Chapter 146 – Betrayal
Estela POV
"You could have escaped," she says, arms folded like she's the reasonable one in the room.
"Why do you think you and the young ones made it out? You could've left the kids at another orphanage and started your own life."
The words make my stomach twist.
"You wanted me to abandon them?"
Then I catch it—
The shift.
The way she phrased it.
Let escape.
Wait.
No.
"What do you mean 'let us escape'?" I ask, stepping forward, voice tight. My hands curl into fists at my sides.
Her gaze falters—just for a second.
"Forget about it," she mutters.
"Please," I say, trembling now. "Tell me."
She stays silent.
No.
No.
No.
"You betrayed us!!" I scream, my voice breaking on the word like it's too big for my chest.
Antonia doesn't flinch.
"So what about it?" she snaps.
The air leaves my lungs.
"How could you?" I whisper.
She turns, face twisted with fury and something worse—justification.
"How could I?" Her voice climbs, louder.
