Two Lives About to Collide

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.

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