Mrs. Hernando tried to speak, but her voice came out weak and trembling.

"I–I'm fine, dear... just a little dizzy..."

Before she could finish, a violent fit of coughing overtook her.

"Sam, call an ambulance!" Isabella shouted.

Samantha's hands shook as she fumbled for her phone and dialed emergency services. Isabella's heart pounded as she supported her mother, trying to steady her breathing, tears stinging her eyes.

Moments later, sirens wailed in the distance, slicing through the quiet afternoon. Paramedics rushed in, swiftly lifting Mrs. Hernando onto a stretcher. Isabella clung to her mother's hand until the last possible moment before following the stretcher into the ambulance.

At the hospital, time blurred into a haze. Isabella sat outside the emergency room, still in her damp joggers, her hands clasped tightly together. Samantha sat beside her, silent but steady.

After what felt like hours, the doctor finally emerged, his expression grave.

"Are you her daughter?"

"Yes," Isabella said quickly, standing. "How's my mother?"

"She's stable for now," he replied, removing his glasses, "but her heart condition has worsened. She's been under a lot of stress. Any emotional strain could be dangerous. We'll need to monitor her closely for the next few days."

The words hit Isabella like a bucket of ice water. She'd known her mother was unwell-but not this serious.

Samantha reached over and squeezed her hand. "She's going to be okay, Bella. Your mom's strong."

Isabella nodded faintly, but guilt gnawed at her chest.

Was this because of me? Because I upset her earlier?

Later that afternoon, Mrs. Martez arrived with a basket of fruit and worry written across her face. Isabella was seated beside her mother's bed, watching the slow, steady rise and fall of her chest.

"My dear," Mrs. Martez said softly, placing a gentle hand on Isabella's shoulder. "I came as soon as I heard."

"Thank you, Aunt Martez," Isabella murmured. Her voice was hoarse, her eyes rimmed red.

A faint whisper came from the bed. "Bella..."

Isabella's head snapped toward her mother. "Mom?" She leaned forward, taking her hand. "I'm here."

"Adeline," Mrs. Martez greeted warmly. "How are you feeling?"

Mrs. Hernando turned her head slightly and smiled weakly. "Better now. Thank you for coming, Anna."

"I was worried when I heard," Mrs. Martez said, setting the basket down. "You need to take it easy for a while."

Mrs. Hernando's expression grew thoughtful. After a pause, she reached for her daughter's hand.

"Bella," she said softly, "there's something I want to talk to you about."

Isabella's brows knitted. "What is it, Mom?"

Her mother's frail fingers tightened around hers. "Bella, I... I hope you'll consider marrying soon. I'm afraid that if one day I'm gone-"

"Mom, please," Isabella interrupted quickly, her voice breaking. "Don't say that."

Mrs. Hernando gave a weak smile and brushed a tear from her daughter's cheek. Slowly, she sat up, cupping Isabella's face in her trembling hands.

"My dear, no one knows how long we have in this world. I just worry... if I'm no longer here and you're still alone, who will protect you? Who will take care of you?"

The words pierced through Isabella like a blade. She leaned forward, wrapping her mother in her arms, tears spilling freely.

"I'll be fine, Mom... I promise. Please don't talk like that."

Mrs. Hernando stroked her hair gently. "I know you don't like the idea of an arranged marriage, Bella, but if something happens to me, I'd rest easier knowing you're not alone. Miguel's a good man, from a kind family. It would give me peace to see you settled... happy... and cared for."

"Mom..." Isabella whispered, torn between sorrow and disbelief.

Her mother squeezed her hand lightly. "I'm not forcing you, sweetheart. Just think about it. Treat it as my wish-not an obligation, but something from a mother's heart."

For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the steady beep of the heart monitor. Isabella lowered her gaze, her mother's words echoing softly in her mind.

Treat it as my wish.

"Bella, don't you pity your mother?" Mrs. Martez added gently. "She only wants to see you married before she's too old to attend your wedding."

Isabella bit her lip, a knot forming in her throat.

Like Sam said... maybe I should just agree. I don't have a boyfriend, and if this makes Mom happy... what harm could it do?

"Does Miguel know about this?" she finally asked.

"Don't worry," Mrs. Martez said with a reassuring smile. "He'll listen to me."

Isabella exhaled slowly. "All right, Aunt. But please, talk to Miguel first. I don't want something this important decided without his say."

Then she turned to her mother, forcing a faint smile. "If this makes you happy, Mom... I'll try."

Her mother's eyes brightened with relief. Mrs. Martez smiled too, the tension in the room finally softening.

The three women shared a quiet laugh-fragile but genuine. For the first time all day, the heaviness lifted.

When the visit ended, Isabella walked Mrs. Martez to the hospital lobby and waited until her car disappeared around the corner. 

Ten years... I barely even remember what Miguel looks like. But if this makes Mom happy... maybe that's enough.

Three weeks later.

In one of the elegant suites reserved for the day's event, a twenty-three-year-old woman sat silently before the vanity.

Her white wedding gown draped gracefully over her figure, the soft fabric glowing under the morning light. Her neatly styled black hair framed a calm face that betrayed no hint of joy-only quiet resignation.

Isabella Hernando stared at her reflection. She knew she was supposed to feel excited, but all she felt was a hollow ache in her chest.

Today was her wedding day-to Miguel Martez, a man she hadn't seen since childhood. She had asked Mrs. Martez if she could meet him beforehand, but Miguel was always too busy.

He'd only sent her two short messages: the first saying he'd meet her with his mother to prepare for the wedding, and the second-days later-apologizing that he couldn't make it and would leave everything to "the ladies."

Mrs. Martez had assured her there was nothing to worry about. Yet an uneasy feeling lingered in Isabella's heart, one she couldn't shake no matter how she tried.

"Look at you, Bella," her mother's soft voice broke her reverie. "You look beautiful. Just like when you were little... only now, more grown-up."

Isabella offered a small smile. "Thank you, Mom."

"I'm sure Miguel will be surprised when he sees you," added Mrs. Martez, taking a seat beside them. "He rarely talks about women, but somehow I have a feeling you two will be perfect for each other."

Isabella nodded, though her thoughts drifted elsewhere. How could she marry someone who didn't even know her anymore?

Still, saying no would only break the hearts of the two women who believed this marriage was destiny.

A sudden, rapid knock on the door shattered the fragile calm.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The two older women exchanged startled glances. Mrs. Martez rose.

"Who is it?"

A deep, hurried male voice came from the other side. "Mom, it's me-Max."

There was urgency in his tone, almost commanding.

When the door opened, Maximilian Martez filled the doorway-tall, composed, yet visibly tense.

"Mom, I need to speak with you. Now."

"What is it, Max?" Mrs. Martez asked, alarmed by the edge in his voice.

"Please-outside." His tone was clipped, urgent.

Seeing the severity in his expression, Mrs. Martez hesitated but finally nodded. She turned back to the women inside.

"Wait here for a moment, okay? Something urgent came up."

The door closed behind her, and Isabella caught only a glimpse of the man's broad shoulders and the determined line of his stride.

Isabella exchanged a puzzled glance with her mother.

"That man... he's Miguel's older brother, right?" Mrs. Hernando asked.

Isabella nodded slowly. "I think so."

Something about his voice struck her-familiar somehow. Her heart whispered a quiet warning. Why did his voice sound as if I'd heard it before?

Meanwhile, in the quiet corridor outside, Maximilian walked briskly, his jaw tight. He led his mother toward a secluded corner, away from prying eyes.

"Mom, please don't panic," he said in a low, strained voice. "I just got a message from Miguel."

Mrs. Martez frowned, confused. "A message?"

Maximilian pulled out his phone and showed her the text that had arrived minutes earlier.

Sorry, Mom. I can't marry Isabella. I'm not ready for an arranged marriage. Please don't try to find me. - Miguel

For a moment, Mrs. Martez just stared. The color drained from her face.

"No... this must be a joke. Miguel wouldn't-he couldn't..."

Her voice cracked mid-sentence.

"Mom, calm down," Maximilian said quickly, gripping her shoulders. "I tried calling him, but his number's inactive. What matters now is that we stop this wedding before things get worse."

Tears welled in her eyes as she shook her head. "No, Max! We can't! The guests are already here-the hall is full! How am I supposed to explain this to the Hernandos?"

"Mom, we don't have a choice!"

"Choice?" she cried, voice trembling. "Do you know what this means for me? Ever since your father passed, they've looked down on me! They said I wasn't fit to carry the Martez name!"

She covered her face with both hands, sobbing. "If the wedding is canceled, they'll laugh at me. They'll say I failed as a mother who couldn't even marry off her own son!"

Maximilian's heart clenched as he watched her crumble. "Mom..."

She suddenly grasped his hand, her voice breaking. "Your brother always obeyed me before, but you-Max-you're the only one who can save our family's name now."

He stared at her, disbelief flickering in his eyes. "Don't tell me you're suggesting-"

"Please, son," she whispered desperately. "Marry Isabella in Miguel's place."

Maximilian froze. For a moment, everything fell silent-his thoughts, the faint hum of the corridor, even his breath.

"Mom, do you even realize what you're asking?" he said, his voice low and shaking with restrained emotion.

"If you don't," Mrs. Martez pleaded, "Mrs. Hernando will think we've humiliated their daughter. Both our families' reputations will be destroyed. I can't let that happen."

Tears streamed freely down her face. "Mrs. Hernando is my friend. Her life hasn't been easy since her husband passed-she raised Isabella alone. If this wedding collapses now, I couldn't face her again."

She clutched his hand tighter, desperation etched across her face. "Please, Max... just this once. Save our family. Save her dignity."

Her voice trembled. "Isabella is a good girl. I know it's unfair, but... please, son. For all our sakes."

Maximilian closed his eyes. The air felt thick and suffocating.

He didn't even know her face. And yet, his mother was asking him to marry her.

Outside, faint music drifted from the ballroom-the wedding march beginning to play.

Their time had run out.

The grand doors of the wedding hall swung open, and Isabella stepped inside, her heart pounding beneath layers of silk and lace.

The murmur of the guests dimmed into a faint hum. Rows of familiar faces blurred together-relatives, friends of her late father, distant cousins she barely recognized. Everyone turned toward her, their eyes bright with admiration and curiosity.

The melody of the wedding march filled the air, but the music couldn't drown out the rush of blood in her ears.

Then she froze.

At the far end of the aisle stood a tall man-broad-shouldered, sharp-featured, and utterly impossible to mistake.

Her chest tightened.

Maximilian Martez.

What on earth was he doing here?

Her mind spun. Martez... Maximilian Martez? That cold, arrogant CEO from the partner company?

He must be the eldest son of the Martez family. How had she never realized it before?

But then-where was Miguel?

A wave of unease rippled through her. Something wasn't right.

"Ahem... let's welcome the bride!" the preacher's voice echoed, pulling her back into the moment.

The guests clapped politely, unaware of the confusion flashing across her eyes. Isabella forced herself to breathe, to walk forward, even though her steps felt heavier with each beat of the music.

When she reached the altar, Maximilian's gaze locked on her. His eyes were cold and unreadable, like twin pieces of polished obsidian.

"Why are you here?" Isabella whispered, her lips barely moving. "You're not Miguel, are you?"

"Miguel is my brother," Maximilian replied smoothly, as if discussing business. "He couldn't make it. I'll be marrying you instead."

Her heart stuttered.

"What?" she hissed under her breath. "Is this some kind of joke?"

He didn't blink. "No joke. Consider it a... family adjustment."

Her stomach twisted. A family adjustment? What was she, some product being exchanged between brothers?

He leaned closer, his voice dropping low enough that only she could hear.

"Honestly," he murmured, "whoever the groom was, it wouldn't have mattered to you, would it? So why not make this simple and finish the day?"

For a heartbeat, she was too stunned to reply. Then disbelief gave way to fury.

She wanted to tell him off-to shout that she wasn't some accessory for the Martez family's convenience-but before she could, she saw her mother's radiant smile from the front row.

It was the first genuine smile her mother had worn in years.

Isabella's throat tightened.

"Miss Hernando," Maximilian whispered again, his words sharp as glass. "I'm only doing this because my mother asked. Don't expect to enter this family easily. One year from now, this farce ends."

Her pulse spiked. "One year?"

He tilted his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Too long for you? Six months, then?"

Isabella clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms.

"Mr. Martez," she hissed, voice trembling with fury, "if it weren't for our mothers pushing for this, I would never agree to marry you."

His chuckle was low and mocking. "Didn't you agree to this marriage just to prove yourself worthy of our family? And now that I've taken Miguel's place, you don't seem to mind."

Her eyes flashed. "Enough, Mr. Martez," she said through gritted teeth. "I don't know what I ever did to deserve your contempt-but I'm not as lowly as you think."

"Really?" he murmured, his gaze lingering on her face. "All women say that. Until they need something."

The words hit her like a slap.

Her breath caught. She wanted to fight back-to throw his arrogance in his face-but her mother's voice from the audience echoed faintly in her ears, "Be calm, my dear. Don't make a scene."

So Isabella smiled instead. A small, practiced smile. Cold and unyielding.

"Then you'll learn soon enough," she whispered. "I'm not one of those women."

The ceremony continued.

The preacher's voice filled the room, solemn and distant, as if from another world. Rings were exchanged, vows spoken through gritted teeth. Applause broke out as they sealed their vows with a mechanical grace neither believed in.

Isabella stood there, expression unreadable. Not a flicker of joy touched her eyes.

After the ceremony, as the crowd dispersed into laughter and chatter, Isabella caught her mother's soft voice calling out.

"Isabella."

She turned, quickly wiping away the faint sheen of tears threatening to form.

"Yes, Mom."

Mrs. Hernando reached for her daughter's hands, holding them tightly. Her eyes shimmered with pride and something else-relief.

"My dear child," she began, her voice trembling, "you're now Maximilian's wife. My only advice is this: no matter what happens, stay by your husband's side. Be patient, be kind. A good marriage takes time."

Isabella blinked, confused. Maximilian's wife?

"Mom," Isabella said softly, her voice trembling, "did you know about this? About him?"

Her mother hesitated-just for a moment-but that flicker of guilt didn't escape Isabella's eyes.

Mrs. Hernando sighed quietly and squeezed her daughter's hands.

"My dear... after the ceremony began, Mrs. Martez told me everything," she said gently. "Miguel... ran away, Bella. He left a message saying he couldn't go through with the wedding."

Isabella froze, her breath catching. "He... what?"

"She was devastated," her mother continued, her voice quivering. "But she begged me not to let everything fall apart. And then-then Maximilian stepped forward. He offered to take responsibility. He didn't want to disgrace either family."

The words tumbled out of her, a desperate blend of explanation and comfort.

"Bella, I know it's sudden, but maybe it's a blessing in disguise. Maximilian is more mature, more stable. He's responsible, successful... he's the kind of man who'll protect you. Any mother would be grateful for a son-in-law like him."

Isabella stared at her mother, disbelief clouding her eyes.

"So, because Miguel ran away, you just-let his brother marry me?"

Mrs. Hernando's expression wavered. "It wasn't like that, Bella. Think about it-would you rather have faced humiliation in front of everyone? Mrs. Martez was trembling with shame. And when Maximilian volunteered... I thought-maybe it was fate's way of giving you a better future."

"Fate?" Isabella echoed faintly, her chest tightening. "Mom, I don't even know him. I mean, I didn't know Miguel that well either, but at least we shared childhood memories. But this Maximilian..."

"I know," Mrs. Hernando whispered, brushing a tear from her daughter's cheek. "But he's not like other men. He could've walked away too-but he didn't. That shows something, doesn't it? Responsibility. Honor. Maybe he's not easy to read, but I believe there's kindness underneath."

Isabella bit her lip hard, trying to keep her emotions from spilling over. Her mother's sincerity hurt more than anger ever could.

Mrs. Hernando's tone softened again, trembling with hope.

"Bella, please... don't see this as misfortune. Sometimes, what feels wrong at first is what saves us in the end. Maximilian will take care of you-I can feel it."

Isabella lowered her gaze, her vision blurring. "Take care of me..." she murmured, her voice hollow.

Her mother pulled her into an embrace, holding her close as if to shield her from a truth too heavy to bear.

"Promise me, Isabella," she whispered. "Be patient. Be kind. No matter what happens, stay strong."

Warm tears slipped down Isabella's cheeks as she clung to her mother. The hum of laughter and clinking glasses faded into the distance.

In that moment, her world felt smaller-heavier-like a dream she hadn't chosen but could no longer escape.

Across the room, Maximilian Martez watched her silently, his expression unreadable.

And when Isabella finally lifted her gaze, their eyes met-clashing like two enemies who had never even spoken.

God... how am I supposed to live with a man this narcissistic?

***