PART 1
Valeria Salgado received the wedding invitation on a Tuesday, right as she was packing away the dress she never got to wear.
The envelope was cream-colored with gold lettering, emitting a sweet perfume that made her stomach turn.
“With joy, we invite you to celebrate the marriage of Camila Salgado and Mauricio Ledesma…”
Valeria read the names twice.
Camila was her younger sister. Mauricio was her ex-fiancé.
The very same Mauricio who, a year ago, had proposed to her in an expensive restaurant in Polanco, complete with live music, champagne, and the entire family applauding as if it were the beginning of a perfect life. The very same Mauricio who, four months later, called her to a café in Santa Fe just to break her heart without breaking a sweat.
“Valeria, don’t take this the wrong way,” he had said, adjusting his watch. “But my career is taking off. I’m entering highly influential circles now. I need a wife who properly projects my image.”
She had stared at him, utterly confused. “Your image?”
Mauricio sighed, acting as if it pained him to be so “honest.”
“You’ve gained weight. You don’t dress up the way you used to. Camila understands that environment better. She’s just more… presentable.”
The word hit her like a physical slap to the face.
But the worst part wasn’t losing him. The worst part was discovering her own family already knew about it.
