Come Over To My House

Camila stood at the door of Megan's room, a tray of breakfast balanced delicately in her hands. The aroma of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and toasted bread wafted into the hallway, a comforting scent that she hoped would pull her daughter from the depths of despair. She took a deep breath, summoning strength before stepping inside, her heart racing with concern.

"Sweetie," she called out gently, her voice laced with warmth and expectation. But the silence that followed was deafening. 

Megan's silence was an all-too-familiar ache in Camila's chest. As she approached the bed, she noticed Megan sitting in a hunched position, her long hair falling down her shoulders, hiding her face from view. Camila set the tray down on the bedside table and leaned down to gently tap Megan on the shoulder.

"Get away from me!" Megan yelled, her voice filled with anguish, and Camila's breath caught in her throat.

Taken aback, Camila pulled her hand away as if she had been burned. She sat down on the edge of the bed, her heart breaking at the sight of tears streaming down Megan's cheeks. "Hey, Megan, wait. Talk to me," she urged, her voice softening, desperate to reach her daughter.

Megan turned to face her, eyes red and puffy, filled with a hurt that felt insurmountable. "You've all ruined me," she sobbed profusely, each word laced with a heavy sense of betrayal. The walls Camila had known her daughter to build had crumbled overnight.

Camila felt a wave of regret wash over her, the guilt settling heavily in her chest. "Honey, I'm so sorry for hurting you. I thought I was only doing the right thing," she stammered, her heart pounding as she reached out to hold Megan's tear-streaked face in her hands, meeting her daughter's gaze.

Megan recoiled at first but then sank into her mother's touch, her sobs continuing to wrack her small frame. "Sorry doesn't fix this! I don't want to get engaged to Diego! Please, Mom, don't let this happen!" Her voice broke again, the desperation bubbling beneath her words.

Camila's heart shattered as she watched her daughter's pain unfold. She had tried to do what she thought was best, guiding Megan into what she believed was a stable future, but now it seemed the weight of her choices was suffocating them both. "Megan, sweetheart, I—"

"No!" Megan interrupted, her voice rising in pitch. "You don't understand! You don't see how miserable this makes me! I don't love him! I can't marry someone just because it looks good on paper or because you think it's what I need!"

Camila's heart twisted as she absorbed the truth in Megan's words. "I was trying to protect you, honey," she replied, her voice trembling,

 " It's not enough!" Megan cried, her voice cracking as she wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. "I need to be able to choose for myself! What if I want to be with someone else? What if I want to start my own path? You can't make these decisions for me!"

The air in the room felt heavy with unresolved emotions, and Camila's heart ached for the daughter she had raised. 

"I want freedom!" Megan shouted, the conflict shifting into a mix of anger and profound sorrow. The tremor in her voice was enough to bring Camila to the edge of tears herself. "I wanted the freedom to explore my own life, to understand who I am before I'm tethered to someone else! This isn't fair!"

As the silence stretched between them, Camila thought of the countless times she had made choices based on what she thought was best. Had she truly considered what Megan needed? "I… I never meant to force you into anything. I thought I was protecting your future," Camila said softly, guilt washing over her, mingling with her remorse.

"Protection?" Megan scoffed, bitterness slicing through her tears. "It feels more like a prison!"

With her heart breaking under the weight of her daughter's pain, Camila leaned closer, her motherly instinct taking over. "Honey, please believe me. I only wanted to ensure you were safe and happy. But I see now… I see that I was wrong."

Camila bowed her head, the tears that threatened her eyes finally spilling over. "Because I love you, and I hate that I've caused you this pain. I just thought…maybe if you were with someone stable, it would bring you security and not someone like Aiden"

Megan sniffled, her anger beginning to dissolve into a more profound sense of sorrow and vulnerability. "I don't want your idea of security. I want to find out what makes me happy"

A profound silence broke through the room. Camila could feel the shift in the air, the slow recognition of the gulf that had formed between them.

"I know I've failed you," Camila whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "But I can't take back what I've done. All I can do is promise to listen to you, to support you through this difficulties.

Megan looked at her mother, Camila, desperation etched across her face. She rubbed her clammy palms against her jeans and took a deep breath, willing the tremor in her voice to settle. "Then tell Dad to call off the engagement," she pleaded, urgency lacing her words.

Camila's heart sank as she shook her head slowly. "I tried, honey. I tried my best, but your father just won't listen," she admitted, her voice carrying the weight of defeat. The truth lay thick between them, and as she stared into her daughter's tear-filled eyes, a part of her felt helpless.

The moment stretched like an eternity, and Camila raised her chin gently with a finger, meeting Megan's gaze. She leaned down to press a soft kiss on her forehead, a maternal gesture meant to comfort but one she feared would fall short. "I'm so sorry. I can't do anything about it," she murmured, the hurt in her voice piercing through the already fragile air.

Megan's broken sobs filled the silent space as she blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of the emotions swirling inside her. "Mom, I thought you hated me," she said, her voice muffled by the pain pooling in her throat.

"Never! I never for once thought of hating you," Camila replied, her tone passionate yet gentle. "I was just so angry about you loving Aiden that I neglected your feelings." The admission spilled from her lips, raw and unfiltered, the guilt pressing on her chest like a weight she couldn't shake off.

Megan lowered her gaze, the truth of her mother's words cutting deeper than any knife. The love she felt for Aiden had sparked a furious conflict within her family, a fire that had left her burned and alone. "Mom, I just… I don't understand why you wouldn't support me. I thought you wanted me to be happy."

Camila took a step closer, unable to bear the distance that still lingered between them. "I do want you to be happy, sweetheart. But your father believes that this arrangement is what's best for you. I wanted to believe that too—until I saw how miserable you are."

"Then help me!" Megan cried out, the frustration igniting her tears afresh. "Please, can't you see? I don't want to marry Diego. I want to choose my own path, my own love!"

"Come here," Camila said, her voice softening as she opened her arms wide, inviting her daughter into her embrace. The warmth of maternal love wrapped around Megan, pulling her in as if to protect her from the world outside. 

Megan collapsed against her mother, letting the floodgates open. She wept into Camila's dress, the fabric absorbing her sorrow as if it could soak up the very essence of her anguish. "I'm so scared, Mom," she whispered between sobs. "'m trapped with someone I don't love?"

Tears stung Camila's eyes as she held her daughter tight. It felt heart-wrenching to feel Megan's distress, to feel the weight of the world she had unknowingly placed on her shoulders. "You won't be trapped, I promise. I promise I'll always support you from now on" she whispered, her heart torn between hope and the reality of the situation.

Megan clung to her mother, feeling the soft fabric soak with her anguish. "I never wanted any of this,I just wish things were different," she murmured, her voice cracking under the pressure of her emotions.

"I know, sweetheart, and I wish I could take this pain away. Megan finally pulled away, the reality of the situation washing over her like a harsh wave. She wiped her tear-streaked cheeks with the back of her hand but did not feel the relief a vulnerable moment usually brought; the uncertainty still loomed.

The comforting warmth of the embrace lingered between Megan and her mother, Camila, as their hearts began to stitch together the torn pieces of their relationship. For a moment, the world outside faded away, leaving just the two of them wrapped in a cocoon of understanding and love. But that fragile moment was abruptly interrupted by a firm knock at the door.

Camila pulled back slightly, her brows furrowing in mild confusion. "Come in," she called, her voice still husky from the emotions of the moment.

The door creaked open, revealing Ms. Sarah, she stepped into the room and offered a polite smile. "You have a guest, Megan," she announced, glancing between mother and daughter.

Megan's heart sank at the thought; who could possibly be visiting at a time like this? "And who's that?" Camila asked, a hint of concern creeping into her voice.

"Uhh… no idea," Ms. Sarah replied, her brow slightly wrinkled in uncertainty. " She'll be there shortly, give us some time" Camila responded.

And Without waiting for a response, Ms Sarah nodded and stepped back out, leaving the door ajar.

As soon as Ms. Sarah left, Camila turned back to face Megan, who wore an expression mixed with curiosity and apprehension. "Honey, please freshen up and hurry down," she urged, planting a soft kiss on Megan's cheek. 

Megan blinked, feeling a swirl of emotions—

Megan's heart pounded as she hurried through her shower, the water dropping down her skin in a rush. 

She quickly grabbed a pair of jeans and a fitted blouse, throwing them on with little care for her appearance. 

With a deep breath, she made her way down the stairs, her heart pounding with each step. But when she stepped into the living room, the sight that greeted her knocked the air right out of her lungs. Diego was sitting across from her father, a steaming cup of coffee in front of him, his demeanor relaxed.

"What is he doing here?" Megan asked, her tone sharper than she intended as she marched toward them, disbelief coursing through her. 

Her father looked up, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Oh,You know, I thought it might be beneficial for you two to become familiar with each other," he said, his eyes glinting with mischief. "So, Mr. Raymond suggested having him take you out on a date."

"What? A date?" Megan exclaimed, the word echoing in her mind like a bell tolling doom. Blood rushed to her cheeks and anger flared up within her. She turned to Diego, who wore an expression that was calm yet serious 

"Absolutely not!" she protested,"You think suggesting I go out with him is a good idea?"

Immediately her father shot her a glare as if reminding her of the consequences she would face if she dare disobeyed.

With a loud scoff she stormed upstairs walking to room.

"Sorry about that Diego" Nelson apologized with a little smile.

"It's fine" Diego replied trying to shrug of the anger boiling In him.

He had just woke up this morning, to find his dad demanding that they should go on a date.

All he did was nod, since he had no control over the situation,his position at the company was at stake and he wasn't ready to take more risk.

Getting married to Megan felt like prison, after much resolution he needed to do it,or else he will spend the rest of his life living like a novice.

__________

The back of the car was quieter than Megan had anticipated. Both she and Diego sat stiffly, their eyes glued to the outside world, as if it offered some kind of escape from the awkwardness that had grown between them.

Megan's thoughts swirled in her mind, battling back and forth like a thousand leaves caught in a whirlwind. 

When the car finally came to a halt in front of the mall, Megan didn't waste a moment. She flung the door open and stepped out, the cool air hitting her like a welcome splash of water. Without waiting for Diego, she walked toward the entrance, eager to escape the awkwardness of the car ride and the slow tension that filled the space between them.

Diego followed her with a reluctant gait. "Pick whatever you like," he uttered coldly as they walked into the mall, the cavernous space echoing their footsteps. It felt like a hollow invitation, one that suggested he was merely fulfilling an obligation rather than expressing real interest.

Megan felt a spark of frustration simmer beneath her skin. This was supposed to be an opportunity—an opportunity she didn't even want, yet here she was, trying to make the best of it. She stole a glance at Diego, hoping to find something different in his eyes, but they remained distant and unfocused, staring straight ahead, avoiding her gaze.

"I never asked you to bring me here," Megan replied sharply, halting Diego's steps. He turned slowly, looking at her with an expression that seemed to speak volumes about his frustration.

"Then get back in the car. I'll drop you off," Diego retorted, averting his gaze once again as if her defiance was tiresome. 

"Stop acting like this is a chore!" Megan snapped back, feeling the weight of every unvoiced grievance come crashing down. "I can sort myself out."

With that, she pivoted on her heel and made a beeline for the mall's entrance, letting her heart lead her instead of her head. The sound of her footsteps echoed in the vastness, and the chatter of shoppers buzzed around her, but all she could think about was escaping the moment. 

"Seriously, did she just walk out on me?" Diego thought as he watched her storm away. He let out a scoff, his irritation morphing into astonishment. They hadn't even been in the mall for five minutes, and already it felt like a personal defeat. Didn't she see that he was trying, even if he didn't know how?

Megan stopped just outside the entrance, contemplating what she was doing. Was she really going to walk out on this whole arrangement? 

He walked out catching up with Megan who was about to stop a Taxi.

"You haven't changed a bit, still arrogant as always" Diego uttered shoting her a glare.

"What do you think of yourself,my life was so peaceful until you came in" Megan shot back.

"Always thinking so high of yourself, when will you ever grow up" Diego blurted staring at her with disdain.

"You're so cheap Megan" Diego ranted walking away as Megan stood alone staring at his back in annoyance.

"I hate you,I so hate every part of you" she thought 

Diego got into the car exhaling sharply "Nasty brat" he thought clenching his fist.

"Drive" Diego ordered.

"Where ….." 

"Just drive" Diego barked cutting the driver off his words.

His phone ringed jolting him,he quickly pulled his phone out from his jacket.

The name he saw on screen sent shiver down his spine as he swallowed hard, trying hard to calm his nerves.

"Diana" he whispered barely enough for anyone to hear.

Without hesitating he picked the call bringing the phone to his ears.

"Diego, ….. Diego" Diana called out with a trembling voice.

Diego eyes flew wide opened immediately 

"Where are you, Diana…" he asked,fear flashing through his eyes.

"Please help, they are trying to kill me" Diana voice echoed through the phone.

"I mean where are you Diana, just calm down and I'll be on my way there" he replied.

"My house, come over to my house right this instant" and with that she hung up leaving Diego stunned.

"Get out" Diego ordered with his blazing.

"I can drop..."

"I said get out, now" Diego yelled.

In one swift motion, the driver pulled the car over jumping out, Diego jumped Into the driver seat without buckling his seat belt he zoomed off .