Camila Cabello's Point Of View

"Are you enjoying your new accommodations, king?"

My voice sounded firm and malicious, echoing through that so small cell. I couldn't help the smile that graced my mouth. It was incredible the effect that that moment had on me. In that instant, I felt refreshed to be able to enjoy such a great achievement like that one. Christopher turned his face towards me, with a disbelieving expression at the sight of me there. He was frowning, narrowing that pair of light eyes towards me, showing the dark circles of a bad night's sleep night. He was still wearing his button-down shirt, now completely crumpled and loose. Amazing how the first night in a cell fit him perfectly well, for me, of course.

"How dare you show up here?" He seethed as he approached the bars.

The businessman's hands gripped the iron bars tightly as his face lined up towards mine. I was standing in front of him, staring at every little detail of that scene, in an attempt to store that precious memory in my mind. Christopher stared at me with fury, with hatred. I could see it clearly in his dark pupils, enveloped by that intense blue.

"Did you really think that I'd miss this moment?" I asked with a smile. I saw him clench his jaw at the same time as his nostrils inflated. He tightened his grip on the iron bars, to the point of making his knuckles turn whitish. "I waited many years to witness this moment, and I couldn't simply miss the opportunity to delight myself with this victory."

"Bitch!" He slammed his hands against the iron bars with force. "You will pay for this, if you think you're going to get away scot-free from this little game of yours, you're very much mistaken."

I rolled my eyes in a bored way as I played with the tip of my hair, swirling it slowly around my index finger.

"Oh, honey. Don't stress yourself like that, it's not good for you. You shouldn't get so angry with the visit of your beautiful wife, you know? Many here would love to get a visit from me." My voice tone carried an exaggerated sarcasm.

"Only if they want to go straight to hell. You're the devil!"

"I love it when you compliment me, Chris. I feel even more..." I made a thoughtful expression before I turned my eyes to him. "Powerful."

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch, Camila. I can turn this game around." He said in an intense way.

I let a laugh escape my mouth as I took a few steps back. Did he really think that he still could do something against me? Collins really didn't know who he was dealing with, did he?

"Are you threatening me, honey? If I were you, I'd be very careful about what you say." I said as I walked slowly from side to side. "You don't know me, Christopher. You have no idea who I am, and what I can be. During all these years, everything you saw was nothing more than an act. Or do you really think I'm so naïve to the point of letting myself be manipulated by a shithead like you?"

He moved one of his arms between the space between the bars, in an attempt to pull me closer. I looked at his arm that was moving from side to side with a snobby and superior look.

"Tsk, tsk. Don't try to assault me, that will increase your criminal record. Which, modesty aside, looks very beautiful as you'll spend the rest of your miserable life in jail."

"You cunt, I'm going to end your life!" He shouted.

"Enough of this shitshow. You can't do anything against me." I smiled mockingly. "You don't know the pleasure I feel at the sight of you in here. I waited eagerly for this moment, and wow! It's more pleasurable than any night of sex I had with you."

The expression made by Christopher made me laugh out loud. He couldn't react, he was stupefied. Maybe the impact of seeing my true face; audacious, imposing, and cynical, rendered him speechless and without strength. After all, he was used to an obedient little woman who obeyed his orders like a perfect idiot.

Imbecile.

"Shut up! Shut the fuck up!" He shouted as he slammed his hands hard against the iron bars.

"You don't like to hear the truth?" I asked with a smile.

"You're trying to drive me mad. I don't want to listen to you!" He seethed.

"No can do, now you're going to listen to me. Aren't you curious to know how you were made a sucker all this time? Don't worry, I'll tell you right now." I approached the bars as he turned his back to me.

One could easily see how affected he was by my presence, and I confess that that boosted me to continue. I wanted to let it all out, absolutely everything that one day I felt because of him. I wanted Christopher Collins to feel as defeated and alone as I once felt.

"I don't want to know, get out of here now!" He brought his hands to his head.

"Did you really think that you could get such an amazing woman like myself? With that boring chitchat and bad sex? You can get an idiot, like Keana, but not me. I'm way out of your league, king. If we can even call you king..." I slid my fingers from one bar to the other, very slowly. "I researched about your life, I saw every little detail of the mediocre being that you are. I studied you for months and months, to then meet you. You fell so easily..." A soft chuckle left my mouth. "I remember your gallant and dazzled look towards me." Christopher was taking deep breaths as he kept his back turned to me. "How does it feel? How does it feel to know that I manipulated you during all these years?" The words left my mouth with such a satisfaction that I could feel my whole body vibrate with that moment. I could finally expose what I kept for so long. At last he'd feel the bitter taste of that defeat, caused by me. "I used you." I whispered with a smile. "The last few years of your life till now were meticulously orchestrated by me. I entered your kingdom and created my fortress."

The man shook his head again and again, as if trying to keep my voice out of his head. He was going crazy.

"No..." He protested in a whisper.

"I didn't need an army to defeat you, Christopher. I just needed the right people, and above all, the best strategies." I smiled as soon as he turned his eyes towards me. "Intelligence, I don't know if you know what that is."

"How could I let myself be fooled like that..." He murmured, staring at me. "How did I let you into my life? You bitch!"

He swallowed hard, he was sweating. I could see the droplets of sweat running down his forehead.

"Don't think it was easy for me. Do you have any idea of the torturous years I had? Living at your side was a very ugly punishment. A daily punishment that I endured coldly to savor this moment." I raised my arms, emphasizing the place where we were. "I still feel disgusted with myself for having given myself to you, but I'm capable of overcoming such disgrace in my life."

"Who else is on your side? Besides that little shitty cop."

"It doesn't matter. My kingdom is made of only a Queen." I shot back.

I didn't want to involve Lauren, as much as I knew that Christopher wasn't stupid enough to the point of acquitting Lauren's power in his downfall. I didn't want her to become a target, that couldn't happen.

"She was on your side this whole time? Were you sleeping with her? Speak, you bitch! She can lose this police job, you know that, right? She can go to jail, as you can too."

"You can't prove anything, honey." I smiled. "According to the current situation, the only bad guy behind bars here is you. There's nothing you can do. And I hope you don't try, I think I've already proven that I can be worse."

"I'm goin-" He balled his fist tightly.

"Oh, don't get so upset, honey. You know I hate to see you so frenetic. Do you want me to get you a tranquilizer?" I asked ironically. "You're so used to them nowadays."

Christopher closed his eyes, and blinked more times than usual. I could swear that his memories were flooding his thoughts now. That all the pieces fit together like a finished puzzle. For him, everything made sense now.

"You..." He said almost voicelessly. "So it was you! You drugged me all this time, you bitch! Jesus Christ..."

The man advanced towards the bars, moving his arms between the space between the bars in an ineffective attempt to grab me.

"Oh, I was such a good wife, I made you sleep so many and many nights, and that's how you treat me?" I pretended to be offended as I rested my hand over my chest. "You're going to tell me you didn't like it? I confess that it was excruciating for me to have to leave you sleeping, to go delight myself with really hot sex in her arms." I sneered.

I saw the man's eyes glare at me with a colossal fury. They burned in pure hatred, hatred against me, against my victory. While in me, that feeling of accomplishment prolonged itself with every angry reaction of the man in front of me.

"You two are going to pay dearly for this! I swear you'll pay. You couldn't have fooled me like this!" He shouted, enraged, as he tried to grab me.

"How didn't you notice? I never even tried to hide that I desired her." I smiled as I remembered the moments with Lauren. "I confess that I felt hot in the exact moment I walked into your office that day and came across that pair of green eyes. Shall I tell you that I had sex with her once before that day? By pure luck, or fate, I came across her again." Christopher remained silent, perhaps trying to process all that information. "I shall tell you more!" I exclaimed excitedly, seeing the despair stamped on his face. "One of the best nights was when we had sex in your office at home. I had never been so well fucked in all my life. It was sad to have to go back to the bedroom and come across... trash." I sighed in disgust. "You fuck so badly, I had to say that. It was a burden on my conscience this whole time to have to pretend that you did something well. But luckily, Lauren brightened up my days, while I made you sleep with a few pills."

"You're so going to pay for this..." He whispered. "Oh yes, you are. You and she are going to pay dearly for this. I'm going to destroy you again!"

"It's over, can't you see? You have nowhere to run. There are no strategies that will rebuild your army." My voice tone was firm. "I destroyed your army one by one while you thought you were too powerful. I weakened you! I defeated you!" I seethed.

"Just like I defeated Charlie?" He asked as he lifted his head and met my gaze with that mocking smile. "What was he to you? Your lover? Your father? Or brother? What does it matter, right? He's dead." Christopher had his eyes fixed on me. I knew what he was trying to do. Somehow, he knew that everything was about Charlie, he wasn't that dumb. I fell silent, and just stared coldly at him. "Does it hurt? Does it hurt to remember your darling Charlie? It was because of him that you did all this, wasn't it?" His voice tone made my stomach turn. "I feel that it was because of him. Nothing that I did would cause such loathing in someone."

"You better stop..." I warned tranquilly.

"I found your weakness." He laughed and backed away from the bars. "Charlie, poor Charlie. He was nothing but a fool. It's hard to believe how he got all that wealth, he was such a goody-two-shoes."

"Not everyone needs to be disgusting and treacherous like you to achieve success." I shot back.

"I achieved success like that, behind his back. With those beautiful and well-aimed bullets in his chest." He said as he formed a gun with his fingers.

Suddenly, the last images of Charlie invaded my thoughts, spreading in a matter of seconds. The voice of the reporter who recounted the fateful day of his death echoed in the back of my head. I closed my eyes tightly and took a deep breath.

"This hurts you a lot, doesn't it? Well, know that I'd have done it again. I'd have killed that fucking worm as many times as necessary!" He shouted, making me open my eyes.

I advanced towards the bars and gripped his neck tightly, digging my nails into his skin. Collins grabbed my wrist, but I didn't let go of him. I still felt hatred. Hatred of seeing Charlie's name being uttered by that man. Maybe that was my eternal karma. I'd never get rid of that feeling, not while Christopher Collins was alive. Would that grudge consume me for the rest of my life?

"I should have killed you when I had the chance. I had so many..." I vociferated as I dug my nails hard into his neck, and at the same time I felt my wrist hurt with the strong grip of his hand. "But I didn't want to stain my hands with your blood. I didn't want to stoop as low as you did."

"You didn't have the guts, Queen?" He sneered. "Weak."

He backed away as he slid his hand down his now scratched neck. I pulled as much air as possible into my lungs, trying to keep myself under control as to not commit a madness. It wouldn't be now that I'd put everything at risk.

"Weak?" I laughed ironically. "You really think I'm weak? Look at you, and look at me. It's not me who's going to rot for the rest of my life in a cell. It wasn't me who was fooled for so many years. It wasn't me who was drugged and cheated on for countless nights. It wasn't me who lost all the money without being able to do anything. You don't get it, do you? You're nothing, absolutely nothing before me. I made you fall, king. You fell, and nothing you do will make you get back into the game. I gave the checkmate."

He swallowed hard as he took a deep breath. Christopher was sweating. There was a clash between our gazes, which glared at each other.

"I'm going to kill you, don't forget that." He said with that devilish look. "We'll meet in hell, Karla."

I lifted my head and took a few slow steps forward, allowing my heels to lightly tap against that cold floor. I flashed a defiant look towards him, which was reciprocated with another one from him.

"That will surely be our place. But know that even in hell, I'm going to find you and show you that I'm stronger and smarter than you. Even in hell, I'm going to overthrow you, Christopher Collins."

"Mrs. Collins? Visiting hours are over."

I looked away from the furious man in front of me to look at the police officer down the hall. I nodded quickly in response before looking back at my husband. I stared into his eyes for a few instants before smiling confidently.

"I hope you enjoy your days here, you'll soon have to share your 'luxurious' room with a few more friends. But don't worry, I'll take good care of our things." I said before waving.

"Be ready, Camila! Be ready for what awaits you!" He shouted.

I approached his cell for the last time, fixing my gaze on his.

"You know what awaits me, honey? Your money, and a beautiful woman. That's what awaits me now." I smiled in satisfaction and walked away.

I walked in graceful steps as I looked at Lauren waiting for me at the end of the corridor. In the back, Christopher seethed furiously that he would take revenge, that in the end he'd kill me. I knew that he could really do something, but now I was no longer afraid of death. I had finally fulfilled my purpose, and nothing would make me more fulfilled than to see him hit rock bottom, just like he was right now.

"Pleased?" Lauren asked grudgingly.

A smile was born on the corner of my lips before I grabbed my sunglasses from her hand and put them on my face.

"Very." I answered confidently. "I mean, I'd be much more if..." I leaned forward, touching her abdomen.

"Camila, someone can see us."

"Alright, alright." I raised my hands up in surrender, earning a smile from her. "I have to pretend to be the hurt wife, I know."

"Get back into acting, Queen."

"As you wish."

I returned to my state of incredibly devastated wife as soon as we walked into the precinct's main corridor. Lauren was accompanying me as she talked to one of the police officers. On the way, two officers came out from one of the rooms with Brandon. The former Commissioner now had handcuffs around his wrists and a crestfallen look. As soon as he heard the chatter, he lifted his head, coming across my presence. I could see him swallow hard at the same time as his startled gaze stared at me. I continued walking, and just as I passed by him, I whispered with a smile:

"Have fun at his side."

"You need to arrest that bitch!" The man shouted fiercely, startling those around. "She's guilty! It was her!"

The police officers held him tight as he tried to advance towards me. Lauren stepped forward and stood in front of me, while I feigned innocence.

"What do you think you're doing?" Agent Jauregui snarled, extremely irritated.

"You're on her side, everyone will know that, Jauregui!"

"You're going crazy! Get him out of here and put him in one of the cells." Lauren ordered in an imposing way as the officers pulled the man with some difficulty. "Imbecile."

"You'll pay for this, Camila!" Brandon shouted, drawing everyone's attention.

"What's going on here?" Agent Travis asked as soon as he stepped out of his office.

"I don't know, Agent." I murmured, pretending to be frightened.

"It's under control, Travis." Lauren reassured him, still with a serious expression.

The investigator saw Brandon being dragged as he shouted to the four winds that I was to blame. The man sighed thoughtfully, and soon enough looked at me.

"I see that you're everyone's target."

"When they want to exonerate themselves, they look for the weakest target." I said tranquilly.

"Are you really the weakest?"

"I'll walk you to the door, Mrs. Collins." Lauren interrupted him, drawing my gaze.

"Thank you, Agent Jauregui."

The investigator looked at me and nodded his head before Lauren led me to the exit.

"Stay alert. I'll continue to keep things here under control." She said as soon as we stepped outside.

"You seem nervous." I said in a contained way, when my need to touch her screamed inside me.

"I don't want things to end badly."

"It won't end badly. You're tired, that's all. When you get out of here, go to your apartment. I'll meet you there."

Lauren flashed me a brief smile and nodded. We restricted ourselves to a safe distance so that everything remained as professional as possible. Neither of us could forget the possibility that everyone was still watching me.

"Have a good day, Mrs. Collins." Lauren said in a louder voice tone while some people around watched us.

"Thank you, Agent." I answered before I walked away, heading towards my car parked in front of the police station.

Christopher's Point Of View

I drummed the tip of my fingers against the bars of the cell where I was locked in. The cold metal coming in contact with my skin every time, stressed in my mind with every passing second that she was to blame for me being here. Camila was the malicious mind behind my downfall.

"Bitch."

It was frustrating to recall every little detail of the last few years, without realizing that she was my worst enemy. Camila created her army of few soldiers in the darkness of my knowledge. She planned the best strategies, identified my weaknesses, and never gave me the chance to realize it. Her diabolic mind and her attractive body made me dive in an illusion, like a hypnosis, that made that woman the best I could have. She was cunning, showing herself so weak and sensitive, when in fact she was as harmful as I was. I shook my head, cussing myself inwardly for having been so dumb.

She had deceived me for more than five years. She played the good wife, the woman every man wished to have. She weakened me, and she betrayed me. I couldn't accept it, not the fact of having been betrayed, but the fact of not having realized that she was never real.

"No, she will pay for everything."

I felt my blood running through my veins, accompanying the impetuous speed of my so confused and unruly thoughts. I felt hatred, as I had never felt before in all my life. Camila had overthrown me in the most cruel and humiliating way. I couldn't allow it, I couldn't fall and not take her with me. I still didn't know what Charlie was to her, but I knew that all that was because of him. Son of a bitch, even after being dead, he was still fucking up my life.

"Fucking asshole! I hope you're burning in hell!" I seethed furiously.

My temples throbbed constantly. I sat down in the corner of the cell as I wrapped my arms around my knees. Time in that place seemed to drag on, and to think that that would be my fate, increased even more my thirst for revenge. I closed my eyes tightly when the images of Camila flooded my mind. Her malicious gaze, her confident posture, her offensive words. Those images kept repeating all the time, like a psychological torture. In that moment, everything made sense, making clear all the things I refused to see. My life in the past few years ran like a sequence of flashes in my head, showing my ascension and my downfall.

"You're going to die, Camila..." I whispered with a smile. "And I'm going to make sure of it myself."

That was the only thing I could think about. It was my only wish. I would kill Camila, like I once killed Charlie.

"If you love that prick Charlie so much, you're going to join him very soon, Camilita." I took a deep breath, feeling that adrenaline sensation consume me little by little.

"Talking to the walls, Collins?"

I lifted my head, facing Lauren's minute gaze towards me. Bold, isn't she? I got up from the floor quickly, without taking my eyes off the police officer. I knew that she was as guilty as Camila, and I'd take revenge on her as well. The pain of losing someone will be quite fitting, right?

"I'm just talking to myself."

"You better get used to it, you're the only company you'll have for the rest of your life." She said before walking away.

"Maybe you're right, Agent. I'll be alone, but so will you." I said as I approached the bars.

Lauren, who was already a few feet away, stopped dead in her tracks and turned her eyes towards me. "What do you mean by that?"

I smiled at her, a mocking smile, causing the woman to look furiously at me.

"Do you really think that you two will get out scot-free from this? You won't, you better be careful. She's going to die."

She clenched her jaw, showing her defined jawline.

"You can't do anything, Christopher. And you better be careful with your threats, don't forget that I can take care of you myself now. And I guarantee, I won't be friendly." She shot back.

"That's what you think, Agent. I may be in here, but I still have power. Camila will pay for what she's doing to me, and so will you. Or do you really think that I'm going to accept being betrayed by you?"

"Hm, so you know you were betrayed?" She shrugged, and approached again. The corridor was illuminated by the small amount of light that came through the small windows, partially illuminating the body of the approaching woman. "I just did what you didn't know how to do during all these years." She stood in front of the cell, facing me with her head held high, with a damn superior look. "Don't blame me for knowing how to satisfy your woman very well, Mr. Collins. I mean..." A cynical and victorious smile was born on the corner of her lips, making that hatred that would explode at any moment inside me grow in me. "My woman."

I took a deep breath, pressing my body against the bars. Lauren didn't move not even a millimeter, she stood there, standing still with a glorious air.

"Listen here, you shitty cop. You will not have her for long, I'm going to rip the life out of that bitch myself. And show her that no one can bring me down, you hear me?" I seethed before her serious and furious expression.

Lauren pressed her body against the cell, raising the black gun against my chest in a visibly rampant act. I saw her green eyes fixed in my direction with an almost dark glow.

"Don't make me do something crazy, Collins." She murmured angrily. "If you lay a finger on that woman, I swear I'll end your life. And believe me, it will be very easy for me to do it with you under my command." I backed away from the bars, watching her back away as well. "You're warned." She took another step back and put her gun in the holster around her thigh. "Don't play with me, you don't know what I can do to you." She said and started walking away.

"Agent!" I exclaimed.

Lauren stopped, but didn't turn towards me.

"I want to talk to my lawyer, we have some pressing matters to deal with."

The woman didn't answer, just kept walking away without looking back.

Despite the lack of response, after a few hours, I was led to one of the precinct's interrogation rooms. One of the police officers approached the cell with a serious expression towards me. As soon as I stepped out, the man put silver handcuffs around my wrists. I walked in slow steps until I entered the small room, where John was waiting for me.

"I was told that you wanted to talk to me."

I waited for the officer to leave the room before I sat down in front of my lawyer.

"How are things?"

I saw him take a deep breath, somewhat hesitant, to then face me.

"Very complicated, you're going to be transferred to the penitentiary."

"What?!" I exclaimed, startled.

"You're being accused of many things, there's concrete evidence against you, Collins."

"I haven't been tried yet!"

"I know, but there's nothing I can do. I'm trying my best to lessen this chaos, but it seems that everything and everyone has turned against you. Even your wife, her deposition didn't bring any benefit at all."

I balled my fists tightly, feeling all that anger take over my head. She had managed to close the circle around me, preventing me from thinking of any escape.

"Do you think I can get out of this?"

John was silent for a few instants, making me be sure of his answer before he even answered.

"No, Christopher. Honestly, my job will be to lessen your sentence, but avoiding it would be practically impossible. You'll be condemned."

"No, I can't be condemned! John, I'm an entrepreneur, one of the most important in this country! I was robbed, can't anyone see that?"

"This isn't just about the robbery, Christopher. You killed someone, created a shell company, robbed another man. There's a world of accusations against you."

"It's her fault..." I seethed furiously. "She'll pay for this..."

"What did you say?"

I turned my eyes to him, seeing his confused expression.

"I need you to do something for me." I ordered.

"I don't want to get into trouble..."

"You can't abandon me now, did you hear me? You know that I can take everything from you, even from in here." I said in a confident tone. "You don't want to be against me, John."

I saw his static gaze, followed by a defeated sigh.

"What do you want?"

"I still have a small amount in an account abroad. I need you to use that money to execute my last plan. I will not stay in this place, not alone."

Narrator's Point Of View

*A few weeks later...*

The lines were scrawled with force and anger. Christopher pressed the tip of the pen against the crumpled paper, forming letter by letter, while his thoughts worked minutely over the tumultuous day he would have. After weeks locked in a prison with other inmates, his thoughts became even more disturbed. Some dared to say that he was going crazy, others just said that it was stress due to having to live in a place like that, but deep down, no one knew what was going on inside those thoughts. He was subjected to share a tiny space with other criminals, to wear an orange uniform, and to cut his hair as the officers wanted. He was reaping the consequences of the acts that once made him grow.

"Who's that woman?" One of the inmates asked upon seeing Christopher staring at the photo of a Latina with powerful air.

Christopher stared at all the features of Camila's face printed on that piece of paper. She was wearing light-colored clothes, contrasting perfectly with the brown background; her long hair reaching her waist. The woman carried a serious expression and a defiant look, very typical of her personality. He loved that picture, he looked at it every day ever since he was put in that cell.

"This is my wife." He said with a devilish smile.

The inmate next to him frowned, somewhat confused due to the way the businessman was looking at his beautiful wife.

"Didn't you say that your wife is the reason why you're here? Why do you have her photo?"

The man left Camila's photo on the floor beside the open notebook where he had scrawled the Latina's name everywhere. The yellowish pages had the names of everyone who one day passed through his life, but hers stood out in thick, evident lines.

"I don't want to forget not even a single detail of her face. Soon, she will cease to exist." The businessman said confidently.

"What do you mean?"

"We'll be together soon." Christopher said as he stroked Camila's face printed on the paper.

"You're in jail, man. You can't be with her." The inmate said incredulously.

"We'll be together in hell, Brady. I will make sure of it, believe me, because Camila is mine."

"Don't do anything you'll regret, Collins. Today is your trial."

Christopher closed his eyes and took a deep breath before getting up from that cold, grayish floor of the penitentiary. There were only a few hours left till the sun came up; soon, all those interested in the Collins case would be walking into the court of law to decide the fate of the oil tycoon. During the last few weeks, all the depositions were gathered, evidence was processed, and the investigation was closed. Lauren, being the big star of the case, received all recognition for the range of information that condemned the businessman to all the crimes committed by him. However, it wasn't about her that he thought of during every second of his days in that place, it wasn't her who was to blame for him being there, not for Christopher. The man knew that there was a malicious mind behind all that, and he knew exactly who it was.

Camila.

Camila was his big target.

His obsession.

It was her who inhabited his thoughts every second of the day. Christopher found himself totally immersed in that gunk of rancor, revenge, and desire for that woman. Many professionals would say that he had created a sick obsession for her. Collins had made up his mind, he would spend the rest of his existence beside Camila.

"Don't worry, friend. I'm just going to get the Queen." The businessman faced his cellmate, who was looking at him rather frightened. "That's what she calls herself. Queen, and I'm the king. It's nothing more than fair to finish this story together, right?"

"You're crazy." The man said, walking away as he shook his head.

Collins just laughed. He knew he was going crazy, but he didn't care. Today he only needed one thing, and he wouldn't rest until he got it. Today would be the big day in his life calendar.

"I'm crazy about her. Just her."

The businessman grabbed a small lighter he hid with him, opening the metal lid. He moved his thumb over the object, which soon emanated a few sparks before lighting the small flame. With his other hand, he brought the picture of his wife closer to the gleaming flame, which soon enough took over the paper.

"You better be ready for me, honey." He whispered with a devilish grin as he watched the photo of the Queen being consumed by the fire.

Camila Cabello's Point Of View

I shifted between the messy bed sheets of Lauren's bed for the twentieth time that night, very carefully as to not wake her up. After a wonderful night at her side, all I could offer was the opportunity to let her rest, we'd have a busy day that day. I turned around delicately so that I could look at my woman's calm expression, she was plunged in a deep, serene sleep. Watching her sleep had now become a strangely curious way of calming me, as if even in the absence of words or acts, I could feel safe just with her calm presence. That had been working for a while, since in the last few days, sleep was one of the main difficulties. For countless nights I found myself awake, while my thoughts proliferated with haunting and macabre ideas about my end. I confess that deep down, I struggled against the fear that at all costs tried to inhibit me. I couldn't simply get to the end of the game and feel depressed by my own thoughts, could I?

I shook my head, and then lifted my hand, which slid subtly down Lauren's smooth back. A subtle caress, as if I wanted to take advantage and enjoy every moment at her side. Sometimes I even wondered if I really deserved the good fortune to have found Lauren. My life had become so turbulent and fake that nothing I did could serve as seeds for a good reap. Perhaps God had had mercy on my soul, to send her in my direction and save me from such a lonely end.

"Camila..." I heard her husky, sleepy voice call me. "Why are you awake? It's still too early."

"I just went to drink some water, don't worry." I lied.

Lauren frowned with some difficulty as she tried to open her eyes towards me. I smiled at her, who reciprocated with another smile before reaching out her arms for me to come closer. And so I did, feeling them wrapping me in a loving and affectionate embrace.

"Sleep, we still have a few hours to rest." She whispered, to then place a kiss on the top of my head. I snuggled against her body, wrapping her upper body with one of my arms, as my head rested on her shoulder. Lauren let out a satisfied sigh. "Are you anxious? Is that why you can't sleep?"

"Yeah. But don't worry, I'm fine." I lied again.

"You sure?" She asked, making me stare at her.

Lauren's eyes were bright that morning, a green almost mingled in a blue tone. I loved to look at them in the morning. In fact, I always loved them. In response to her question, I nodded slowly amid a sigh.

"Everything will be alright. I'm here with you." She said, to then kiss my forehead.

"I know, I trust you."

I trusted Lauren. I knew she'd be there to protect me from any danger. I knew that, I knew it because I felt it in the most sincere way, and I saw it in her so protective acts. She had already given me enough evidence to seal our bond. I felt guilty for lying, just like I felt all these months, but I didn't want to worry her. I didn't want to say that for weeks, I found myself awake in the middle of the night after waking up from the nightmare that described my death. I didn't want her to know about the fear that seized me for no reason at all. I didn't want to waste our time together, wondering about the uncertainty of my future.

"You don't seem tranquil, what's going on?"

I stared at her thorough gaze as she stroked my back affectionately.

"I'm fine, love."

"Love?" Lauren smiled in disbelief.

"Oh no..."

Lauren lifted her body, turning me around on the bed at once. I saw her laugh before she straddled my hips quickly.

"Did the all mighty Queen call me love? Did I hear it right?"

"It was a slip of the tongue." I said amid a laugh. "Don't get used to it."

"Mhm, I know you're counting down the minutes to make our relationship public. You want to go out holding hands and go on double dates with your friends? After you made sweet love to me, you got all romantic."

"No! What a lie! Shut up!" I ordered awkwardly, I bet I was blushing.

"Don't lie to me, Mrs. Collins." She said as she held my hands, intertwining our fingers.

"Never, Agent Jauregui."

Our laughter echoed through the bedroom until it got lost in the silence. Lauren was still smiling as she stared at me. Her eyes were shining, loving and so welcoming. I felt strangely unique before them, as I once felt before Charlie's eyes. But of course, Lauren's had other feelings that differed drastically from the ones in a father-daughter relationship. But they both had love, a sincere love made exclusively for me.

"I-"

"I wanted to say tha-"

We spoke at the same time, which made us laugh again.

"You first." Lauren granted.

"I want today to be the last page of this bad story. That after this, everything be different."

"And it will be, Camila. I promise." She said before she snuggled next to me.

I smiled at her, who subtly reassured my still unsure heart. In that moment, I felt that I wasn't alone, despite the fear caused by that bad feeling, I felt that I could always count on her.

"Lauren..."

"Yes?"

"I want to thank you for what you're doing and have always done for me."

She turned her body to the side, now we were facing each other. Her gaze was somewhat confused, but still tranquil. I saw her hand join mine, intertwining our fingers slowly.

"You don't need to thank me, Camila."

"I do. I was such an idiot to you for so long, I did so many bad things. The least I can do is thank you for giving me a chance to explain, to open up my life to you. To thank you for having stayed by my side and for having protected me when I didn't even deserve it." I could see the confusion stamped on the woman's expression, but she wouldn't interrupt me, she was willing to listen to me. "So thank you, for everything. I want you to know that you were the best thing that happened to me ever since I lost Charlie. You're the reason why I want to get out of this story and have a happy life." I spoke with some difficulty.

"Why are you saying all this now? Don't talk like that, it seems like you're saying goodbye..." She said apprehensively, pulling me into her arms. "Look, everything's going to be alright. You no longer need to feel guilty, I understood your motives, and that's why I'm here with you."

"It's a farewell."

I felt a strange urge to cry. As if my chest was about to explode with so many feelings, accompanied by my head bursting with those thoughts, but Lauren didn't need to know that. I didn't want to transfer my insecurities to her.

"Camila..." Lauren whispered fearfully.

"A farewell to this phase. Today is Christopher's trial, and I feel that it's a major turnaround in this ending." I whispered, now snuggling against her arms. "I just want you to remember every day that I love you and that all my feelings for you were sincere."

She held my hand tightly and looked deep into my eyes.

"I believe you."

"I love you, Lauren."

"I love you, Camila."

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NOTE: Y'all better start saying goodbye cause this fic is gonna end after the next two chapters. When Evelin updates again, I'll translate and post it.