A deafening silence had reigned throughout the car, Maximiliano's mother was looking out the window, while Maximiliano drove with a speed that only Amelia seemed to perceive, he looked worried, she did not know him at all, and therefore, she could not read his expressions, because she was not very familiar with them, but it was evident in his eyes that he was worried about something.Hearing how Maximiliano's son coughed sharply, was the only answer Amelia's quick thoughts needed, it didn't take her too long to tie it all together, she had heard the other woman accompanying them, say that the little boy was asthmatic, which explained a lot, rain was one of the worst enemies of asthma. The little boy coughed again, placing his weak little fist to his chest.Amelia watched through the mirror as Maximiliano closed his eyes for an instant."Does your chest hurt?" The man's voice sounded tremulous, weak, Maximiliano made a grimace when his son nodded, he dedicated himself to accelerate the
Maximiliano gave an indescribable look to Amelia, who stirred, uneasy. "We have to have evidence of everything," he said, from time to time, looking towards the door where his son was, as if he wanted to send everything to hell and just go to verify his son's condition in a more detailed way."Wh-what do you mean?" asked Amelia, who felt a sudden and intense desire to get out of there, she was beginning to understand what direction the conversation would take, which she hated.Maximiliano's mother sighed, as if the answer to the question Amelia had just asked was too obvious. "Amelia, now you are Maximiliano's wife, you have to prove it with evidence"."B-but I still don't understand w-what...""The first thing is that if my grandfather sees that you stutter so much when you speak, he will not believe anything, he is a very smart man who will know that it was a farce and everything will go to hell" The tone of voice Maximilian had used was unpleasant for a woman as rebellious as Ame
They had both lost count of the number of photos they had taken, more than once, he had wanted to send everything to hell, telling himself that it was not worth having to pretend so much for a couple of million, of course, the money would come in handy, regardless of how large his fortune was, money would always come in handy, but that money involved an emotional effort that he doubted he could make, the worst part was that the easiest part was that one: The worst part would come when he had to pretend to love that woman, who despite being beautiful like few others, could not awaken anything in him, the worst part would come when he had to pretend in front of his grandfather for the next three months. Not even she was willing to pretend so much.She had changed her clothes about four times in less than three hours, she had taken at least a hundred pictures, she had had to kiss him more times than she remembered, she had had to pretend that she had known him for a long time and that hi
It was not a question of whether or not he remembered how to do it, it was that he had to remember how to do it. Years ago, many years ago, Maximiliano had learned first aid as part of a student project, although he was a very diligent student, he had never paid much attention to the correct execution of that aid, because in his mind he said that he would never have to use it in his life.How wrong was that young and rebellious Maximilian.Amelia's hair scattered over her face, which was barely visible, her hands bent downwards and the little that was visible of her eyes, filled Maximiliano with anguish: She seemed to be dead, and he could not doubt that she was in that state, he did not know how long she had been drowning, the only thing he knew was that, not being able to conceive sleep -despite having her eyes closed and giving the appearance of sleeping-, he had decided to go for a walk in the place, he had noticed that she was not there, but he had not worried too much. "Maybe sh
After that unpleasant event, Maximiliano had decided that the best thing to do was to leave that place, the last thing he wanted was for something similar to happen again, as soon as the day was over, they would both leave. He had asked Amelia to rest a little on the bed, while he had stayed outside that room, thinking about too many things, and at the same time, about nothing at all, the only thing he was aware of, was that he wanted his son to be with him, he did not want to be there, once again, he questioned if the money he would get from that fake marriage was really necessary.A dry cough came from Maximiliano's lips, it was five in the morning, in two hours he would be leaving, he had spent the night awake, he was used to the lack of sleep, but he hated it, because it always brought with it its worst enemy: the desire to consume alcohol. He was grateful that there was no alcohol in that place, at least in the room where he had ordered. He closed the door behind him as he enter
Amelia stirred nervously, watching Maximiliano's grandfather approaching them both. Immediately, Maximiliano took her by the hand, leaving a kiss on the cheek of the woman, who almost laughed, she knew it was not the moment, but the memory of how he had chased her down the street, and how she had almost been run over, was too much to contain herself, so she lowered her head, telling herself that she had to stop being so childish. "Yes, this is Amelia, my wife." It felt strange to say it, and to hear it. "Take a seat, my love" Maximiliano held Amelia by the arm, the woman was stiff, she had always considered herself a bad liar, she was afraid that Maximiliano's grandfather would notice that she was not used to be held by him."A pleasure, sir..." She had forgotten Maximiliano's last name, and both the man holding her hand and her grandfather noticed. "A pleasure, sir... my name is Amelia," she said, imploring herself not to forget one more detail."The pleasure is mine, Amelia" The gr
The bad mood that Amelia felt in those moments was completely indescribable: she had slept horribly, and in all her years of life, she had never slept as badly as she had that night. She had not wanted to share a bed with Maximilian, but she had been forced to do so, she had put on covered pajamas, so much so that in the middle of the night she had had to stop and put on something shorter, and between sighs and denials, she had laid down on the bed, with Maximilian, with her husband; but that had not even been the beginning of her bitter night: he had begun to snore, he had hugged her on more than six occasions, he had kicked her, almost in the rib and had even pulled her so hard that Amelia had ended up falling and hitting her face, it was the furious scream of the woman -who had endured too much- that ended up waking Maximiliano, who with eyes full of sorrow for his actions, had apologized, but an apology did not erase the pain she had on her face; every time the man crossed her pat
He had avoided many important points about his life, not only because he didn't want to talk about them with anyone, but because talking about it, was like reliving it, like talking about his father's abandonment, about his problems with alcohol and with his own mind, about his suicide attempts when he was a teenager.... he didn't think any of that was necessary to say, so with a lump in his throat, he had confined himself to telling Amelia that he had been married and that his wife had died in childbirth; all of Amelia's grumpiness had vanished completely, giving way to a face full of pity, because although she assumed he was a widower, from a few conversations she had overheard, it must have been very raw to lose the one you love while giving birth to your child, that's why Amelia had insisted that they change the subject, that she had enough. That she doubted her grandfather would want to talk about his grandson's dead wife."Well... I think that's the most likely thing my grandfat
Amelia opened the door to the room they both shared. Dark circles under her eyes were all over her face.Maximiliano bit his nails, Amelia always told him that she would take care of the baby, but he wanted at least one day to put her to sleep.The clock struck three in the morning. The only thing that broke the silence was the baby's cry, which resounded intermittently."Did she fall asleep?"Amelia walked slowly to the bed and fell on her face.Maximiliano picked her up.That was a yes.He filled her face with kisses. She gave him a weak smile, though she could barely keep her eyes open."I don't know... how... a baby of... only four... months... gets so much... energy to... cry," the woman mumbled, closing her eyes without wanting to, sleep was stronger than her, she ended up asleep on Maximiliano's legs, who caressed her hair.The baby's cry resounded, once again.Aurora was so loud.Maximiliano's gaze slid to Amelia. She had completely fallen asleep.This was her chance.He left a
Life had given him an opportunity in the form of a contract, one that he had been moments away from discarding forever. Ironically, it had been her maddening decision that had saved her from losing that wonderful man who was giving her mischievous glances in the dining room.She compressed a smile, she wasn't supposed to do that when her mother and Dylan were there, though only they could understand her game of looks.Amelia lifted a spoon to Dylan's lips, who gave her a smile. The little boy knew how to eat on his own, he had turned five, but it was better when his mother gave him food. He said it tasted more delicious when it was in "Mermelia's" hands.Five long months had passed since that night when the two had decided to become a reality. A huge ring glittered on Amelia's finger, one that her husband had given her to seal their love.Maximiliano's hand slipped down Amelia's leg, drawing a depraved laugh from the woman.He took advantage of being next to her to whisper to her that
Amelia wiggled nervously. Something told her she had made the wrong decision.The right decision couldn't feel so bitter. So searing, so painful.She had fallen in love too soon with that place he had shown her, which was truly beautiful. The metaphor of the flowers had helped her to find some peace in her heart.She remembered how Maximilian had pointed to the sky with his thick fingers."Your mother is just another star, every time you look at the sky, she will be there, watching over you.""Mom... are you there?"Amelia's voice melted into the wind, her gaze melting into the sky.She had made a mistake, but she didn't think she could make it right.He'd surely noticed she was gone. Maybe he was better off that way.But... what if she came back? What if he wasn't better off?Amelia shook her head, shaking the thought away.There was no going back, even if her heart roared with pain. Even if she felt she would never forget him, and that in every man she would try to look for him.The
Maximiliano stopped his car, earning Amelia's gaze, it had been more than two hours of travel. That place seemed to be at the end of the world."We have arrived".They both got out of the car, walking towards the place where Maximiliano had built himself."I discovered this place when I was about ten years old," he said, "I have never forgotten it" The man held Amelia by the arm gently, helping her to enter the place, which looked like a mix between a park and a secluded area of society, she could not even identify what it was, she could only perceive that the stars seemed to shine much brighter from that place. "The first time I came, I was at school, the second time, I was drunk, on the verge of death".Amelia looked at him, uncomprehending. He didn't look like a liquor addict, she hadn't seen him even once drinking.They both went deeper into the place, full of beautiful flowers that seemed to caress the woman's heart.Maximiliano licked his lips, ready to tell the story he had kep
Amelia fell to her knees in that grave. The color of the night covered her body in a loose dress. Sadness took over her face, her gestures, her every limb, even her breathing. She had never seen herself experiencing such deep pain as that; thrown on that dark earth, feeling her knees being hurt and hearing her own cry, so loud that it seemed alien to her, as she felt Maximiliano's hand, seeking to comfort her.Amelia brought her trembling fingers to the grave, breaking down once again. She had never engaged in self-injurious behavior until this had happened. She couldn't see any color in life when her rainbow had died. To think that with a little more care, he could have saved her earlier, it killed her. It had killed her more than a hundred times that week.The woman laid her mother's favorite flowers on the grave, swallowing saliva, trying to regulate the flow of her tears, but they possessed a life of their own.Amelia's stomach roared violently: she had almost a whole week without
Dylan licked his parched little lips, looking up at his father, with what little lucidity he had, the man stroked his tousled hair."Where's mommy?" asked the little boy, with that innocence that always filled the man with enthusiasm for life.It was daytime, a sunny one. The party had left everyone exhausted, including the little boy who had not climbed on the roof because it had been impossible for him to do so, but his hyperactivity was the reason why he had slept late. It was eleven o'clock in the morning and little Dylan lay with his eyes barely open, asking for what he thought was his mother."She sleeps," Maximiliano answered him, although it made no sense and he knew it: Dylan was falling deep into another dream, he had not even heard his answer, "She sleeps like an angel".Maximiliano covered the little boy with a soft, thick blanket and then left the room at a leisurely pace.Last night had been the best night he had ever had in his bitter life. The woman had laid her head o
"Have a seat, Amelia," Maximiliano's mother asked.The woman salivated, doing so.The man's mother had approached her and told her that she had a very serious matter to discuss with her. It had even been worrying on her face, something that had prompted Amelia to get up early from her seat, leave Dylan with some children and go with her."What do you want to talk to me about, ma'am?"The loud, outgoing woman Amelia had met at the beginning had vanished, in front of her was only a woman with worries in her eyes."Amelia, the last thing I want is for my son to get hurt" The woman let out a brief sigh. "But I believe that certain things are inevitable"."Lady, I...""You don't leave my son indifferent, Amelia," the woman confessed. "You're not only his fake wife, you're the woman he hired with apathy and who now doesn't want him to leave" She played with her fingers tremulously. "Amelia, my son has a past that I don't talk about to almost anyone, but I think it's necessary for you to kno
No one had warned him that a party would take place in that mansion, only his mother had gone a few hours before to tell him to get ready and warn his "wife" because many members of the family would be coming to the property. He had waited only minutes before the event to have the courage to tell the woman.The man paced from one place to another. The atmosphere with Amelia had been as heavy as a rock after he had confessed his feelings to her. Although there was a peculiarity in the woman's behavior, she didn't seem at odds with what he felt, she seemed more distressed for herself; she had a storm in her head and he didn't even know it."Amelia" The man opened the door to the room where she had isolated herself, but there was no one there. "Amelia?"For an instant, he was seized by the fear that she had left without telling anyone. The panic that seized him was an unexpected, bitter and aggressive one."I am here" The woman's faint whisper did not allow the panic to grow any more in
The woman was possessed by the sudden and almost uncontrollable desire to flee from the car when she heard him say that; the air left her for endless minutes, her chest tightened, a tremor dominated each of her limbs, her saliva became her own enemy, suffocating her.A tremulous breath escaped her lips."I-I... Maximiliano..."The man closed his eyes, as if he were as restless as she was; he was not very talented with women, in fact, his late wife and he had ended up married because of the circumstances, and because the woman had shamelessly intruded on him, but with Amelia everything was so different that more than once he had felt like a teenager trying to conquer someone."Amelia, you need to know something"."No," the woman blurted out, playing with her fingers. "What y-you heard is nothing".Maximiliano slowed down the car, feeling a pressure in his chest."Amelia, I'm sure of what I heard".The woman thought of something quickly, she would not allow herself to be exposed."She's