Buried Secrets

Chapter 1: A Love Never Returned

—Alejandro, I have been married to you for three years, yet you have never touched me. I will step aside and bless your love with Camila by setting you free. Tomorrow, you will be free to go with her, but for tonight, grant me this one moment… for everything I have felt for you over the years.

Isabela Mendez leaned forward and pressed her lips against the man before her, like a moth drawn to a flame. It was a frantic, desperate act. She knew it was shameful, yet she had loved him for so long. The pain had been unbearable, and now, all she wanted was a single moment of comfort.

—Isabela, how dare you?!

Furious, Alejandro Castillo clenched his jaw, anger flashing across his striking features. He wanted to push her away, but the heat surging through his body clouded his reason. How dare she set me up like this?

—I’m not afraid of anything…

A single tear escaped from Isabela’s eye as she deepened the kiss, her inexperienced hands fumbling over his body. She wanted, just for once, to make him hers.

Alejandro was livid, but he had lost control of the situation. A fire burned through him, consuming his rationality. He let himself be swept away by the moment.

At dawn, Isabela awoke, suppressing the pain she felt. She climbed out of bed, got dressed, and retrieved a document from the drawer. She placed it on the nightstand, her eyes lingering on the man sleeping there.

—Alejandro, I’m setting you free. From today, our paths will separate, and we will have nothing to do with each other.

She turned and walked away, her heart heavy with grief and resentment. She had loved him for seven years—since her teenage years, through university, and into marriage. Becoming his wife had been her greatest wish. But Alejandro had despised her from the moment she became part of his family.

His grandfather had been gravely ill, and the family needed a reason for joy to keep misfortune at bay. By fate, Isabela was chosen to be Alejandro’s bride. Her greedy father, Héctor Mendez, and her manipulative stepmother, Patricia, had eagerly accepted the marriage arrangement.

She had once been so happy, waiting for her wedding night. But Alejandro had arrived with nothing but contempt in his eyes.

—Isabela, the only woman I love is Camila Del Valle. I never wanted this marriage. Only she has the right to be my wife. You will never be good enough for me.

Isabela knew he was not obligated to love her, but she had still clung to the hope that one day, he would. For three years, she devoted herself to him, trying to be the best wife she could.

Every night, she cooked for him, ensuring he always had a warm meal when he returned home. No matter how late he was, she waited quietly in the shadows before going to bed.

Whenever he drank too much at social events, she cared for him instead of leaving him in someone else’s hands. When he was sick or injured, she was the first to tend to him.

During the harsh winters, she warmed his clothes and prepared hot baths for him. Each morning, she woke up early to make sure he never felt the cold.

But none of it mattered. He never loved her—and he never would.

Two days ago, it had been Isabela’s birthday. Alejandro hadn’t even acknowledged it. Instead, he had gone to the hospital to be with Camila.

It was then that Isabela finally understood. No matter how much she loved him, she would never have a place in his heart. And so, she chose to let go.

Alejandro woke up at ten in the morning, his first instinct to hunt Isabela down.

As the CEO of Castillo Group, he was known for his intelligence and sharp instincts. No one in the business world could outmaneuver him. Yet, last night, he had fallen right into that woman’s trap.

Anger surged through him as he scanned the empty room, searching for Isabela. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a document on the nightstand.

—What is this?

Frowning, Alejandro picked it up. The bold letters on the first page read “Divorce Agreement.”

His eyes darkened dangerously.

“First, she tricks me into sleeping with her, and now she wants a divorce? Ha! Just how many tricks does she have up her sleeve?”

Refusing to believe she was serious, he threw on his clothes and stormed downstairs.

—Where is Isabela?! he barked at the butler, Ramiro.

—Sir, Mrs. Castillo left before dawn… with her luggage.

Alejandro froze.

Six Years Later – Yara, Virtual Reality Medical Research Institute

Dr. Isabela Mendez stepped out of her laboratory, rubbing her tired eyes.

Her assistant, Clara, approached with urgency.

—Dr. Mendez, Professor Fernando Ortega wants to see you in his office.

Isabela, exhausted from three days without sleep, groaned.

—Did he say why? Don’t tell me my little troublemakers ruined the research again…

Clara gave her an apologetic look.

—It seems that way.

Isabela sighed.

At just twenty-four, she had become the apprentice of Fernando Ortega, one of the greatest medical minds in the world. Thanks to her talent, she was never scolded for her work. But no level of brilliance could stop her mischievous sons from causing trouble.

—You’ve been locked in the lab for days. Mateo and Sebastián were worried about you. They kept running around Professor Ortega’s office, and I think they gave him more gray hairs.

Isabela felt a headache coming on. But she couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips.

Six years ago, she had walked away from Alejandro Castillo and never looked back. She had planned to continue her medical studies abroad, but soon after, she discovered she was pregnant.

She had debated whether to keep the children. When she arrived at the hospital, she had almost gone through with it—but in the end, she couldn’t do it.

She chose to have them.

She had been pregnant with triplets—two boys and a girl. But during childbirth, her daughter had been born without vital signs due to oxygen deprivation. Only Mateo and Sebastián survived.

Her sons were her entire world.

But right now, all she could think about was how much trouble they had caused.

And how she was about to face the consequences.