CHAPTER 3

Camila’s POV

The main door clicked shut behind me when I got home and I leaned against it. My chest heaved high and low as I replayed Daniel’s words in my mind. Why the hell did he say that? 

“Do you want to sleep with me?”

Honestly, I had never imagined hearing something like that from him. The man I once knew as gentle and kind dared to propose something dirty to me. What happened to him? He wasn’t like that before! He used to be a gentleman! 

After I composed myself, I kicked off my shoes and walked toward the couch. Then, I continued to wonder why he had offered that? Did he think I was so broken and so fragile that I’d want to numb the pain like that? Maybe he thought I needed to forget everything just for a moment, but how could I?

Besides, I wasn’t the type to just fall into bed with someone especially not in a moment like this. Yes, my life was a mess after my husband turned my world upside down  and Isabella’s betrayal twisted the knife even further, but losing myself in a distraction, no matter how tempting, wouldn't fix anything. 

I had been hurt, but I wasn’t that broken! 

Even if Daniel had meant well, I couldn’t do that to myself because giving in to that would have only made everything worse. My heart was already shattered from Gabriel’s betrayal and throwing myself into something with Daniel would just be a bandaid over a bullet wound. 

Did he think I’d actually say yes? Did he see the cracks in me, the ones I was trying so hard to hide? I shook my head, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts. I couldn’t dwell on this. Not now. I had too much to figure out!

First and foremost, I went to retrieve the divorce papers and signed it without hesitation. When he asked me to sign the papers, I was hesitant at first but after seeing him in bed with my best friend, it was the last straw. 

After signing the papers, I put it inside my bag because I would be the one to file it in court tomorrow. Then, I started packing my things. Actually, I never thought it would come to this. One box after another. My life was crumbling, bit by bit, and all I could do was try to salvage what I could. 

Just maybe I coud…

A few hours later, I sat on the floor while being surrounded by half-packed boxes and the house suddenly felt too big and too empty. Once I’m done, I took my bag to get out of the place because it was suffocating! 

I was supposed to go to the nearest hotel to spend the night but got sidetracked at the convenience store and grabbed a bottle of alcohol before I went to the nearby park. It was almost Christmas so the park was decorated and it’s usually crowded at night. 

When I arrived at my destination, I sat on a bench near the edge of the park and the bottle of alcohol I had picked up from a convenience store sat beside me. For a moment, it was untouched, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long because a few seconds later, I reached for the bottle and unscrewed the cap. 

Then, I brought it to my lips. The first sip burned as it went down but I didn’t care at all! Maybe if I drank enough, the pain would lessen, or maybe the world would stop spinning for just a little while!  

But no matter how much I drank, I could still remember the pain. Then, I thought about Daniel’s proposal. It was too much. It was all too much and  I wanted to forget. I needed to forget.

"Trying to drink yourself into oblivion?"

The voice startled me, and I blinked up at the figure approaching. In the dim light, I could barely make out his features, but the sound of his voice sent a jolt of recognition through me. Daniel. Of course, it had to be him! Because why wouldn’t the universe throw another curveball at me?

"What are you doing here? Are you following me, Daniel?" I slurred my words and then the bottle slipped from my grasp and rolled off the bench and onto the ground, but I didn’t bother reaching for it. 

"I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing out here, drinking alone?" he asked. 

"Just go away, Daniel! I don’t need your help," I muttered as I tried to stand but the world tilted beneath me, and I stumbled. Fortunately, Daniel caught me before I could hit the ground. 

"You’re drunk," he said.

“Not drunk enough,” I mumbled as I blinked at him because his face was so close to mine!

"You need to go home," he said.

"I don’t have a home," I shot back and he sighed but his hand was still gripping my arm as he helped me to my feet. 

"Come on. I’m taking you back to your home” he insisted and I tried to pull away but my body felt heavy. 

"I don’t want to go back," I muttered, but it was useless. 

He was already guiding me toward the street and by the time we reached my place, I was barely coherent. The world spun around me and I felt like I was floating. Daniel helped me to sit down on the couch but his expression was unreadable as he looked down on me. 

"Why do you care?" I slurred.  "You don’t care about me. You never did!” I screamed but he didn’t respond. 

Then, he turned to leave but before he could walk away, I reached out and grabbed his arm. I don’t know what possessed me to do it. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was the loneliness and desperation to feel something. 

I couldn’t stop myself and pulled him back toward me and kissed him aggressively. For a moment, he froze and his body became stiff against mine. At the moment, I expected him to push me away, and to tell me to stop, but he didn’t!  Instead, his lips started to move against mine  and neither of us could hold back. 

"Stop," he muttered against my lips but I kissed him again. 

My hands tangled in his shirt to pull him closer because I didn’t want to stop. I couldn’t! Especially when his touch made me feel alive in a way I hadn’t felt in so long! Fortunately, he didn’t resist. 

One kiss turned into another and before I knew it, we were tumbling onto the bed.  My heart pounded as I took in his naked form, and his sculpted physique left me breathless. Then, I was embarrassed as my gaze traveled down from his chest to his flat stomach and…lower! 

“Scared now?” 

“Oh my goodness, what are you doing, Daniel?” I asked but when he whispered something into my ear, my knees wobbled and I was struggling to stand up straight. I felt weak just from his touch and when his hand moved lower, my breath hitched in surprise. 

“Camila…” Daniel whispered softly and his voice was pulling me in. His breath also felt warm against my skin and it made my heart race. 

“Daniel…” I whimpered in response. 

I knew I should stop this but I didn’t know how. My mind screamed for me to push him away but my body wouldn’t move. Then, his hands gently cupped my face. His touch was so tender and it made me feel safe even though I knew this wasn’t right!  

Then his lips touched mine again! It was soft and hesitant like he was waiting for me to say no but I didn’t. I should have stopped him. I should have pulled away, but instead, as his lips pressed against mine, every thought disappeared. 

My hands moved on their own and they were sliding up to his neck. My fingers tangled in his hair and I felt myself arching toward him. He was right. I needed a distraction to forget everything! And in Daniel’s arms, I found that escape, even if only for a moment.

But deep down, I knew this wasn’t right. Daniel wasn’t the answer to all the pain I was carrying. As the kiss deepened, that small voice in my head screamed at me to stop, to pull away before it was too late.

But it was already late because the door creaked open! 

I froze and my eyes widened when I saw Gabriel entering the door. Upon hearing the loud thud of the door after it was closed, Daniel stepped back a little. Yes, he cheated on me but letting him see me with another man also broke my heart. 

I couldn’t breathe! 

I stumbled back and my mind raced as his eyes moved between Daniel and me. I could see the hurt in his eyes, but then, he probably deserved it, right? 

“Hon…” I stuttered.

“What’s going on here?” Gabriel asked in a loud voice as he glared at me and Daniel. 

“It’s been a while, Gab,” Daniel smirked and I saw how Gabriel clenched his jaw.