29 The Ghost of Camille

"Carmen, I'm not your mom. I'm Cari, Camille's twin sister. I'm your..." she hesitated.

"Aunt," I finished her sentence. "You look just like her. How is that possible? And why have you never showed up until this moment?"

"Carmen,mi querida, I know the shock of seeing me must be overwhelming. At first glance, I can see it in your eyes—the hope that maybe, just maybe, I'm your mother, Camille. The resemblance is uncanny, I know."

"But listen, I need you to understand something, something that has haunted me for years. It's true, I should have been a part of your life sooner. But,carmen, it wasn't abandonment.It was fear. Fear for your safety and mine."

"You see, after Camille's disappearance, the people who wanted to harm her didn't stop looking. They believed she was still alive, and, by some cruel twist of fate, they found me. They thought I was Camille."

"I had to disappear, go into hiding, to protect not just myself but also to keep them away from you. They're relentless,Carmen, and I knew they would harm anyone connected to Camille, including you."

"Now that you've found me, we need to be cautious. I want to be a part of your life, but it has to be in secret. Our enemies are still out there, and I won't let them hurt you."

"It tore me apart to stay away, missing out on the precious moments of your life. Every birthday, every achievement, I felt the void of my absence. But it was a battle for us, a fight for your safety. Danger lurked around every corner, and any connection could have jeopardized your life,"she confessed, tears glistening in her eyes as she inhaled sharply.

In that moment, I felt her pain, mirroring the anguish tied to the decision I, too, was making – leaving Juan for the sake of safety and the unknown. The weight of such choices, heavy with sacrifice and love, echoed in her tearful confession.

"I've been a silent guardian from a distance, ensuring your well-being. The decision wasn't simple, and I understand it may seem confusing now, but I couldn't gamble with losing you too. It wasn't just Camille they pursued; it was the entire bloodline."

"Please,Carmen, find it in your heart to forgive me. Let me now be a part of your life, not as your mother but as the aunt who loves you, trying to shield you from the darkness enveloping our family,"she said,her

voice carrying the weight of years of hidden pain.

"Carmen, I know you have questions, and I've waited too long to give you answers."Aunt Cari said to me.

"Wait, Aunt Cari, you know Sofia?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of anticipation and confusion.

Cari nodded solemnly, her eyes holding a deep sadness. "Yes,I'm familiar with Sofia. I've known about her for years, and it's time you know the truth."

"When I found Sofia is the only connection to you because I've been trying to reach out to you for years, I figured Sofia's life was in danger. So, I reached out to Sofia to tell her everything. Coincidentally, Sofia was also getting life-threatening messages, and I told her to come with me to the agency to protect her. But she declined; she couldn't leave her brother and her grandmother."

As she spoke, I pulled that look – a mixture of realization, shock, and confusion. The weight of the revelations hit me, each word adding more layers to the twisted truth.Everything Diego told me, it was all making sense now. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, revealing a dark picture that I never imagined.

"She told me all about you in LA, and I told her whatever happens, you should never come back,"she continued, her words resonating with an eerie premonition.

The revelation hit me like a bombshell – If Sofia's persistent encouragement for me to return to SanCasas wasn't orchestrated by Cari; then who was behind it? The shock of this revelation froze me momentarily.

Feelings of betrayal surged within me. Why didn't Sofia inform me about having a family? I had always stayed connected with her, yet she kept this crucial information hidden, forcing me to discover the truth in the most unexpected and unsettling places.

"Do you know anything about Sofia's abduction?"I asked, desperation coloring my voice.

"What do you mean, her abduction?"she asked, genuine surprise on her face. My heart sank, realizing that Sofia's fate might be even more dire than I thought.

"Sofia was kidnapped, and I've been trying to find her for a month now,"I revealed, the weight of the words hanging heavy in the air. Cari's face shifted to disbelief and concern.

"Carmen, I hope Sofia isn't with X; if not, she would have been long dead,"she uttered, dropping a chilling truth bomb. The word 'dead' echoed in my mind – a possibility I refused to accept.

My hands subconsciously moved to scratch my head, a nervous posture revealing the anxiety that gripped me.

"I need to know all about X? My parents and my connection to my bloodline and the journal,"I pressed, a sense of urgency and determination creeping into my voice.

"You will, Carmen," she assured, reaching out her hands. "But you need to come with me. Por favor, ven conmigo,Carmen. Let's bring them down together. Everyone who was involved in your parents' murder. Let's take revenge."

She seemed desperate, and her eyes became dark, filled with a burning determination.

Amidst the chaos in my mind, whirlwind of doubts swept through my thoughts. Aunt Cari, absent for so long, now emerged with a proposition for me. Was her sudden appearance genuine, or could she be a deceptive pawn in X's dangerous game? Trust, in this ruthless world, felt like a delicate thread,easily snapped.The risk is real, but so is the possibility of finding answers and safety.Should I dare the risk, or was it wiser to remain guarded in the face of uncertainty?