In the Shadows of Regret

early years, and their bond had carried through into adulthood. When Eduardo started dating Mariana, Camila was always around-at dinners, birthday parti

like Camila. At first, Eduardo had thought nothing of it. Camila had always been "just a friend," and while she was undoubtedly att

o his marriage, so

aving Eduardo alone. His mind wandered to work, to the mounting pressures and the increasing distance between him and Mariana. The once fiery pass

e to shake off the week's stress, his ph

town. Thought I'd check in to see how you're

casual evening. In fact, there had been countless nights when the three of them sat together, laughing over old st

something f

uardo replied, "Sure, come o

hat hugged her form and jeans that emphasized her long legs. She smiled brightly when Eduardo opened the

g her in. "You're alway

early days when she and Mariana used to study late into the night, pulling pranks on one another in their dorm.

it was the way she listened to him, her attention fully focused on him as he vented about work, about the pressures that

aid, her voice filled with concern.

ough his hair. "Yeah, I know. It's j

at least it should have been, but the warmth of her touch lingered longer than

iend. And yet, here they were, sitting alone, the air between them thick with

hip. She knew the moments when they had fought, the moments when they had reconciled. She had seen the passion that once de

watched Mariana flourish-first with her academic success, then with Eduardo, the charming, successful man who adored her.

haring laughter, love, and moments of joy that Camila had never been able to find in her own relationships. It gnawed at her, that con

But as Eduardo and Mariana's marriage started to falter, as the distance between them grew, Camila saw an opening. She could feel the tensio

an to insert hersel

rdo, already feeling vulnerable, found himself sharing things he hadn't told anyone. "It's like we're living se

her voice dropping to a whisper. "You've always been such a good hus

mething in her eyes that made his pulse quicken. For the first time, he noticed how

ng in, his lips brushing against hers in a moment of weakness. The kiss was soft at first, hesitant,

t she had wanted for so long-the chance to finally take what she had envied for years. And now

nfusion. Camila smiled softly, her fingers tracing a line down his jaw. "You don't have to carry all

l. He knew what they had just crossed a line,

was that Camila had no