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.
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