Chapter 3

I'd tried to believe Hector's excuses. But Emma's little provocations finally broke me.

She posted a hotel check-in on social media. In the photo, they looked close—too close. I could see the mole on his shoulder. It was Hector. My husband.

"That night, I had too much to drink with a client," he shrugged. "Emma just helped me to my room. She's your sister—why do you treat her like an enemy? We're family. Why are you so cold and heartless?"

After that, he only got closer to her, choosing her over me every time.

Even on my birthday, he glanced at his phone and left me alone.

Maybe I should've ignored it. But I couldn't.

When I finally confronted him, I'd rehearsed a dozen explanations. But the truth was uglier than I'd expected.

"Sienna, don't you care that Emma's sick? She's family. How can you be so cold and selfish? There's nothing going on with us, so why all the drama?"

Emma played the perfect victim, stepping in with a sigh. "Please, don't fight... It's my fault. Hector, you should go home. I'll be fine on my own..."

We stood there, stiff with tension, eyes locked everywhere but on each other, and her lips curled into a slight, triumphant smile.

After that, Hector barely came home. He was too busy with "business trips," meetings, and chauffeuring Emma to her endless outings.

They did everything together, and he kept insisting it was just him "being a supportive family member."

My anxiety spiraled, keeping me up at night—until I found out I was pregnant.

The news sparked a glimmer of hope. I grabbed the report, ready to surprise him.

But then the accident happened.

I lay there, blood pooling beneath me. I desperately called Hector.

He picked up, sounding irritated.

Then I heard Emma's voice in the background. "Hector, who is it? Come here and help me with this dress, would you?"

I froze, barely processing it.

He muffled the phone and snapped, "I'm busy. What is it?"

"Hector, I... I was in an accident. I lost the baby..."

"Sienna, are you serious? Is this some kind of game? Grow up. Haven't you caused enough trouble?"

My heart went cold.

The baby was gone.

When he finally arrived at the hospital, his eyes held only reproach. "If you knew you were pregnant, why were you running around like that? Emma was so worried she sprained her ankle. Can you stop being such a burden on us?"

He barely looked at me before rushing off to tend to Emma's ankle.

In that moment, everything became painfully clear: love and indifference couldn't have been more obvious.

I let out a bitter laugh, tears spilling over, draining the last warmth from my heart.

After all my desperate struggles, I sank into darkness.

How foolish, to believe—even before I died—that he loved me.

And even after my death, my soul drifted, unable to let go, watching helplessly as Emma destroyed my name.

"Hector, don't look for Sienna," she murmured tearfully. "I don't want her facing the law. She's my little sister, after all. Even if she tried to burn me alive, I can't bear to see her in jail."