Estefanía 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 graced magazine covers and exclusive events alongside his perfect family.

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

The illegitimate daughter.

Living proof of an affair.

The Rosales family 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 last name she carried.

That morning, she sat in silence inside the classroom, copying exercises into an old notebook. The convent smelled of damp walls, aged wood, and worn-out books.

It was always the same.

The same walls.

The same rules.

The same loneliness.

A small paper ball landed on her desk.

Estefanía barely smiled when she recognized Laura's rushed handwriting.

"What's the answer to question four?"

She discreetly glanced 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 went silent.

Sister Clara slowly examined the note.

"Who sent you this?"

Laura stopped breathing behind her.

Estefanía lowered her gaze slightly.

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

So she lied.

"I found it on the floor."

The nun studied her for several seconds before placing the ruler on the desk.

"Your hands."

Estefanía extended her palms without protest.

The first strike burned immediately.

The second forced her shoulders to tense.

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

"Corner. Now."

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

"I'm not getting married."

The massive window behind him displayed the entire city.

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

"Then prepare to watch the Castellanos name dragged through the mud."

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 studied the figures printed in red.

Since the accident, everything had begun to crumble.

Stalled projects.

Investors pulling out.

Millions in losses.

And he hated feeling vulnerable.

He pressed one hand against the cane before standing slowly. Every step still reminded him he wasn't the man he used to be.

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

"This isn't about appearances," the old man replied calmly. "It's a deal."

Alexander narrowed his eyes.

"What does the Rosales family get out of it?"

His grandfather adjusted his cufflinks slowly before answering.

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

Alexander stared at him, not understanding.

The old man continued.

"The Rosales have problems with foreign investors. You've been losing major contracts since the accident. A marriage between both families stabilizes the market, calms the rumors, and allows me to invest without raising suspicion."

Alexander let out a dry laugh.

"So this is just business."

"It always has been."

The old man leaned slightly forward.

"For one year, you two will be the perfect image of a powerful alliance."

Alexander clenched his jaw.

He hated feeling used.

"And how long does this circus last?"

"One year."

At the convent, the class finally ended.

Sister Clara allowed Estefanía to leave after several minutes of punishment against the wall.

The moment she crossed the doorway, Laura ran toward her.

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

Her friend's dramatic expression pulled a small smile from her.

She gave her a light punch on the shoulder.

"My parents are coming for me today. It's vacation... come with me."

The smile slowly disappeared from Estefanía's face.

"You know I can't leave."

Laura lowered her eyes sadly.

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

The words lingered in Estefanía's mind as they walked back to the shared bedroom.

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 end of the term."

"Mandatory cohabitation."

Alexander let out a heavy sigh.

He hated depending on anyone.

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

But he needed to save Castellanos Corporation.

And that was the only thing that mattered.

At the convent, Estefanía watched from the tall windows as all the other girls went home with their families.

Hugs.

Laughter.

Suitcases.

Everyone but her.

The convent grew more silent each time this happened.

"The Mother Superior wants to see you."

Sister María's voice made her turn.

Estefanía frowned slightly before walking through the long, ancient hallways.

Something in her chest began to feel strange.

As if her life was about to change.

She 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 across 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 a whiskey 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, Estefanía felt her heart race.

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

"I want to leave."

The answer came out too fast.

The woman finally looked at her.

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

"Then you'll get married."

Estefanía felt a knot tighten 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 and a comfortable life, as long as you're obedient and don't cause problems."

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

At the convent, Estefanía stared at the door behind the woman and thought about the entire life waiting for her if she stayed locked in there.

The same walls.

The same punishments.

The same loneliness.

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

"I accept."

And without knowing it, both of them had just sold an entire year of their lives.

Everything happened too fast after that.

While Alexander Castellanos wrapped up meetings and endured calls from furious investors, Estefanía 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 the 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 blurred 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 looking at him differently.

Weaker.

More vulnerable.

Some even doubted he could stay at the helm of the company.

And that enraged him.

"Meeting's over."

Everyone went quiet.

Alexander gripped the cane and rose slowly.

He hated doing it in front of other people.

Hated feeling their eyes tracking his every move.

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

"The ceremony will be tonight."

Alexander didn't even stop walking.

"How efficient."

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

Alexander let out a dry laugh.

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

The old man didn't respond.

He never wasted words.

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

She had never left the convent.

Everything was new.

Streets full of people.

Towering buildings.

Lights.

Noise.

Her heart pounded fast.

Not because of the wedding.

Because of the feeling of finally being outside.

She clutched the small backpack hidden 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 Estefanía.

"Stay here until I send someone for you," she said, handing her a key. "Put on the clothes they'll bring."

The girl nodded quickly.

A man in black escorted her to a room and stood guard outside.

Estefanía entered slowly.

The silence of the place was strange.

The bed was ordinary.

The walls shone.

Everything smelled clean.

She approached the window carefully.

From up there, she could see most of the city.

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

She knew nothing about the man she was about 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 other than 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 case of separation."

Alexander dropped the documents on the desk with a scowl.

The whole thing felt more like a business merger than a marriage.

And it probably was.

José walked into the office without knocking.

"So you're actually going through with it."

Alexander didn't even look up.

"Don't start."

José let out a laugh as he settled into the chair across from him.

"I have to admit — I never thought I'd see you go this far."

"Neither did I."

José glanced at the cane propped against the desk, then sighed.

"Your grandfather isn't going to 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 controlled the marriage too.

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

Inside was a white dress covered in tiny sparkling stones.

Also a pair of heels.

And a phone.

She held it carefully in both hands.

She'd never had one of her own.

Laura used to let her play with hers in secret.

The phone started ringing immediately.

Estefanía flinched before answering.

"Hello?"

"Put on the dress. They'll come for you in thirty minutes. And don't do anything stupid. If you run — and I will find you — you'll go back to the convent."

The call ended.

Estefanía slowly looked at the dress spread across the bed.

It was beautiful.

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

She showered quickly and began dressing with care.

The dress hugged her body perfectly.

She stood staring at herself in the mirror for several seconds.

She didn't look like herself.

She looked like someone important.

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

The only gift Laura had ever given her.

She managed a faint smile 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 pay her any attention.

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

Elsewhere in the city, Alexander slowly adjusted the buttons of his suit in front of the mirror.

The scar on his leg still bothered him even after all these months.

The injury had never fully healed.

And that destroyed his patience.

José leaned against the doorframe, watching him.

"You could still make a run for it."

Alexander let out a humorless laugh.

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

"Fair point."

The silence filled the room 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 venue where the wedding would take place.

No flowers.

No guests.

No music.

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

The Rosales family was famous for many things.

Money.

Power.

Appearances.

And also for being late.

Alexander had been waiting over twenty minutes.

His patience was running thin.

Then the door finally opened.

And for the first time, he saw her.

The young woman stood frozen near the entrance, watching him with obvious nerves.

Alexander frowned slightly.

She was too young.

Much younger than he'd expected.

The white dress looked heavy on her.

And even from across the room, he could see her fingers fidgeting nervously.

The judge cleared his throat.

"Miss Rosales?"

She nodded quickly before stepping forward.

Alexander didn't even try to smile.

"Let's get this over with."

His deep voice sent a chill down Estefanía's spine.

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

The ceremony was over in less than fifteen minutes.

As fast and empty as the marriage itself.

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

Neither Alexander nor Estefanía seemed interested in listening.

She could barely control her nerves.

He just wanted the whole thing done.

"You may place the ring on the bride."

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

Estefanía 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."

He looked up, waiting for something more.

A kiss.

A smile.

But Alexander stared back 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 odd.

The girl didn't seem like a Rosales.

No arrogance.

No demands.

She didn't act like someone raised in luxury.

Her dress was even slightly wrinkled.

And she wouldn't stop fidgeting with her fingers.

That struck him as strange.

Very strange.

The car waited outside.

Alexander got in first.

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

Her eyes went wide with horror.

"I am so sorry, Mr. Castellanos..."

She tried to fix it quickly, flashing a nervous smile.

Alexander closed his eyes for a second.

This was going to be a very long year.

During the ride, neither of them spoke.

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

The lights.

The buildings.

The streets full of people.

It all still felt incredible.

Alexander, meanwhile, reviewed documents from the back seat.

But more than once, he caught her gaze lingering on his injured leg.

That irritated him.

He hated being studied 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, Estefanía went completely still.

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

Her eyes traveled slowly over every detail.

The towering columns.

The immaculately kept gardens.

The golden lights bathing the entire entrance.

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

She snapped to attention 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."

Estefanía looked 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 Mom and Dad."

Alexander quietly observed the scene as they moved toward the entrance.

Something still didn't add up.

The girl seemed too simple to be a Rosales.

Too shy.

Too... lost.

She was hiding something.

Inside the house, Estefanía couldn't stop looking at everything.

Each room seemed bigger than the entire convent.

Even the floors sparkled.

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

The heels were absolutely killing her feet.

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

The driver and Estefanía exchanged a quick glance.

"It got lost at the airport," she lied without missing a beat.

Alexander's gaze shifted slightly toward her.

Another odd thing.

A woman from a millionaire family with no luggage.

No assistants.

No anything.

His parents said their goodbyes — they'd be meeting again that evening to sign the formal agreements. They just wanted to meet the newest member of the family.

Alexander pointed to one of the rooms upstairs.

"Second door on the right."

"Thank you, Mr. Castellanos."

The response came out so sincere that Alexander frowned faintly.

He didn't understand why she acted this way.

Any other woman wouldn't have blinked.

Estefanía went upstairs and opened the door slowly.

The bedroom was enormous.

The bed looked big enough for five people.

The windows overlooked the entire city.

She seemed genuinely impressed just by having a room to herself.

She came back down.

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

Estefanía nodded quickly.

"Yes, sir."

"Good."

Alexander walked away without adding anything else.

The moment she saw him disappear, Estefanía kicked off the heels with desperation.

"Oh my God."

The tiny blisters on her feet burned horribly.

She padded barefoot back to the bedroom and let out a small, nervous laugh.

This was definitely better than the convent.

Much better. She collapsed onto the bed.

Meanwhile, Alexander entered his study on the first floor.

He locked the door before propping the cane against the desk.

He needed silence.

He needed to think.

The phone rang seconds later.

Alexander answered without checking the number.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Castellanos, I'm sorry that our arrangement couldn't go through. My daughter changed her mind at the last moment and—"

Alexander slowly furrowed his brow.

"Excuse me?"

Silence on the other end.

"About the marriage..."

Alexander straightened in his chair when he realized it was Mr. Rosales.

"Are you talking about the same woman I married less than an hour ago? The one who's currently inside my house?"

Heavy breathing crackled through the phone.

Silence.

An uncomfortable one.

A dangerous one.

"My daughter..."

"Estefanía Rosales."

More silence.

Alexander narrowed his eyes.

Something wasn't right.

But it was possible Estefanía had gotten cold feet — that would explain the delay.

"I'll see you tonight to sign the agreements," the man finally said before quickly ending the call.

Alexander sat motionless for several seconds.

Then he picked up the marriage contract again.

"Mandatory duration of one year."

"Neither party may request separation before the end of the term."

"The union will guarantee stability for both companies."

Especially his.

Alexander set the documents back on the desk and slowly pressed his hand against the cane.

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

And certainly not to a woman who pretended to be a sweet, innocent girl.

Meanwhile, in the upstairs bedroom, Estefanía was filling the enormous bathtub with hot water.

Steam slowly fogged the bathroom.

She carefully removed the dress 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 calm.

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."

Estefanía slowly opened her eyes.

For a moment, she forgot she was married — something she'd never imagined in her life.