I just wanted to spend a quiet weekend at my beach house. But my sister’s husband was already there with his entire family and shouted, “What is this parasite doing here? Get out right now.” I smiled and said, “Okay, I’m leaving.” But what happened next made him regret saying those words.

But I couldn’t do anything.

He finally left.

The vans drove away down the sandy road.

The silence came back.

Captain Morales looked at me.

Do you need anything else, Mrs. Cruz?

No, Captain. Thank you for coming so fast.

“That’s what we’re for.

They left.

The house was silent again.

I slowly entered.

The smell of beer and food was still in the air.

But it was still my home.

I walked to the terrace.

The sea was quiet.

The waves broke softly against the sand.

I sat on a wooden chair.

For the first time all day…

I breathed in peace.

I thought the story would end there.

But I was wrong.

Two days later I got a call.

It Was Camila.

I didn’t answer.

He left a message.

“Valeria… we need to talk.

I ignored him.

But three days later he appeared in front of my apartment in Veracruz.

It looked different.

Tired.

“Can we talk?” he asked.

I Sighed.

Five minutes.

He went in.

We sat quietly for a few seconds.

He finally spoke.

“Ricardo left.

I blinked.

What?

“After what happened, he started yelling at me in the car. He said it was all my fault.

“And?

I told him I was right.

That surprised me.

“Really?”

He nodded.

“I always treated you like what you had didn’t matter.

I didn’t say anything.

“Ricardo always said that your house was “just an empty house.”

It is not.

I know now.

His eyes filled with tears.

“I’m sorry.