Chapter 3 - The Midnight Emergency
Alejandro Morales sat in his home study in Colonia del Valle, reviewing architectural blueprints for an upcoming commercial hospital complex. At thirty-six, he was everything Mateo wished he could be: self-made, fiercely respected, wealthy without arrogance, and fiercely protective of his privacy.
Five years ago, Alejandro and Mateo had been inseparable university friends and business partners. That friendship shattered permanently when Mateo allowed his toxic envy, insecurity, and ambition to poison their partnership—ultimately trying to sabotage Alejandro’s reputation in a municipal bidding war. Alejandro had survived, rebuilt, and surpassed Mateo in every conceivable metric.
Yet, despite the bitter rivalry, Alejandro had never forgotten Camila.
She had been Mateo’s college sweetheart—a gentle, artistic soul who deserved a world far kinder than the one Mateo could offer. When Camila chose Mateo, Alejandro had stepped back quietly, cutting all ties to preserve her dignity.
The sudden, harsh chime of his private cell phone at 11:43 PM broke the silence of the study.
Alejandro glanced down at the screen, expecting a late-night call from his general contractor or legal counsel. Instead, his blood ran cold.
Camila.
He stared at the screen for a fraction of a second before swiping to answer.
“Camila?” Alejandro answered, his voice instantly dropping into a tone of sharp, absolute alertness. “Is everything okay? It’s almost midnight. Why are you calling?”
On the other end of the line, there was no immediate reply—only the sound of shallow, ragged breathing, followed by a weak, agonizing sob.
“Alejandro…” her voice was barely a whisper, broken and drowning in pain. “I fell... down the stairs... there’s blood... please, you have to help me... Mateo won’t answer... the baby...”
The phone line crackled with static, but the words hit Alejandro like a physical blow.
In less than a second, every muscle in his body coiled into action. He didn't hesitate. He didn't ask questions.
“CAMILA?!” Alejandro shouted, standing up so fast his mahogany chair slammed back against the wall. “Where are you? Stay with me! Look at my voice! I’m coming right now! I’m calling my private medical team as we speak. Do not close your eyes, Camila! Talk to me! Keep talking to me!”
“I... I can’t...” she gasped, her voice trailing off into a terrifying, hollow whisper.
Clatter.
The distinct sound of a phone hitting a hard floor echoed through the receiver, followed by absolute, chilling silence.
“Camila?!” Alejandro roared into the phone. “CAMILA!”
Dead air.
Alejandro didn't waste a millisecond. He slammed his phone onto speaker, swiped to his direct speed dial, and connected instantly with Dr. Sofía Arriaga, the director of San Pedro’s premier private maternity hospital, who also happened to head his personal medical advisory board.
“Sofía, drop everything,” Alejandro ordered, grabbing his car keys and sprinting toward the private elevator of his townhouse. “I need an emergency trauma obstetric team dispatched to Mateo Alvarez’s residence on Sierra Madre Avenue immediately. His wife just suffered a catastrophic fall down a flight of stairs. She is eight months pregnant, bleeding, and unresponsive. I am dispatching my private security detail to breach the front gates right now.”
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“On it, Alejandro!” Dr. Arriaga’s voice was crisp and clinical. “Ambulance units are rolling out of the hospital garage within thirty seconds. I’ll meet you at the scene!”
Alejandro burst through his front doors, vaulted into the driver’s seat of his black armored SUV, and slammed his foot down on the accelerator, roaring out into the Monterrey night like a man possessed by vengeance and mercy.
