Chapter 4

The silence inside the room seemed to scream.

Ayslan stood motionless, arms pinned to her sides, as if any movement might make her crumble. Alvaro Mendes's words still echoed in her mind, repeating without mercy.

"Or your grandmother will keep suffering."

She felt the knot forming in her throat. It wasn't an explicit threat. It was worse than that. It was the naked, brutal truth.

"You can't force me..." she murmured, more to herself than to him.

Alvaro didn't move. He didn't try to convince her with gentle words. He just watched her, like someone who already knew the outcome.

"I'm not forcing you," he said with controlled coldness. "I'm offering a solution."

Ayslan laughed without humor.

"A solution that takes everything from me."

"A solution that saves your grandmother." He held firm. "Do the math."

She closed her eyes.

She saw Daniela lying in bed, her body frail, her breathing shallow. She saw the sleepless nights, the moans of pain, the pills counted one by one. She saw the fear in her grandmother's eyes every time Ayslan left the house, as though she was afraid she wouldn't wake up the next day.

"And if I say no?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Alvaro held her gaze.

"Nothing changes."

Ayslan felt as if the floor had disappeared.

"So..." She drew a deep breath, fighting to keep her voice steady. "If I accept... my grandmother never finds out the real reason?"

"Not if you don't want her to," he replied. "To the world, it'll be a normal marriage. Discreet. Quick."

"And what do you expect from me?" Ayslan asked finally. "Besides filling that... empty place."

Alvaro's jaw tightened.

"You'll live with me. You'll maintain the image of my wife. You'll follow my rules."

"Rules..." she repeated, bitter.

"I don't want scandals. No public questioning." He paused. "And I don't want you to fall in love."

Ayslan opened her eyes, startled.

"Why?"

"Because this isn't a real marriage," Alvaro answered without hesitation. "And I can't give you what I don't have."

She felt a strange ache in her chest. Not from love — not yet — but from the sheer coldness of that statement.

"And if I refuse later?" she asked.

Alvaro took a step toward her, imposing his presence.

"You won't."

Ayslan looked away.

The silence settled again, heavy, suffocating. She ran a hand over her face, feeling the tears finally escape. She didn't try to wipe them. She didn't have the strength to pretend.

"I just wanted..." Her voice broke. "A simple life. Work, take care of my grandma... none of this was supposed to happen."

Alvaro watched her, unmoving. For a moment — just one — something different crossed his gaze. Not tenderness. Not compassion. Something closer to recognition.

"Life rarely asks what we want," he said quietly.

Ayslan took a deep breath, like someone preparing to dive without knowing if there'd be air on the other side.

"If I accept..." She raised her eyes, meeting his with dignity despite the pain. "I want one thing."

Alvaro arched an eyebrow slightly.

"Say it."

"My grandmother gets the best treatment. No cutting corners. No delays." She swallowed hard. "And I get to visit her whenever I want."

Alvaro nodded.

"Done."

"One more thing." Ayslan continued, gathering what little courage she had left. "I won't lie to myself. I can fill that place... but I'll never be someone else."

Alvaro's gaze hardened.

"We'll see."

Ayslan closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened them, there was something new there: resignation mixed with strength.

"Then..." she said, her voice steady despite her shattered heart. "I accept."

Alvaro exhaled, as if he'd been holding his breath since the conversation began.

"Good," he replied. "The wedding will be in a few days."

"A few days..." she repeated, stunned.

"There's no reason to wait."

Ayslan nodded slowly.

There wasn't.

When she stepped outside the building, the world felt distant, unrecognizable. Camila was at the door, pacing back and forth. The moment she saw Ayslan, she ran to her.

"Ayslan! What happened? You're white as a sheet!"

Ayslan tried to speak, but no sound came out. She just hugged her friend tight, as if it were the last free gesture she'd ever make.

"I accepted..." she whispered at last. "I accepted, Camila."

Camila pulled back, alarmed.

"Accepted what?"

Ayslan drew a deep breath.

"To marry him."

The shock was immediate.

"Have you lost your mind?!"

"No..." Ayslan answered with a sad smile. "I chose to save the only person I have left."

Camila wanted to protest, to scream, to say there were other ways. But one look into Ayslan's eyes was enough to understand.

There weren't.

That night, when she got home, Ayslan lay down beside her grandmother and listened to her steady breathing — something rare. For the first time in weeks, Daniela slept without groaning.

Ayslan ran her hand through her grandmother's gray hair and whispered:

"You're going to be okay, Grandma. I promise."

Even if, to keep that promise, she'd just signed away her own life.

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