decide about the money, how I feel about you isn’t going to change.” Camila felt butterflies in her stomach.

 “What do you feel for me?” Sebastián looked her straight in the eyes. “Something that scares me and excites me at the same time,” he confessed. “Something I haven’t felt in years.” At that moment, the doorbell rang. They both jumped as if they’d been caught doing something forbidden. Sebastián went to open it, finding Isabela standing in the doorway with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

 “Hi, cousin,” she said sweetly. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything important.” But the way she glanced over Sebastian’s shoulder at Camila, whose cheeks were still flushed and lips swollen, made it clear she knew exactly what she had interrupted. “Trouble,” Sebastian thought. “Big trouble.”

 “Surprise, my love,” Isabela announced, entering the house with two elegant women behind her. “I organized an intimate dinner so you can meet new people.” Sebastián glanced at his clock. It was 6 p.m. on a Friday, and Camila was in the kitchen preparing dinner for Matías, who was playing quietly in the living room. “How dare she organize something in my house without asking me?” he thought, feeling his irritation rise.

 “Isabela, you didn’t tell me about any dinner,” he said, his voice strained. “That’s why it’s a surprise,” she laughed. “Sebastián, I’d like you to meet Valentina Herrera, a corporate lawyer, and Esperanza Morales, an architect, both single and fabulous.” The two women smiled perfectly, dressed in designer clothes and with impeccable makeup.

 They were beautiful in a calculated, artificial way. Exactly the type of woman Isabela thinks I need, Sebastián thought wearily. “Nice to meet you,” he said politely, but his gaze instinctively searched for Camila. “Where’s your maid?” Isabela asked sweetly. “We’ll need her to serve us dinner.” “Maid”—the way she said it made Sebastián clench his fists.

 Camila appeared from the kitchen carrying Matías’s plate. Upon seeing the visitors, she stopped immediately. “Good afternoon,” she said with dignity, despite wearing her work uniform and having her hair simply pulled back. “Ah, perfect,” said Isabela. “Camila, right? We need you to prepare something elegant for five people.”

“Isabela,” Sebastián interjected. “Camila isn’t a chef. Her job is to take care of Matías.” “Oh, I’m sure she can handle both,” Isabela smiled. “That’s not true, dear.” Camila sensed the trap, but maintained her composure. “Of course, Miss Córdoba. Any specific preferences?” Dignity intact, Sebastián thought, admiring her strength. “Something sophisticated,” Valentina replied disdainfully.

 “We expect a certain standard after hearing so much about this house.” Camila nodded and headed back to the kitchen, but not before Sebastian noticed the tension in her shoulders. This is wrong, he thought. Very wrong. For the next hour, while the women settled in the living room drinking expensive wine, Camila worked silently, preparing a dinner for which she didn’t have the right ingredients.

 “Sastián,” Esperanza said, approaching him flirtatiously. “Isabela told us about your business success. It must be fascinating to run an empire.” “It has its moments,” he replied automatically, but his attention was on the sounds from the kitchen. “He’ll be fine. He’ll have everything he needs. And raising a child alone must be quite a challenge,” Valentina added.

 Fortunately, competent caregivers can alleviate that burden. Burden, Sebastián thought. She talks about Matías as if he were a burden. “Matías isn’t a burden,” she said firmly. “He’s the best thing in my life.” The three women exchanged awkward glances. “Of course,” Isabela laughed nervously. “What Valentina meant is that having professional help allows you to focus on finding, say, a new mother for him.”

“At that moment, Matías began to cry from his room. The sound quickly intensified, turning into cries of anguish. ‘What’s wrong with him?’ Esperanza asked, annoyed. ‘Sometimes he gets upset,’ Sebastián explained, getting up. ‘Excuse me.’ ‘No!’ Matías shouted when his father tried to calm him down. ‘I want Cami.’”

 Cami. The child was rocking violently, his cries filling the entire penthouse. Sebastián tried everything, but Matías rejected him. He only wants her. He thought with a mixture of pain and understanding. Camila appeared immediately, drying her hands on her apron. “What happened?” she asked gently. “I don’t know,” Sebastián replied desperately.

 Everything was fine when suddenly Camila approached Matías and began humming the vallenato that always calmed him. Gradually, the shouting subsided. “There are so many new voices,” she murmured. He’s overwhelmed by sudden changes. Of course, Sebastián understood. The surprise dinner upset him. “Come here, my love,” Camila whispered. And Matías immediately threw himself into her arms.

Awkward laughter and whispered comments drifted from the living room. “It’s always so troublesome,” Sebastián overheard Valentina asking. “Special needs children require patience,” Isabela replied condescendingly. “Luckily, there are professionals trained to handle these situations.” “Trained professionals,” Sebastián thought.

 “He talks about Camila as if she were a hired service.” He returned to the living room to find the three women visibly uncomfortable. “Is she better?” Esperanza asked, without real interest. “I am, thanks to Camila,” he replied emphatically. “How lucky to have a specialized employee,” Valentina said. “She must cost more than a regular nanny.”

 Everything is about money to them, Sebastián thought with growing disgust. Camila served the dinner she had managed to prepare: pasta with homemade tomato sauce, a fresh salad, and garlic toast. It was simple, but delicious. “Oh!” Isabel exclaimed upon seeing the dishes. “How rustic. I was expecting something more sophisticated,” Valentina muttered. Camila held her head high, but Sebastián saw her cheeks flush with humiliation.

 “Enough,” she thought. “I won’t let them treat her like this. The food is excellent,” Sebastián said aloud. Camila managed to prepare dinner for five with only an hour’s notice. She’s extraordinary. The women remained silent, but Isabela smiled dangerously. During dinner, Camila served each dish with perfect professionalism, ignoring the subtle comments about the service and presentation.

 “Sebastián,” Isabela said as Camila cleared the plates. “You should consider hiring professional catering for special occasions. A dinner like this requires a certain level of service.” “A certain level,” Sebastián thought, “versus the authenticity and warmth that Camila naturally brings.” “The level is perfect,” he replied firmly. When the guests finally left, Sebastián looked for Camila.

 He found her in her room packing her few belongings. “What are you doing?” he asked, alarmed. “I’m quitting,” she replied without looking at him. “Effective immediately.” “No, she can’t leave,” he thought desperately. “Camila, please don’t do this. I can’t keep working here,” she said, her voice breaking. “Not like this.” Why? Because of Isabela and her stupid friends.

 Camila turned to him, tears welling in her eyes. “Because they humiliated me in your house and you didn’t say a word,” she confessed. “Because they treated me like I was invisible.” Sebastián felt as if a knife had been plunged into his chest. “Camila, I understand my place,” she continued. “I’m the maid, but I have dignity.”

 “Your place isn’t as an employee,” he said desperately. “Your place is here with us as family, as the woman I love,” he thought, but didn’t dare say it. Camila looked at him in surprise. “Family?” “Yes,” he replied, moving closer. “You, Matías, and I are family.” “Sebastián, you can’t say things like that.”

 “I can, and I say them because they’re true,” Camila interrupted. “What Isabela did tonight was wrong. I should have stopped her. Why didn’t you?” she asked in a small voice. Sebastián hesitated, searching for the right words. “Because I’m a coward,” he finally admitted, “because I’m afraid of what I feel for you.” Camila felt her heart race.

 What do you feel for me? Sebastián moved closer, taking her hands. Something that goes beyond the professional, she confessed. Something that scares me because I never thought I’d feel this way again. I love you, she thought, but she couldn’t say it yet. Sebastián, stay, he murmured. Please, Matías needs you, I need you.

 Camila looked into his eyes, seeing real vulnerability for the first time. “Things have to change,” she said. “Finally, they will change,” he promised. “I will never again allow anyone to disrespect you, because you are mine,” he thought, “and I will protect you.” Camila nodded slowly, unpacking her suitcase. “One more chance,” she murmured. “You won’t need to give me another one,” Sebastián promised.

 But as they hugged, neither of them knew that Isabela had been listening from the hallway. “This is over,” she thought coldly. “If I can’t separate you from her peacefully, I’ll do it by force.” “Camila, wait.” Sebastián caught up with her at the door, blocking her exit with his arm. “You can’t leave.”

Camila stopped, her hand trembling on the handle. The tears she had held back throughout dinner began to roll down her cheeks. “If I can,” she murmured. “And I must.” “Why?” he asked desperately. “For Isabela, for her stupid friends.” Camila turned to him, her eyes shining with pain.

 For my dignity, Sebastián, because I can’t work in a place where they treat me like I’m invisible. This is my fault, he thought. I should have defended her. You’re right, he admitted. I should have kept quiet. I should have defended you. Why didn’t you? he asked, his voice breaking. Sebastián closed his eyes, fighting his own inner demons.

“Because I’m afraid,” she finally confessed. “Afraid of what? Of this?” she murmured, gesturing to the space between them. “Of what’s happening between us.” Camila felt the air thicken around her. “Nothing’s happening between us,” she lied weakly.

 Sebastian moved closer, closing the distance until he could feel her breath. “Liar,” he whispered. “We both know there’s something going on here.” “Say no,” Camila thought. “Say no and run.” But she couldn’t. Sebastian’s eyes held her spellbound, vulnerable. Sebastian, we can’t. Why didn’t he interrupt her? Give me a reason other than work. Camila opened her mouth, but no words came out.

 All the reasons she had crumbled under his intense gaze. “Because everything is going to change,” she finally murmured. “Everything has already changed,” he replied, moving closer. “From the first day you arrived here, your faces were inches apart.” Sebastian raised his hand and stroked her cheek, drying her tears.

 Camila, you and Matías are the most important things in my life now, he confessed. I can’t let you go. Say it, he thought. Tell her you love her. What exactly are you saying? she asked, her voice trembling. I’m saying that she hesitated, but then found the courage, that I’m falling in love with you. The words floated in the air like a confession. Camila felt her world begin to shake.

 “Sebastian, and I think you feel the same,” he continued. “I see it in the way you look at me, in the way you blush when I’m near.” He’s right, she thought. I’m head over heels in love with him. “This is crazy,” she whispered. “The best kind of crazy,” he replied, leaning toward her. Their lips met in a kiss that had been building for weeks.

 It was gentle at first, almost hesitant, but when Camila responded, it intensified with all the pent-up passion. Finally, Sebastian thought, feeling as if he had been waiting for this moment his whole life. Camila melted in his arms, forgetting all the reasons why this was a bad idea. In this moment, only the two of them existed. They separated when they needed air, but remained embraced, their ragged breaths mingling.

“This changes everything,” Camila murmured against his lips. “I know,” he replied. “And I don’t care.” Matías’s sudden crying from his room shattered the intimate bubble surrounding them. “Nightmare,” Sebastián explained, but neither of them moved immediately. “We should go to him,” Camila said. Even though her body didn’t want to separate.

 “Let’s go together,” Sebastián murmured, taking her hand. “Together,” Camila thought. “There’s no turning back now.” They found Matías crying in his crib, his little arms reaching out to them. “Cami, Daddy!” the boy cried. “Ugly monster.” Sebastián picked him up while Camila turned on the soft lamp she had set up for these moments. “There are no monsters here,” Camila said gently. “Just Daddy and me taking care of you.”

“Dad and I,” Sebastián thought. “Sounds perfect.” “Is Cami leaving?” Matías asked in a frightened little voice. “What, Mom?” The question struck them both like lightning. The boy had associated Camila’s suitcase with being lost. “No, my love,” Camila replied, stroking his head. “Cami isn’t going anywhere. Promise,” Matías insisted.

 Camila looked at Sebastián, searching his eyes for confirmation. “Promise,” he finally said. When they managed to get Matías to sleep again, they returned to the living room in silence. The reality of what had happened between them began to sink in. “Camila,” Sebastián began, “what happened was a mistake.” She interrupted him.

 But her voice lacked conviction. “Was it?” he asked, moving closer again. “Do you really think so?” Camila looked at him, fighting her own feelings. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “This is all so complicated.” “It doesn’t have to be,” he replied, taking her hands. “It can be simple.” “Simple.” He laughed bitterly. “Sebastian, I’m your employee. You’re a millionaire. Your family hates me.”

 “My family doesn’t matter,” she said firmly. “Only the three of us matter. It really can be that simple,” Camila thought. Sebastian moved closer, gently trapping her against the wall. “Tell me you don’t feel anything for me,” he murmured. “Look me in the eyes and tell me.” Camila tried, but the words wouldn’t come. “I can’t,” she finally whispered.

“Because it’s not true,” he replied. The kiss was more intense, more desperate. Months of pent-up sexual tension exploded between them. “This is going too fast,” Camila thought, but her body had other ideas. They broke apart when they heard a car pull up outside. “Are you waiting for someone?” Camila asked, straightening her blouse. Sebastián didn’t answer, frowning.

But it wasn’t a visitor; it was Isabela standing in the garden with binoculars, peering through the living room window. “I saw them kissing,” she thought with cold fury. “I have all the evidence I need.” Sebastián and Camila went to their respective rooms, unaware they had been watched. “Good night,” Camila murmured shyly.

“Good night,” he replied, brushing his hand against hers one last time. Isabela waited until the lights went out. Then she took out her phone. “It’s me,” she said when someone answered. “I need you to speed up the investigation into Camila Vázquez.” “Did you find anything?” the voice on the other end asked.

 “I found them kissing,” Isabela replied venomously. “Sebastián is completely blinded by that woman. What do you want me to do?” Isabela smiled cruelly. “Find something, anything, that I can use against her. And if you can’t find anything, well, make it up.” She hung up the phone and stared once more at the dark windows of the penthouse. “You enjoyed your last happy night with him,” she thought.

 Because tomorrow your nightmare begins. The next day, Sebastián arrived home from work with flowers for Camila. He had bought them impulsively, feeling like a lovestruck teenager. “Everything will be different from now on,” he thought. “No more secrets.” But when he entered the house, he found Camila crying in the kitchen with a letter in her hands.

“What happened?” he asked, alarmed. “My mother cried. The doctors say she needs immediate surgery, and the insurance won’t cover it.” Sebastian put down the flowers and hugged her immediately. “How much do you need?” “I can’t ask you for that,” she murmured against his chest. “You’re not asking me,” he replied. “I’m offering it to you, Sebastian.”

 Let me take care of you, he murmured, kissing her forehead. Let me take care of your family like you take care of mine. I love you, he thought. But it was still too soon to say it. Camila looked at him through her tears, seeing genuine love in his eyes. “Okay,” she whispered. “But this doesn’t change anything between us professionally.” Sebastian smiled.

 “Everything changed last night,” she recalled. “And we both know it.” From her car parked outside, Isabela watched the intimate scene through the windows. “Perfect,” she thought. Now she owes him money. This will be easier than I thought. She dialed another number. “It’s time to end this,” she said when they answered. “Let the war begin.”

“Coffee?” Isabela asked with a perfect smile, but her green eyes gleamed with calculated malice. “There’s a lovely coffee shop near the hospital. We could get to know each other better.” Camila hesitated. She had just come from visiting her mother, who was recovering well from the surgery Sebastián had paid for without hesitation.

 “This can’t be good,” she thought, but her upbringing compelled her to nod. “Of course, Miss Córdoba.” Isabela, please. She smiled falsely. We’re practically family, aren’t we? Family, Camila thought with a shiver. If only she knew what was really going on. At the elegant Zona Rosa café, Isabela ordered a cappuccino without foam while Camila opted for plain black coffee.

 Every detail was a silent statement of social class. “How is your mother?” Isabela asked with feigned concern. “Better, thank you. The surgery was successful.” “What a relief,” Isabela murmured. “Sebastián told me he covered the expenses. How generous of him.” “Here we go,” Camila thought, bracing herself for the attack. “His generosity has been unexpected,” she replied carefully. Isabela leaned forward as if she were about to share a secret.

 Camila, I can call you Camila, right? I need to talk to you woman to woman. Of course. Sebastián is a very special man, Isabela began, but also very vulnerable since he lost his wife. Camila felt a pang of irrational jealousy hearing Isabela speak of him with such familiarity. “It’s obvious she loves Matías deeply,” she replied diplomatically.

“Oh, yes,” Isabela laughed, “but men like him need a certain type of woman by their side, someone of their own social standing.” “Here it comes,” Camila thought, clutching her mug. “I’m not sure I understand what you’re getting at.” Isabel smiled at her, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “What I mean, my dear, is that I’ve noticed a certain closeness between you two.”

Camila felt her blood run cold. “My relationship with Mr. Restrepo is strictly professional.” “Seriously,” Isabel raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow. “Because from where I see it, it seems you’re confusing professional gratitude with something else. She knows something,” Camila thought with growing panic. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Isabela leaned back in her chair, studying Camila like a predator. She was assessing her prey. “Camila, you’re a smart girl. You must understand that rich men often mistake pity for love. Forgive me. Sebastián feels sorry for your situation,” Isabela explained in a sweet but venomous voice. “Your sick mother, your debts, your financial desperation.”

 It’s natural that he wants to help. Every word was a calculated stab. Camila felt nauseous. He doesn’t feel sorry for me. No. Isabel laughed softly. Then explain to me why a millionaire would pay for his employee’s mother’s surgery. Because he loves me, Camila thought. But doubts began to creep into her mind. Because he’s a good man.

 “He’s a good man who feels guilty,” Isabela corrected. “Guilty for his privilege, for having so much while others suffer.” Isabela leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “But that guilt isn’t love, Camila. And when it passes, what do you think will be left?” Camila felt her world begin to shake. “You’re wrong.” “I am.”

Isabela smiled triumphantly. “So, tell me, has he ever introduced you as anything more than his employee?” Silence. “Has he taken you to social events as his date?” More silence. “Has he mentioned a future together in front of other people?” Camila felt tears welling up. “That doesn’t mean you know your place.”

Isabela interrupted her brutally. “And you’d better not forget that. This is war,” Camila understood. “So, are you threatening me?” Isabel laughed as if the idea were absurd. “Of course not, my dear. I’m just giving you some advice, woman to woman.” She stood up gracefully, leaving the exact amount on the table.

 Enjoy what you have while it lasts, she murmured. But don’t confuse charity with true love. When Isabela left, Camila was left alone with her toxic thoughts. What if she’s right, what if it’s all just pity? That night, Sebastián came home to find Camila distant and cold. “How’s your mother?” he asked, moving closer to kiss her.

 Camila subtly stepped back. “Thanks for asking.” “Thanks for asking,” Sebastián thought, confused. “Since when is she being so formal with me?” “Camila, is everything alright?” “Perfectly fine,” she replied without looking at him. “Where’s Matías?” “Playing in his room, but talk to me first.” Camila finally looked at him, and Sebastián saw pain in her eyes.

 “Is there something you need to tell me?” she asked. “Like what? Like why you actually paid for my mother’s surgery?” Sebastian frowned, confused by the question. “Because you love her and I love you?” he replied simply. “Why else would I love you?” The words finally spoken hung in the air.

 Camila felt the doubts Isabela had sown begin to fade. “Do you love me?” she whispered. “Of course I love you,” he replied, drawing closer. “Did you think this was just physical?” Before she could answer, he took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. “Isabela was wrong,” Camila thought, melting in his arms, but the venomous voice still whispered in the back of her mind, “Or this is pity too.”

A week later, Isabela organized a spontaneous family gathering at Sebastián’s house. “Just close family,” she’d said. “We need to reconnect after so long.” Camila served canapés while Sebastián’s relatives filled the room with conversation about investments and trips to Europe. “I don’t belong here,” she thought, feeling invisible amidst all the luxury and sophistication.

 Isabela watched her like a hawk, waiting for the perfect moment. During the chaos of the gathering, she managed to accidentally trip near Camila’s purse, which she had left in the entryway. With expert movements, she slipped a diamond necklace valued at $50,000 into the bag. Perfect, she thought, smiling sweetly as she returned to the guests.

 Sebastian said aloud, “Haven’t you seen my diamond necklace? The one my grandmother gave me.” All eyes turned to her with concern. “I haven’t seen any necklace,” Sebastian replied. “Where did you leave it? I was sure I brought it.” Isabela put on a perfect act of confusion. It’s very valuable to her sentimentally. Camila, from the kitchen, felt a chill of foreboding.

 Something bad is going to happen, she thought. I can feel it. Isabela glanced toward the kitchen where Camila was washing dishes, then toward the entryway where the purse was. Maybe someone could help me look for it, she suggested innocently, perhaps by checking the purses and jackets. Sometimes jewelry gets caught on clothing.

 The guests murmured their agreement, beginning to search their own belongings in solidarity. Time for the final blow, Isabela thought, heading for Camila’s purse. Let the show begin. Here it is, Isabela exclaimed triumphantly, pulling the diamond necklace from Camila’s bag. I found it. The silence that followed was deafening.

 All the guests stood motionless, their gazes shifting between Isabela and the necklace, and then toward the kitchen where Camila had turned completely pale. “This can’t be happening,” Camila thought, feeling as if the ground were opening up beneath her feet. “Isabela, are you sure that’s your necklace?” Sebastián asked, his voice strained, though his heart was already sinking.

 “Of course I’m sure,” Isabela replied, her voice breaking as if she were devastated. “It belonged to my grandmother. Look, it has her initials engraved here.” Sebastián saw the initials delicately engraved on the brooch. Elena Córdoba, Isabela’s grandmother, “Oh my God,” he thought, feeling nauseous.

 How could she do this? All eyes turned to Camila, who had come out of the kitchen in a panic. “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice trembling, though she already knew she was falling into a trap. Isabela approached her, tears perfectly calculated in her eyes. “Camila, darling,” she said, her voice hurt, “I found my necklace in your purse.”

“Liar,” Camila thought furiously, but she knew no one would believe her. “I didn’t take any necklace,” she said firmly. “I’ve never seen that piece of jewelry before in my life.” “But it was in your bag,” insisted Sebastián’s cousin, the same Sebastián who had brought his wife here years before. “We all saw it.”

 Camila looked at Sebastian desperately, searching for any sign that he trusted her. “Defend me,” she begged silently. “Tell me you know I would never do this.” But Sebastian remained motionless, battling his own inner demons. Sebastian, Isabella murmured. I know it’s difficult, but the evidence is clear. The evidence, he thought.

 How can I deny the evidence when it’s right in front of my eyes? There has to be an explanation, she finally said, but her voice sounded weak, full of doubt. Cami felt as if she’d been slapped. An explanation, she repeated, her voice breaking. Don’t you trust me? Sebastián’s silence was his answer. Sebastián, his uncle interjected. I understand the girl has been good to Matías, but this is theft, and not just any theft, Isabela added. It’s a priceless family heirloom.

 Everyone against me, Camila thought, feeling the walls closing in around her. Camila, Sebastián finally said, his voice sounding strange. Can you explain how the necklace got in your bag? The question was like a stab wound. It wasn’t, “I know you’re innocent,” it was, “Explain yourself.” “I have no explanation,” she replied with dignity. “Because I didn’t put it there.”

“But someone did it,” murmured her cousin, “and it was in your bag.” Isabela moved closer, feigning passion. “Camila, I understand your financial situation is desperate. Your mother’s medical expenses, what a bitch,” Camila thought. She’s using my mother’s illness against me.

 “She wouldn’t steal a single peso from me,” she said firmly, much less something so personal, but she could see in the guests’ eyes that they had already decided her guilt. A domestic worker, poor with a sick mother. “Of course she’s guilty.” “Sastián,” said the uncle, “you have to call the police.” “Police.” Camila thought with panic. “A criminal record would destroy my entire career.”

“No,” Sebastian said quickly. “We’re not going to involve the police.” For a moment, Camila felt hopeful, but he continued, and her heart sank. “I can’t let this go unpunished. He’s going to fire me,” she realized. “He’s going to fire me without even really listening to me.” “Sebastian, please,” she murmured.

 “Do you know who I am? Do you know that I never thought I knew who you were?” he interrupted. His voice was as cold as ice, his words striking her like bullets, all the love, all the shared intimacy, erased in an instant. “It’s okay,” Camila said, straightening her shoulders. “I understand perfectly.” She headed toward the entryway to get her purse, aware that everyone was watching her as if she were a criminal.

 Camila, Isabela’s voice stopped her, clutching the necklace. Of course, she thought bitterly. The final humiliation. Camila took the necklace from her bag and handed it to Isabela with trembling hands. “Here’s your precious necklace,” she said, her voice broken but dignified. “Thank you, my dear,” Isabela murmured with feigned sweetness. “I hope you find help for your troubles.”

 My problems, Camila thought, as if being honest were a problem. She headed for the door. But Sebastian’s voice stopped her one last time. Camila turned around with a final spark of hope. “I’ll deposit your last paycheck tomorrow,” he said coldly, “with an extra bonus.” A bonus, she thought, as if it were guilt money I needed. “I don’t need your bonus,” he replied proudly.

 Just give me what you owe me for my work. Whatever, he muttered, avoiding her gaze. When Camila left, an awkward silence filled the room. “You did the right thing,” the uncle told Sebastian. “You can’t have thieves in your house.” “Was it the right thing?” Sebastian wondered, feeling a strange emptiness in his chest.

 That night, after everyone had left, Sebastián found Matías crying inconsolably in his crib. “Where’s Cami?” he sobbed. “I want Cami.” “Cami, she’s not coming back,” Sebastián said, the words coming out like shards of glass from his throat. “No!” Matías cried. “Good Cami, not bad Cami.”

 “Even my two-year-old son knows I made a mistake,” Sebastián thought with growing horror. Over the next few days, Matías deteriorated dramatically. He stopped walking and reverted to crawling. He stopped speaking, communicating only through crying. He refused to eat, rejecting any food Sebastián or the new nannies offered him. “It’s normal,” the pediatrician told him.

 Autistic children can regress when they experience loss or trauma. Trauma, Sebastián thought. I traumatized my own son. A week later, Matías was so weak he had to be hospitalized for malnutrition. “Dad,” the boy murmured from his hospital bed, “Why did Cami leave?” Sebastián felt as if thousands of needles were piercing his heart. “Because Dad made a very big mistake,” he confessed, taking his son’s little hand.

“A terrible mistake. The worst mistake of my life,” he thought, watching his son wither away without Camila. Isabela visited the hospital with expensive flowers and a victorious smile. “How is the little one?” she asked with feigned concern. “Bad,” Sebastián replied curtly. “Very bad, children are resilient,” Isabela muttered. “He’ll adapt, he’ll adapt,” Sebastián thought, his anger rising.

 “My son is dying of grief, and she says he’ll adapt.” For the first time since the incident, he began to question everything that had happened. “What if I was wrong? What if Isabela lied?” But his pride and fear of social judgment paralyzed him.

 How can I admit that I destroyed the life of an innocent woman? That night, alone in the hospital, watching his son sleep connected to an IV drip, Sebastián finally faced the truth. Camila would never have stolen anything. I know her, I love her, and I betrayed her in the worst way possible, but when he tried to call her, her number was gone. She’s gone, he thought with growing panic.

 And it might already be too late to fix it. Matías murmured. Cami, half-asleep. And Sebastián knew he had to find her. No matter what it costs me, no matter what others think, I have to bring her back before we lose Matías forever.

 The medical monitors beeped constantly as Matías lay in the hospital bed, connected to multiple IV drips. His two-year-old body had lost so much weight that he looked as fragile as porcelain. “This is my fault,” Sebastián thought, watching his son sleep soundly. Completely my fault. It had been three weeks since he said goodbye to Camila.

 Three weeks had passed, and Matías had completely regressed to his previous state. He couldn’t walk, he couldn’t talk, he barely ate. “Mr. Restrepo,” the doctor said, entering the room. “Matías’s nutritional levels are critical. We need to consider intravenous feeding.” “My son is dying,” Sebastián thought in horror. “He’s dying of sadness.”

“Is there anything else we can do?” he asked desperately. The doctor hesitated. In cases like this, when regression is caused by emotional loss, it sometimes helps to regain the attachment figure. Camila, he thought, he needs Camila, but she’s no longer available, he murmured. What a shame, the doctor sighed.

 Autistic children form very specific bonds. They are difficult to replace. That night, Sebastián stayed up watching over Matías. The boy woke up several times shouting, “Cami! Cami!” before collapsing again, exhausted. What kind of father destroys his child’s only source of happiness? The night nurse, an older woman named Carmen, came in to check his vital signs. “Poor little angel,” she murmured, stroking Matías’s forehead.

 “He seems to miss someone a lot, his caregiver,” Sebastián explained. “But we had to let her go.” “Oh, what a shame,” Carmen exclaimed. “He must be referring to that sweet young woman who used to take care of him. I saw her a few times when she came with you to your doctor’s appointments.” Sebastián nodded sadly. “She was very special to him. It was obvious.”

Carmen continued. “And she looked so elegant when she went out. I saw her a few weeks ago at the hospital’s charity gala, all dressed up in a gorgeous dress and beautiful jewelry.” Sebastián froze. “Excuse me, did you see Camila at a gala?” “Oh, no,” Carmen laughed. “Not the maid. I mean that blonde lady who came with you a few days ago, the one with the green eyes.”

 Isabela, Sebastian thought, his heart beginning to race. Isabela was at a hospital gala. Yes, the fundraising gala three weeks ago, Carmen explained. She was wearing a beautiful, very old diamond necklace with engraved initials. It caught my eye because my grandmother had a similar one.

 The room began to revolve around Sebastián three weeks ago, the same day he found the necklace in Camila’s bag. “Are you sure it was the same necklace?” “Absolutely,” Carmen agreed. “I even told my colleague how beautiful it was. The initials were like my grandmother Elena’s. Elena Córdoba, Isabela’s grandmother.”

 Sebastián thought, feeling nauseous. “Excuse me,” he murmured, rushing out of the room. In the hospital corridor, he dialed Isabela’s number with trembling hands. “Sebastián,” she answered sweetly, “How are you, Matías? I need to see you now. It’s 2 a.m. Now, Isabela,” she repeated dangerously. At the hospital.

 An hour later, Isabela arrived at the hospital, perfectly dressed despite the late hour. “What’s so urgent?” she asked with feigned concern. Sebastián led her to a private waiting room, closing the door behind them. “Tell me about the hospital’s charity gala three weeks ago,” he said without preamble.

 Isabel blinked, a micro-expression of panic crossing her face. “What gala? I don’t remember the gala where you wore your grandmother’s necklace,” Sebastián continued relentlessly. “The same necklace you mysteriously found in Camila’s bag.” The PC thought, watching Isabela turn pale. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she murmured weakly.

 “No, Sebastián came closer because a nurse saw you wearing it that night with the initials S clearly visible.” Isabela stepped back, searching for an exit. “Sebastián, are you upset about Matías’s situation? Tell me the truth,” he roared. “Did you put the necklace in Camila’s bag?” Silence was her only answer. “My God,” Sebastián murmured, feeling his world crumble.

 “You did it, you really did.” Isabela straightened her shoulders, adopting a defiant attitude. “So what if I did?” she finally said. “It was for your own good.” For my own good, Sebastián thought incredulously. Destroying the life of an innocent woman was for my own good. That woman was manipulating you,” Isabela spat, taking advantage of your vulnerability, of your money. Camila never asked for a penny, Sebastián shouted.

 I offered to help his mother. Exactly. Isabela smiled cruelly. I had you completely blind. Sebastián looked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time. Do you know what you’ve done? he muttered. My son is dying without her. Matías will recover, Isabela said disdainfully. Children adapt. They adapt, Sebastián thought with growing fury.

 My son is hospitalized for malnutrition, and she says he’s adapting. What if he doesn’t recover? she asked dangerously. “What if she loses Matías because of your lie?” For the first time, Isabela showed a spark of uncertainty. That’s not going to happen. It’s already happening. Sebastián explored. “My son isn’t eating, he isn’t talking, he isn’t walking. He’s dying of grief, and all because of your manipulation.” Isabela finally backed down, seeing the magnitude of what she had caused.

Sebastian, I didn’t think you didn’t think, he interrupted. You just wanted to destroy the only person who had brought us happiness. He headed for the door, but stopped. Do you know what the worst part of all this is, Isabela? She looked at him expectantly.

 Because of you, I betrayed the woman I love, and it may already be too late to get her back. Isabela tried to approach him. “Sebastián, can we fix this?” “There is no ‘us,’” he said firmly. “There never was, and after this, there never will be.” “But Sebastián, I want you to stay away from me and my family,” she continued relentlessly.

 If you come near us again, I swear all of Bogotá will know exactly what kind of person you are. Isabela was left alone in the waiting room, finally understanding that she had lost everything. Sebastián will never forgive me, she thought with horror. And neither will society when the truth comes out. Back in Matías’s room, Sebastián sat down beside his son’s bed.

 “Forgive me, my love,” he murmured, stroking her little head. “Daddy made a terrible mistake. I have to find Camila,” he thought desperately, “no matter where she is.” Matías opened his eyes weakly. “Cami,” he murmured hoarsely. “I’m going to find Cami,” Sebastián promised. “I swear I’m going to bring her back.”

 The next day he hired the best private investigator in Bogotá. “I need to find Camila Vázquez,” he said. “She’s originally from Medellín. Her mother was hospitalized here a month ago. Any idea where she might be?” “She probably went back to Medellín,” Sebastián replied. “That’s all I have.”

Three days later, the investigator called him. “I found her,” he said. “She works at a foundation for special needs children in Medellín. Fundación Esperanza.” Of course, Sebastián thought. “She’s still helping children like Matías.” “Get the private jet ready,” he told his assistant. “We’re going to Medellín.”

 When do you want to leave? Now he answered, carrying Matías from the hospital. We can’t wait another day. During the flight, Matías slept in his arms, whispering, “Cami,” in his sleep. Please, Sebastián begged silently. Please forgive me. Please give us another chance. Please don’t let it be too late.

 The plane began its descent toward Medellín, carrying a desperate man seeking redemption and a sick child searching for the only person who could save him. Six months later, the Medellín sun shone on the Esperanza Foundation when Sebastián stepped out of the taxi with Matías in his arms. The boy had lost so much weight he looked as fragile as a little bird, but his blue eyes lit up when he saw the colorful building where they worked with children with special needs.

 “Please, let her be here,” Sebastian thought, feeling his heart pound desperately. “Please, let her hear me.” He had sold half his properties to find her. He had faced social scandal when he publicly exposed Isabela’s lies. He had lost most of his upper-class friends, but none of that mattered. All that mattered was getting his family back.

 She entered the building where the sounds of children playing and laughing filled the air. It was so different from the cold silence of her penthouse. “Can I help you?” a young receptionist asked. “I’m looking for Camila Vázquez,” she said, her voice trembling. “I work here as a therapist. Camila is in the backyard with the children. It’s you.”

But Sebastián was already walking in the direction he was pointing, following the sound of a familiar voice, singing the same vallenato that used to soothe Matías. “That voice,” Matías thought weakly, lifting his head for the first time in weeks. When they reached the patio, Sebastián stopped. Camila was sitting on the ground, surrounded by five children with different special needs, all laughing as she made funny sounds with a small guitar.

 She wore a simple floral skirt and a white blouse, her hair loose and shining in the sun. She looked beautiful, natural, genuinely happy. That’s how she should always look, Sebastián thought, without employee uniforms, without humiliation, just being herself. Matías saw Camila and suddenly came to life. “Cami!” he shouted with what little strength he had left.

 Cami turned around when she heard her name, and when she saw Matías, the world stopped completely. My God, how thin he is, she thought, getting up immediately. What have they done to my boy? Matías!” she exclaimed, running towards them without hesitation. The boy stretched out his weak little arms towards her, crying with joy. “Cami’s back, Cami’s back.”

Camila took him in her arms, feeling her heart break at how light he was. “My love, my little prince,” she murmured, covering him with kisses. “I missed you so much.” Matías clung to her as if afraid she would disappear again. “Cami, why did you leave? Why?” he asked hoarsely.

 Matías was bad. No, my love, she replied, tears welling in her eyes. You were never bad. Never. We adults were the bad ones, she thought, finally looking at Sebastián. He looked terrible. He had lost weight, had deep dark circles under his eyes, and his expensive clothes couldn’t hide the pain in his eyes. Camila murmured, “Thank you for not running away when you saw us.”

 “How could I run away from him?” she replied, stroking Matías’s little head. “What happened to him? Why is he so thin?” Sebastián closed his eyes in shame. “He stopped eating when you left. He stopped walking, stopped talking. He was hospitalized for malnutrition.” “Because of me,” Camila thought in horror. “He got sick because of me.” “It wasn’t your fault,” Sebastián said.

 Reading his expression, it was mine, completely mine. The other children from the foundation had approached, curious, but the staff kept them at a respectful distance. “Sastián,” Camila said carefully, “Why are you here?” “Because I discovered the truth,” he replied. Isabela lied. She put the necklace in your bag.

 Camila felt a mixture of relief and pain. “And why do you believe me now?” Because a nurse saw her wearing the necklace the night of the meeting, she explained, because I confronted Isabela and she confessed everything. Why didn’t you believe me when I told you? Camila thought, but she saw so much genuine remorse in her eyes that her anger began to subside.

 Camila continued, Sebastián kneeling before her as he held Matías. “I made the biggest mistake of my life. I betrayed the woman I love out of fear of what people would say.” The woman he loves, she thought, feeling butterflies flutter in her stomach. “I lost my job, my reputation, my dignity,” he continued. “My dignity. But none of that matters if I can’t get my family back. Your family—you, Matías, and me,” he said firmly. “That’s my real family.”

Matías weakly lifted his head. “Dad cried a lot,” he told Camila. “Dad’s sad without Cami.” “He cried,” she thought, seeing real vulnerability in Sebastián’s eyes. “Camila,” he murmured, “I’m not asking you to forgive me right away. I’m just asking for a chance to show you I’ve changed.”

 How you’ve changed? I publicly exposed Isabela, she explained. All of Bogotá knows what she did. I lost all my superficial friends, but I don’t care. She stood up to her own social class for me, Camila thought, surprised. I sold half my properties to create a medical aid fund for families like yours, she continued. And I gave up all the exclusive clubs where you would have been rejected.

Camila stared at him, seeing complete sincerity. “And what do you want from me? For you to come home?” he replied simply. “Not as an employee, as my equal, as the woman I love and want to be my wife.” “Wife,” she thought, feeling the world spin. “Sastián, I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness,” she interrupted, “but Matías does deserve to have his real mother back.”

Camila looked at the child in her arms, so fragile, so needy of love. “What do you say, my love?” she asked Matías. “Do you want Cami to come home?” “Yes!” the child shouted with more energy than he had shown in months. Cami, Daddy, and Matías, together. Together, she thought, can I risk my heart again? She looked at Sebastián, seeing the broken but sincere man in front of her. One chance, he said finally. Just one.

 “I won’t need anything else,” he promised. A year later, the small chapel in the mountains of Medellín was decorated with wildflowers and filled with the love of the few people who truly mattered. Camila’s mother, fully recovered, wept tears of joy in the front row. Camila walked down the aisle in a simple but beautiful dress, radiant with genuine happiness.

 Sebastián waited for her with Matías by his side, who carried the rings on a small pillow. The boy had regained weight and energy and was walking steadily. “All done, little ring bearer,” Sebastián whispered to him. “All done, Daddy,” Matías replied, taking firm steps toward Camila. When he reached her, he proudly handed her the rings. “For Daddy and Mommy Cami,” he declared solemnly.

 “Mom Cami,” she thought, tears of joy welling up in her eyes. The ceremony was intimate and perfect. When the priest pronounced them husband and wife, Matías applauded louder than everyone else. “My family!” he shouted. “My whole family!” Two years later, Sebastián came home to find Camila in the garden with Matías, building sandcastles while their baby sister slept in her stroller. “How are my loves?” he asked, kissing Camila.

 “Perfect,” she replied, caressing her barely visible belly. “All three of them perfect.” “All three?” he asked, surprised. Camila smiled. “Matías is going to have another little brother.” Sebastián lifted her in his arms, turning her around as Matías laughed. “This is my true wealth,” he thought, looking at his family. “This is all I need.”

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