CHAPTER 26: SANTIAGO AND THE TRUTH

The three of them turned their heads at the same time, the air thick with tension. Stumbling out from the bushes, his clothes torn and his breathing heavy, Santiago appeared.

Semiel felt a knot tighten in his throat. He couldn't believe it. But he had done it. He had made it in time.

—This can't be… —he muttered, stepping back.

For the first time, Antonella lost her smile.

Saval's eyes widened in surprise. He didn't know Santiago well, but he had seen him around campus before, always keeping a low profile. Now, his sudden appearance raised more questions than answers.

—Santiago? —Semiel rushed forward— Are you okay? What happened?

Santiago took a deep breath, leaning over with his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

—I… I had car trouble… —he gasped— I was on my way when… it just stopped. I couldn't waste time. I ran all the way here… tripped… but I made it… I made it to help.

A strange sense of relief mixed with anxiety settled in Semiel's chest. There was no room for mistakes. Everything had to go exactly as planned.

—You made it —he murmured.

Antonella, who had remained silent until now, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, though the stiffness in her posture gave her away.

—Help with what? —her voice carried a false indifference.

Santiago straightened up, locking eyes with her. There was no hatred in his gaze, no resentment—only determination.

—To stop you.

Silence fell over them like a heavy stone. Saval frowned, confused.

—What are you talking about?

Santiago glanced at him before turning to Semiel. It was time for the next step.

—Tell him, Semiel. Tell him why I'm here.

Semiel nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket and unlocking the screen. Before speaking, his mind drifted back to earlier that day, to the unexpected phone call that changed everything.

.....

Hours before the meeting…

His phone buzzed in his pocket. Semiel frowned at the sight of an unknown number on the screen, but he answered anyway.

—Hello?

—Semiel, it's Santiago. From the university.

Semiel blinked in surprise. He knew who he was, but he hadn't expected him to call.

—How did you get my number?

—That doesn't matter right now. Listen, I know what Antonella is doing to you. I know she's manipulating Saval. And I know you need proof for him to finally see the truth.

A chill ran down Semiel's spine. He stood up from his desk, pacing his room with the phone pressed tightly against his ear.

—How do you know? —he asked cautiously.

—Because I was one of her victims. Antonella plays with people, uses them, blackmails them. I did something terrible a year ago… She found out and made me do things for her in exchange for keeping it a secret. I never told anyone. But now, I have something. Proof. Messages, recordings, records. Enough to bring her down completely.

Semiel's breath quickened. Could this really be it? Could he finally show Saval the truth?

—Meet me at the park —Semiel said firmly—. That way, we can set a trap for her.

—Alright —Santiago agreed. And the call ended.

.....

Now, in the present…

Semiel extended his phone toward Saval without a word. Antonella tensed, her eyes darting between them.

—Look at this —Semiel said calmly—. And tell me if you still trust her.

Saval hesitated for a moment but took the phone. His eyes scanned the screen, reading the messages, listening to the recordings. Every word, every piece of evidence, felt like a dagger sinking into his trust.

His hands trembled.

—This… —he murmured—. No… This can't be…

Antonella stepped forward, her voice rising with urgency.

—That doesn't prove anything! They're lies, fabrications! You just want to make me look like the villain!

Santiago let out a bitter laugh.

—You always do this. When you get caught, you play the victim. But this time, it won't work.

Saval lifted his gaze, staring straight at her. The warmth and confusion in his eyes had vanished. Now, all that remained was disappointment.

—Tell me the truth, Antonella —he whispered—. Everything you said… everything you did… accepting my confession… was it all a lie?

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. For the first time, she was cornered. And she knew it.

—Saval, please… —Antonella's voice was weak, almost pleading.

—No, Antonella —Saval's voice was steady—. Tell me the truth.

For a moment, everything hung in suspension. Then, Antonella's expression shifted. Desperation gave way to something darker. Something real.

And with a chilling coldness, she smiled.

—And if it was? What would you do, Saval? Hate me? Or would you still cling to the idea that I can change?

Saval felt a knot tighten in his throat. Because he didn't have an answer.

Semiel clenched his fists. Santiago stood ready. Antonella had revealed her true self, and now the truth was out in the open.

But what none of them knew…

Was that Antonella never lost that easily.

And this wasn't over yet.