e Beginning o

oment I stepped into my room, I collapsed onto my bed-staring blankly

ria

n I did

o had no re

ration and sadness. But no matter how hard I tr

don't care. But make sure you don't st

just a simple marriage. It was a lifelong

ld I re

I cou

amily would starve. We

d forced myself to prepare for t

-

my child, a

e at the dining table, worry evident in her eyes. The food

ed. "What if I ca

and squeezed m

etheart. But sometimes, we have t

fe, I had done everything to make my parents prou

ate... then there wa

and nodded. "I ca

m my eyes. I would not

-

e engagement

ety. The entire ballroom sparkled with lights, music, and luxurious dec

to calm my nerves, when I

ast

ious than the last time we met. But no matter how

Villafuerte?" His voi

"I'm not your wi

ned in slightly. "

ort, our names wer

the soon-to-be husband and wife-Sebast

ing myself to keep my composure as we w

se people, I had no

the

marriage I

round my ankles. In front of the cameras, in front of everyone, I had

the whispers

lucky to be marr

e a womanize

iage on paper only.

not to

and. His palm was warm against mine, but ins

obvious you don't want this," he murmured,

t I'm trying. Unlike you, who's tr

d. "That's becau

ed in our direction. Click! I squeezed

rough the microphone. "Tonight, we officially announce the engag

e room. More camer

Smile, Isabella. Unless you want them

sts but did as h

p inside, I wan

the beginning of the nightmar

-

the

out the window, lost in thought, whil

iet," he remarked

nore

me. "You want to ask why I agre

, confused. "No

ked. "R

mily is rich, you have money, and you have the looks. You coul

debating whether to answer. Then

fe to keep my fam

ned. "

nts to pass the business down to me, but I don't want that life. Now

ief. "So you're just usin

n. "Don't act like you're any different. We

to this for my family. But even so, I couldn't

indow, fighting the st

thing becam

ave trusted Seba