The year with Carlos had been a whirlwind of love and happiness, but everything shifted the moment your relationship became public. His fans were relentless, their words cutting deeper than you ever thought possible. They compared you to Isa and Rebecca, dissecting your appearance, your personality, even your intentions. It was exhausting, and no matter how much you tried to ignore it, the negativity seeped in.

Now, you sat curled up on the couch, your phone in hand, tears streaming down your face as you scrolled through the cruel comments. The weight of their judgment pressed down on you, making it hard to breathe. You didn’t hear Carlos come in until his arms wrapped around you from behind, his warmth momentarily breaking through the storm in your mind. He kissed your cheek, his lips brushing against the salty trail of your tears.

“Hey, what happened?” he asked softly, his voice laced with concern as he turned you to face him. His eyes searched yours, trying to understand the pain you were carrying.

“I want to be perfect like all your exes…” you whispered, your voice trembling as you tried to wipe the tears away. The words hung in the air, raw and vulnerable, exposing the insecurities you’d been trying to hide. Carlos’s expression softened, his hands gently cupping your face as if to shield you from the world’s cruelty.