Chapter 83

Catalina's pov The truth was choking me. The sky appeared to be holding its breath as I stood at the edge of the ancient church ruins, where the wind murmured through broken windows. Santiago had faith in me. Camila admired me. And they had no idea who I was. In fact, they knew very little about me. Mateo leaned against the stone wall and crossed his arms, saying, "You look like you're about to confess murder." Perhaps I was. My ribs shook from the force of my heart's thud. I spoke quietly. "I am not who you believe me to be." He didn't recoil. "No one is. Leak it. With burning eyes, I averted my gaze. "I am Santiago's half-sister." Quiet. Not the courteous kind that waits. The screaming kind. Mateo slowly pushed off the wall. "What?" Valverde's mistress was my mother. When I was six, she ran. Santiago's father took me in almost immediately. I realized as a child that I was the error. He remained silent. Let the words dangle like blades between us. I continued, "I joined Santiago becau