Gabriel kept speaking:

“No! I won’t stop. You’re going to sit there quietly and listen to me. Because I’m not hurting you—I’m trying to open your eyes. To make you see your mistakes. To push you to fight for change. You are completely emotionally dependent, Celina. And I get it! You lost your parents young, you had no family, and you fell into a marriage with a manipulative man. César might be brilliant at his job, but as a man, he’s trash.”

Her voice came out barely above a whisper:

“You’re being cruel…”

“Cruel? Cruel would be letting you stay trapped in this sick cycle. Cruel would be taking advantage of your vulnerability, telling you what you want to hear, taking you to bed, and then leaving you alone just the same. But that’s not who I am. I’m leaving in a few days, and what I want is to see you strong. Ready.”

She couldn’t hold back her tears; they fell silently down her cheeks.

“You need emotional intelligence, Celina. You’re stepping into a new chapter. You’re about to publish