Estefania Rosales was nineteen years old, and her entire life had been spent as an uncomfortable secret.

Her father was a powerful man. Rich. Respected. The kind of businessman whose smile appeared constantly in major magazines and at exclusive events alongside his perfect family.

She, on the other hand, was the hidden mistake behind that perfect image.

The illegitimate daughter.

The living proof of an affair.

The Rosales family had agreed to take responsibility for her on one condition: keep her far away.

That was how she ended up growing up in a convent.

Far from the city.

Far from her father.

Far from the surname she carried.

That morning she sat in silence inside the classroom, copying exercises into a worn notebook.

The convent smelled of dampness, old wood, and weathered books.

It was always the same.

The same walls.

The same rules.

The same loneliness.

A small ball of paper landed on her desk.

Estefania smiled faintly when she recognized Laura's hurried handwriting.

"What's the answer to question number four?"

She discreetly raised her gaze toward her friend, who was making dramatic gestures from the back row.

She was about to respond when a hand snatched the paper away.

The entire classroom fell silent.

Sister Clara examined the note.

"Who sent this to you?"

Laura stopped breathing behind her.

Estefania barely lowered her gaze.

Her friend was one strike away from being expelled. If that happened, she'd have to go back to a family already tired of their daughter getting kicked out.

So she lied.

"I found it on the floor."

The nun watched her for several seconds before setting the ruler on the desk.

"Your hands."

Estefania extended her palms without protest.

The first strike burned immediately.

The second made her tense her shoulders.

By the third, the pain was climbing up her arms.

"Corner. Now."

While she walked slowly toward the corner of the classroom under the uncomfortable stares of the other girls, miles away Alexander Castellanos hurled a folder onto the glass desk of his office.

"I'm not getting married."

The enormous window behind him showed the entire city.

His grandfather sat across from the desk with a calmness that only managed to irritate him further.

"Then get ready to watch the Castellanos name burn."

Alexander let out a bitter laugh.

"My company doesn't need a marriage to stay on its feet."

The old man slid several documents toward him.

"Your company needs money. A lot of money."

The silence turned heavy.

Alexander stared at the figures printed in red on the paper.

Since the accident, everything had been slowly crumbling.

Projects frozen.

Investors pulling out.

Millions in losses.

And he hated feeling vulnerable.

He placed a hand on his cane before rising slowly to his feet.

Every step still reminded him that he was no longer the man he'd been before.

"I'm not marrying some rich girl just to save face."

"This isn't about saving face," his grandfather replied calmly. "It's a deal."

Alexander frowned.

"What do the Rosales get out of it?"

His grandfather adjusted his cufflinks before answering.

"I'll put up the money to save both companies."

Alexander stared at him, not understanding.

The old man continued:

"The Rosales are having trouble with foreign investors. You've been losing major contracts since the accident. A marriage between both families stabilizes the market, quiets the rumors, and lets me invest without raising suspicion."

Alexander gave a dry laugh.

"So this is just business."

"It always has been."

The old man leaned slightly forward.

"For one year, you'll be the perfect image of a powerful alliance."

Alexander clenched his jaw.

He hated being used.

"And how long does this circus last?"

"One year."

At the convent, the class finally ended.

Sister Clara allowed Estefania to leave after several minutes standing against the wall as punishment.

The moment she stepped through the door, Laura rushed toward her.

"I'm so, so sorry. You can hit me if you want."

Her friend's dramatic expression drew a small smile out of her.

She gave her a light punch on the shoulder.

"My parents are picking me up today. It's vacation... come with me."

The smile slowly faded from Estefania's face.

"You know I can't leave."

Laura lowered her gaze with sadness.

"It's not fair. They never visit you, and they won't let you see the world outside either."

The words echoed in Estefania's head as they walked back to their shared room.

Because Laura was right.

She wasn't living.

She was just existing.

While she helped her friend pack clothes into a suitcase, Alexander was still staring at the marriage contract on his desk.

"Mandatory duration of one year."

"Neither party may request separation or divorce before the term is completed."

"Cohabitation required."

Alexander let out a heavy sigh.

He hated depending on anyone.

Even more so on a deal entirely orchestrated by his grandfather.

But he needed to save Castellanos Corporation.

And that was the only thing that mattered.

At the convent, Estefania watched through the tall windows as all the other girls left with their families.

Hugs.

Laughter.

Suitcases.

All of them except her.

The convent grew quieter every time it happened.

"The Mother Superior wants to see you."

Sister Maria's voice made her turn.

Estefania frowned slightly before walking down the long, ancient hallways.

Something in her chest began to feel strange.

As if her life was about to change.

Estefania knocked on the office door.

"Come in."

Inside, she found an elegantly dressed woman seated by the window.

She recognized her immediately.

Her father's wife.

The Mother Superior gestured toward the chair in front of the desk.

"I'll leave you two alone."

The door closed.

The silence turned uncomfortable.

The woman didn't even look at her at first.

"I have a deal for you."

In the Castellanos office, Alexander poured himself some whisky without taking his eyes off the city.

"And if I refuse?"

His grandfather barely smiled.

"Then I'll let the company fall. And not just yours... the Rosales' too."

Alexander finally signed the preliminary agreement.

At the convent, Estefania felt her heart race.

"You can stay here until you die... or you can walk out of this place today."

"I want out."

The answer came too fast.

The woman finally looked at her.

And her eyes were as cold as someone accustomed to buying everything.

"Then you'll get married."

Estefania felt a knot in her throat.

"Married? To who?"

"To the heir of the Castellanos family. It'll be a one-year marriage. You'll have a roof over your head and a comfortable life, as long as you're obedient and don't cause problems."

At Castellanos Corporation, Alexander picked up the pen and signed the documents without hesitation.

At the convent, Estefania stared at the door behind the woman and thought about everything that awaited her if she stayed locked up in that place.

The same walls.

The same punishments.

The same loneliness.

The woman was already walking toward the exit when Estefania spoke quickly.

"I accept."

And without knowing it, both of them had just sold a full year of their lives.

Everything happened too fast after that.

While Alexander Castellanos wrapped up meetings and endured calls from furious investors, Estefania Rosales was leaving the convent for the first time in her life.

Two completely different worlds moving at the same time.

Alexander sat at the head of a long conference table while executives argued over numbers that had stopped making sense to him.

"If the Dubai project falls through, we'll lose two more international contracts."

"The shareholders want answers now."

"The stock keeps dropping."

The voices blended together until they became noise.

Alexander slowly massaged his temple.

The headache worsened every time he heard the word losses.

Since the accident, everyone had started seeing him differently.

Weaker.

More vulnerable.

Some even doubted he could stay at the helm.

And that infuriated him.

"Meeting's over."

Everyone went quiet.

Alexander gripped his cane and rose slowly to his feet.

He hated doing it in front of other people.

Hated feeling their eyes tracking his every movement.

When he stepped out of the room, his grandfather was already waiting outside.

"The ceremony is tonight."

Alexander didn't even stop walking.

"How efficient."

"The faster this is done, the faster the market starts stabilizing."

Alexander let out a dry laugh.

"Right. Because nothing reassures investors like an arranged marriage."

The old man didn't respond.

He never wasted words.

Meanwhile, miles away, Estefania stared out the car window with wide eyes.

She had never been outside the convent.

Everything was new.

Streets full of people.

Towering buildings.

Lights.

Noise.

Her heart was beating fast.

Not because of the wedding.

But because of what it felt like to finally be outside.

She clutched the small backpack squeezed between her legs.

Her entire life fit inside it.

The car stopped in front of a small hotel.

Her father's wife stepped out first.

She didn't bother waiting for Estefania.

"Stay here until I send for you," she said, handing her a key. "Put on whatever they bring you."

The girl nodded quickly.

A man dressed in black accompanied her to a room and remained outside like a guard.

Estefania entered slowly.

The silence of the place was strange.

The bed was ordinary.

The walls gleamed.

Everything smelled clean.

She approached the window carefully.

From there, she could see most of the city.

And for the first time in years... she truly smiled.

She knew nothing about the man she was going to marry.

She hadn't even seen his face.

But it still felt better than spending the rest of her life locked inside the convent.

"At least I'll get to see something besides those walls," she whispered to herself.

At Castellanos Corporation, Alexander reviewed the marriage contract one last time.

"Mandatory duration of one year."

"Permanent cohabitation."

"Impeccable public image."

"Financial penalties in the event of separation."

Alexander dropped the documents on the desk in annoyance.

It looked more like a business agreement than a marriage.

And it probably was.

Jose appeared, walking into the office without knocking.

"So you're actually getting married."

Alexander didn't even look up.

"Don't start."

Jose laughed as he dropped into the chair across from him.

"I'll admit, I never thought I'd see you go this far."

"Neither did I."

Jose glanced at the cane resting against the desk and sighed.

"Your grandfather's not gonna let up until he gets what he wants."

Alexander knew that perfectly well.

The old man had spent a lifetime controlling everything.

The company.

The family.

The Castellanos name.

And now he was controlling his marriage too.

At the hotel, Estefania opened the bags that had just been delivered.

Inside was a white dress covered in small, sparkling stones.

Also a pair of heels.

And a phone.

She held it carefully in her hands.

She had never owned one before.

Laura used to let her play with hers in secret.

The phone started ringing immediately.

Estefania gave a small jump of fright before answering.

"Hello?"

"Put on the dress. They'll come for you in half an hour. And don't do anything stupid. If you run, I will find you, and you'll go straight back to the convent."

The call ended.

Estefania stared at the dress spread across the bed.

It was beautiful.

Far more beautiful than anything she'd ever imagined wearing.

She showered quickly and then began dressing with care.

The dress hugged her body perfectly.

She stood in front of the mirror for several seconds.

She didn't look like herself.

She looked like someone important.

From her backpack she pulled out a nearly empty tube of lip gloss.

The only gift Laura had given her before leaving.

She smiled faintly as she applied it.

"It's only a year."

She tried to convince herself.

Rich men never stayed home.

Her future husband would probably be too busy to care about her.

Before she knew it... she'd be divorced.

Across the city, Alexander was slowly fastening the buttons of his suit in front of the mirror.

The scar on his leg still bothered him even after so many months.

The injury had never fully healed.

And that destroyed his patience.

Jose leaned against the door, watching him.

"You can still run."

Alexander laughed without humor.

"My grandfather would catch me before I reached the elevator."

"Fair point."

Silence filled the office for a few seconds.

"Do you know anything about the woman?"

Alexander shook his head.

"Only that she's a Rosales."

And that already seemed like enough trouble.

Hours later, Alexander waited inside the room where the wedding would take place.

There were no flowers.

No guests.

No music.

Just a judge organizing documents and the sound of a clock ticking slowly.

The Rosales family was famous for many things.

Money.

Power.

Appearances.

And their chronic tardiness.

Alexander had been waiting for over twenty minutes.

His patience was running out.

Then the door finally opened.

And for the first time, he saw her.

The young woman stood frozen near the entrance, her nerves plain to see.

Alexander frowned slightly.

She was too young.

Much younger than he'd expected.

The white dress seemed heavy on her.

And even from a distance, he could see how she was fidgeting with her fingers.

The judge cleared his throat.

"Miss Rosales?"

She nodded quickly before approaching.

Alexander didn't even try to smile.

"Let's get this over with."

The deep voice sent a chill across Estefania's skin.

And for the first time since she'd accepted the deal... she felt afraid.

The ceremony was over in less than fifteen minutes.

As quick and empty as the marriage itself.

The judge spoke in a monotone while arranging papers on the table. He knew how these convenience weddings worked. The atmosphere was cold.

Neither Alexander nor Estefania seemed interested in listening.

She could barely keep her nerves under control.

He just wanted it finished.

"You may place the ring on the bride."

Alexander took the small box without emotion and slid it across the table.

Estefania opened it slowly.

The ring gleamed under the white light of the room.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she put it on.

Alexander was already wearing his.

The judge cleared his throat before continuing.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife."

The man looked up, expecting something more.

A kiss.

A smile.

But Alexander stared at him with such coldness that the judge quickly handed over the copies of the marriage certificate.

No comments.

No congratulations.

No romance.

As they walked toward the exit, Alexander noticed something strange.

The girl didn't seem like a Rosales.

No arrogance.

No demands.

She didn't act like someone raised in luxury.

Even her dress was slightly wrinkled.

And she wouldn't stop fidgeting with her fingers.

That struck him as odd.

Very odd.

The car was waiting outside.

Alexander got in first.

Estefania climbed in behind him, but the door caught part of the dress and the fabric tore slightly.

Her eyes widened in horror.

"I'm sorry..."

She tried to fix it quickly, letting out a nervous laugh.

Alexander closed his eyes for a second.

This was going to be a very long year.

Neither spoke during the ride.

Estefania watched everything through the window, trying to hide her excitement.

The lights.

The buildings.

The streets full of people.

It all still seemed incredible.

Alexander, on the other hand, reviewed documents from the back seat.

But several times he caught the girl's gaze lingering on his injured leg.

That irritated him.

He hated being watched with curiosity.

Or worse... with pity.

He clenched his jaw slightly.

Since the accident, everyone seemed to look at him differently.

As if he were no longer the same man.

As if he were broken.

When they finally arrived at the Castellanos mansion, Estefania froze.

The enormous, illuminated residence looked like something out of a movie.

Her eyes slowly traveled over every detail.

The massive columns.

The perfectly manicured gardens.

The golden lights illuminating the entire entrance.

"Close your mouth or you'll catch flies," Alexander muttered as he stepped out of the car.

She snapped out of it immediately.

Alexander let out a tired sigh.

His parents were already waiting outside.

Alexander's mother was the first to approach.

"Welcome, dear daughter-in-law."

Estefania glanced around, confused, as if it took her a few seconds to realize they were talking to her.

"Hello... sir and ma'am."

The woman smiled warmly.

"We're family now. You can call us your in-laws."

Alexander watched the scene discreetly as they walked toward the entrance.

Something still didn't add up.

The girl seemed too simple to be a Rosales.

Too timid.

Too... lost.

She was hiding something.

Inside the house, Estefania couldn't stop staring at everything.

Every room seemed bigger than the entire convent.

Even the floors gleamed.

She tried to walk carefully so she wouldn't trip.

The heels were still killing her feet.

"Your luggage will arrive later," Alexander's mother mentioned.

The driver and Estefania exchanged a quick look.

"They got lost at the airport," she lied immediately.

Alexander barely glanced her way.

Another strange thing.

A woman from a millionaire family with no luggage.

No assistants.

No anything.

Alexander's parents said their goodbyes, as they'd all meet again that evening to sign the agreements.

They had just wanted to meet the newest member of the family.

Alexander pointed toward one of the rooms upstairs.

"Second door on the right."

"Thank you."

The response came so sincerely that Alexander frowned slightly.

He didn't understand why she acted that way.

Any other woman wouldn't have been surprised.

Estefania went up and opened the door slowly.

The room was enormous.

The bed looked too big even for five people.

The windows overlooked the entire city.

She seemed amazed just to have a room of her own.

She came back downstairs.

"There are three rules in this house," Alexander said, his voice cold. "First: you don't come and go like this is a hotel. Second: you're not allowed in my study. And third: don't touch my things."

Estefania nodded quickly.

"Okay."

"Good."

Alexander left without another word.

The moment she saw him walk away, Estefania kicked off the heels in desperation.

"Oh my God!"

The small blisters on her feet burned horribly.

She walked barefoot back to the room and let out a small, nervous laugh.

This was definitely still better than the convent.

So much better. She lay down on the bed.

Meanwhile, Alexander entered his temporary study inside the mansion.

He locked the door behind him before leaning the cane against the desk.

He needed silence.

He needed to think.

The phone started ringing seconds later.

Alexander answered without checking the number.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Castellanos, I'm terribly sorry our agreement couldn't go through. My daughter had second thoughts at the last minute and—"

Alexander slowly frowned.

"Excuse me?"

Silence on the other end of the line.

"About the marriage..."

Alexander straightened in his chair when he recognized Mr. Rosales's voice.

"Are you talking about the same woman I married less than an hour ago, who is currently in my house?"

The man's heavy breathing came through the phone.

Silence.

An uncomfortable one.

A dangerous one.

"My daughter..."

"Estefania Rosales."

More silence.

Alexander narrowed his eyes.

Something wasn't right.

But it was plausible that Estefania had gotten cold feet — that would explain why she'd been late.

"I'll see you tonight to sign the agreements," the man finally said before hanging up abruptly.

Alexander remained motionless for several seconds.

Then he picked up the marriage contract again.

"Mandatory duration of one year."

"Neither party may request separation before the term is completed."

"The union will guarantee stability for both companies."

Especially his.

Alexander set the documents on the desk and slowly placed a hand on his cane.

He'd never imagined ending up married to a stranger.

Much less to a woman pretending to be a good girl.

Meanwhile, in the second-floor bedroom, Estefania was filling the enormous bathtub with hot water.

Steam was slowly covering the bathroom.

She removed the dress carefully and draped it over a chair.

The torn fabric was still visible.

Then she lowered herself into the hot water and closed her eyes.

The relief was immediate.

For the first time in years, she didn't feel cold.

No silence punishing her.

No fear.

Just peace.

She leaned her head back and let out a soft sigh.

She never wanted to leave.

But knocking on the door eventually forced her out.

"Ma'am, your husband Mr. Castellanos is waiting for you downstairs."

Estefania slowly opened her eyes.

For a moment she'd forgotten she was married — something she'd never imagined.