Malú

I’m trembling. My hands are damp with sweat, and a slight pain in the pit of my stomach is trying to take over, but not now. This is no time to be afraid. Too much is at stake for my future.

Many will try to bury my acting career and my name forever because of what’s about to happen during this announcement my fiancé—the son of a prominent CEO in the country—is going to make.

In fact, he’s already a powerful man, being the vice president of his family’s company. However, today, that entire empire means nothing to me. I’ve sacrificed too much for everyone, and no one has ever thought of me. Enough is enough. It’s time to break free from selfish parents and a narcissistic fiancé.

To the man I think I once loved with all my heart, I say it must have been love because I gave him my life without hesitation. I even forgave the rumors of infidelity that constantly surrounded us. But after discovering him in our bed with another woman, it was over, and I stopped being blind. That’s when I realized how much that bastard had used me to cover his back and appear like a good man.

I won’t deny it hurt. It was difficult to face the truth. I went through my mourning phase during the relationship—I cried every night. I tried to save what, I thought, was our love. But now it’s time to move on. In the end, I think I even deserved punishment because I realized I accepted this man into my life just to escape my parents. I fooled myself out of desperation, looking for the easiest way out—undoubtedly, a rash decision.

“Are you sure about your decision?” my assistant asks me as she hands me the final documents to sign. I appreciate her presence and that of my bodyguards; they’re the only ones I trust.

“Should I forgive him and marry him?” I ask irritably, not understanding why this question comes up at this point.

“Don’t worry, I’m not trying to save that relationship because the last thing I want is to see you with that scumbag. But it seems terrible for you to ruin your career like this.”

I laugh and shake my head calmly, holding her hand between mine.

“Friend… because that’s what you are to me, Naty, my friend.” She smiles sadly. “I will always be grateful for your work, and I hope you find true happiness, as I will when I leave all this behind.” She nods, knowing how much I long to leave. “You know better than anyone how badly I want to leave fame behind and simply be a humble person. I’m tired of my parents depending on me and controlling my life. Honestly, I couldn’t care less about Patricio right now. I even thank him for his infidelity.” She looks at me like I’m crazy.

“Yes, I know, it sounds bad, but it’s true. I finally realized I never loved him the way I thought I did; what truly hurt was seeing he was a liar who played me and that my supposed escape route was worse than my current life.” Her eyes look like they’re about to pop out of their sockets. “That’s right: I’m not as much of a victim as I seem; I used the situation to my advantage too. But that ends today. At last, I’m cutting the ties to sail toward my freedom.”

She nods silently while I smile mischievously. Today, I will avenge all the humiliations I’ve endured. Although our families silenced the scandals about his betrayal, people have always mocked me. Day after day, I’ve had to maintain a beautiful smile on my face while enduring how women close to me insult me with hurtful words, calling me a pushover, naive, and other names best left forgotten.