Episode 2

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.

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