CHAPTER 2 Replacements

　　Camila remembered the day Evelyn and Layla moved into her house, her space. 

　　Camila's breath hitched, the sound of her heartbeat thundering in her ears as she struggled to process the shift in her once-familiar world. The home that had been her sanctuary now felt foreign, invaded by the presence of Evelyn and her daughter, Layla. She braced herself against the wall, feeling the coolness seep into her skin- a stark reminder of how much had changed.

　　"Father," Camila's voice trembled slightly but she steadied it with a determined inhale, "How could you bring them here without even asking me?"

　　Her father, a tall figure whose stoic demeanour had become more pronounced after her mother's passing, merely glanced her way. "Life moves on, Camila. Evelyn and Layla are part of this family now."

　　"Part of the family?" she echoed, incredulous. "Or replacements?"

　　"Enough, Camila," her father's voice hardened. "You will treat them with respect. They live here now."

　　Live here, eat here, laugh here, in place of her mother. Camila felt the chasm of loss gaping wider.

　　"Respect is earned," she countered, her sassy tone masking the ache inside her, "Not inherited by marriage."

　　"Camila, please," Blake interjected, his green eyes meeting hers with what seemed like empathy. "Let's talk about this."

　　"Talk?" Her laugh was bitter, tinged with the sting of betrayal. "Yes, let's."

　　"Your father is grieving, we all are," Blake said, his self-assured manner faltering under her scrutiny. "Evelyn and Layla- they're just trying to find their place."

　　"Find their place?" Camila's gaze narrowed as she turned towards him. "And where is my place now, Blake? Tell me."

　　"Your place is with me, isn't it?" His words sounded hollow, even to his own ears.

　　Suddenly Camila was back in the current moment. 

　　"Is my place with you Blake, Is it?" Camila challenged, stepping closer. "Because lately, I feel like an outsider in my own home. Is that what you want?"

　　"No, of course not." Blake shifted uncomfortably, unable to hold her gaze. "It's just... things have changed."

　　"Changed how Blake?" The tears she fought so hard to keep at bay spilt over, streaking down her cheeks. "Tell me!"

　　"Camila," he started, his voice strained. "I care for you, I do. But not in the way I thought I did. Not in the way you deserve."

　　"Care for me?" Her voice cracked a mixture of anger and vulnerability. "Is that supposed to comfort me?"

　　"Please try to understand," he pleaded, his posture stiffening, revealing the snooty side she knew all too well.

　　"Understand what? That you've fallen for her?" Camila's breath hitched as she spoke Layla's name, her deep brown eyes now reflecting a storm of emotions.

　　Blake's silence was deafening. He looked at her with an apologetic grimace, the corners of his mouth twitching in discomfort. "Yes," he finally admitted, his tone resigned. "It's Layla, its always been her."

　　"Wow." Camila felt a cold laugh escape her lips- a defence against crumbling completely. "You're quite the cliché, aren't you?"

　　"Camila, I-"

　　"Save it, Blake," she cut him off sharply, regaining some of her composure. "Just save it."

　　She turned away from him, wiping away her tears with a defiant swipe of her hand, refusing to let him see just how deeply his words had wounded her. Blake stood motionless, watching her turn, the realization of what he'd lost slowly dawning on him.

　　Layla's sobs carved through the tension in the room, her shoulders shaking as she clung to Blake's arm. "I didn't mean to steal my sister's fiancé," she choked out, her mascara-smudged eyes meeting his with a desperate plea for understanding. "I just couldn't help falling in love with him! I've always been so envious of you!"

　　Camila's gaze flickered between them, her heart pounding a relentless rhythm against her chest.

　　"Blake," Layla continued, turning her teary blue eyes towards Camila, desperation lacing her voice, "He just… he came into my life like a storm, and I- I got swept away."

　　Camila's fists clenched at her sides, nails digging crescents into her palms. Silence hung heavy; it was the quiet before the storm of words she knew she had to unleash.

　　"Envious?" Camila finally spat out, the word tasting bitter on her tongue. "Envious of what, Layla? My life falling apart?"

　　Layla's tears did not stop, but her voice grew stronger, defiant even in her confession. "Yes, envious! You've always had everything, Camila. The perfect family, the perfect life. And I have nothing." Her chin quivered as she faced her sister, her gaze pleading for some semblance of mercy or understanding.

　　"Nothing?" Camila's laugh was hollow, empty of any real humour. "You call taking my fiancé nothing?"

　　"Camila, I-" Layla began, but Camila cut her off with a sharp gesture.

　　"Save it," she said, a cold edge to her words that made Layla flinch. "Just save it. I don't want your excuses, Layla. I want you to understand what you've done. To me. To us."

　　Beside Layla, Blake remained silent, his presence like a spectre at this grim gathering. He had made his choice, and there was nothing left for him to say.

　　"Understand?" Layla sobbed, clutching at the air as if trying to grasp the words that would fix everything. "I do understand, Camila. More than you know. But it doesn't change how I feel about Blake."

　　"Feelings," Camila echoed, her voice dripping with scorn. "Well, congratulations, Layla. You've followed your feelings straight into betrayal. I hope it was worth it."

　　As Camila turned on her heel, ready to leave the wreckage behind, she felt the piercing sting of tears threatening once more. But she wouldn't let them fall. Not here, not in front of them. She had to be strong. That was who Camila Martinez was. And no one could take that away from her.