He could always deal with itter.


    The reactions from both families blindsided Esmeralda. She''d assumed thating clean would force everyone to rethink things. But to her shock, her protests fell on


    deaf ears.


    They were going through with the wedding. No matter what.


    Fury welled up inside her. Why did everyone insist on treating her like a clueless child, as if her objections were just another childish tantrum? Why was she always seen as impulsive and unreasonable?


    Her mother noticed immediately that something was wrong. But she also knew just how rigid and set in his ways her husband could be.


    "Tell me the truth-what''s really happening between you two?" her mom asked gently.


    There was a lump in Esmeralda''s throat. The thought of Fleming caring for Lucy- and Lucy alone-filled her with a crushing sense of failure. Just saying it out loud felt humiliating. She forced back her tears and managed, "Mom, Fleming doesn''t love me. I won''t make him stay where he doesn''t want to be. I don''t want something that isn''t real."


    Her mother''s heart broke hearing this. She knew her daughter; she knew Esmeralda wouldn''t give up so easily unless something was truly wrong.


    She pulled Esmeralda into a tight, soothing hug. "It''s all right, sweetheart. I''ll try talking to your dad again. He''s just stubborn-that''s all."


    Cradled in her mother''s arms, Esmeralda couldn''t help it anymore. The tears slid down, silent but unstoppable. Her lips trembled-she bit down to keep from sobbing.


    "I don''t want to get married, Mom. I really don''t."


    Growing up in a family of their status had its privileges—but there were expectations, sacrifices. Some things were simply decided for you, and you were expected to go along. In their social circle, it was just how things were done.


    Which meant that to outsiders, her fighting back now looked like nothing but drama from a spoiled heiress.


    But she couldn''t just swallow it, not anymore. The thought of living the rest of her life at the mercy of Fleming''s favoritism—always putting Lucy first, never listening to her -was more than she could bear.


    Fleming had once been loving, considerate. But after Lucy showed up, everything turned upside down. And Esmeralda? She''d been left behind, entirely on her own.


    She couldn''t say why it all changed. Maybe it didn''t matter anymore.


    But breaking free wasn''t going to be easy.


    Her parents stayed up all night talking. Through the muffled walls, Esmeralda caught stray bits and pieces.


    Her father was unmoved. “You know our daughter''s temperament. We all saw how much she chased after Fleming she set aside her pride for him, stuck it out through long distance, even when he was diving in another country. She never onceined. She wouldn''t even consider anyone else. And now this tantrum? Pure emotion, nothing


    more. If she ever regrets not


    marrying him, who''s going to


    answer for that?"


    He dismissed it with a wave. "Move the wedding up a week. The sooner we finish


    this, the fewer surprises there''ll be."


    Her mother couldn''t sway him.


    Esmeralda heard it all. She knew her


    father adored her in his own way but when it came to family decisions, he was the patriarch through and through decisive, even domineering.


    It felt like she was backed into a corner. Whether she showed up at the wedding or not, they''d make sure she was there.


    Especially with the families'' uing joint business venture on the line. Failure wasn''t an option.


    Back in her room, Esmeralda forced herself to take deep breaths, to calm down. The new wedding date—they''d bumped it up. Just one week left.


    She was almost out of moves.


    Almost.


    There was one way left.


    If she could find someone-anyone-to fake a marriage with her, just on paper—if she was “married" already, they couldn''t force her into another. Could they?


    The idea took hold immediately.


    Of course, marrying a stranger for real was out of the question-that would only hurt herself. She just needed to find someone willing to y the part. An actor preferably-a Facade, nothing more.


    When the truth came out, they couldn''t possibly go through with the wedding.


    As for Fleming...


    She wasn''t waiting for him anymore.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!