Chapter 1

• Eena sat on the edge of the sofa, her palms damp and cold, her mind racing so fast she could barely hear anything but the pounding of her own heartbeat. It felt like her chest was too small for the fear pushing against it. Her mother and father were sitting across from her, but their faces looked blurred, like she was watching them from underwater. The air felt thick and heavy, and she tried to steady her breath with soft sniffs. She just heard the worst news of her life, and she was still trying to comprehend it.
• “Eena,” her mother said. Catalina’s voice was sharp and controlled, like she had already made peace with whatever storm she was throwing her daughter into. She has always made decisions for Eena, and she was about to make another one.“We have no choice anymore. We have to accept Carlos Castillo’s offer.”
• The name alone made Eena’s stomach twist. Carlos Castillo. Her father’s business rival, the same man who has made her father's life so difficult. From accusations to court cases and a whole lot of problems. Although she couldn't understand the reason for his hatred towards her family, her parents didn't bother disclosing it to her.
• “No choice?” Eena whispered with an unsteady voice. “How is marrying that man even an option? I mean.. there are a thousand other ways to pay back this money, instead of this. Please let's not do this.”
• Octavio let out a shaky breath. It was the first sign of weakness she’d seen from him in a long time. He was a man who held his pride like armor, but right now his shoulders were slumped, and there were lines around his eyes Eena had never noticed before. She knew this wasn't just a minor debt, anything that involves Carlos Castillo can never be minor.
• “Eena,” he said quietly, “I took a loan last year. From the bank. I thought I could pay it off before the deadline but… business has been bad. I couldn’t keep up. By the time the year ended, the bank was already preparing to come after us.”
• She stared at him. “ Then how does this concern Carlos Castillo? We can talk to the bank, make them see reasons to give us more time….
• “Carlos bought the bank,” her father cut in. His voice cracked slightly. “He bought it, Eena. And once he took control, he published an ultimatum. Every debtor had thirty days to pay back every cent. no extensions.
• Eena felt something inside her freeze. “ Wait.. what! He bought the bank just to come after you?” she whispered.
• Octavio didn't answer, he didn't know why Carlos bought the bank, nor how he found out that he owed the bank that amount of money.
• Catalina leaned forward, her fingers tapping her knee impatiently. “We owe him five million dollars, Eena. Five million. We can’t gather that kind of money in a month. You know that.”
• Eena swallowed hard. “There must be another way out of this. Anything else but this. I can't possibly marry that man. I can't do that to myself, you can't do this to me.” She fixed her pale gaze on her parents.
• Her father shook his head slowly. “He made it clear. Either you marry him… or he takes everything that belongs to us. The house, the company, all I've labored for over the years.”
• Tears stung Eena’s eyes before she could stop them. “And you want me to marry him to fix that? To pay for this?”
• Her mother’s voice was flat. “It’s your duty to save this family. You’re our only child. We all must make sacrifices.”
• The words cut her deeper than she expected. she sat still, replaying all she just heard. They said it was her duty to save her family, as if she was a bargaining chip.
• She turned to her father, searching his face for something, maybe the slightest flicker of guilt, but his face was straight and nothing passed it. “Papa… do you really want this? Do you really want to give me away to a man who hates you?”
• Octavio kept his gaze on her for a few seconds, then he spoke. “I don't want this, Eena. None of us wants this. But we have to go ahead with it. I can't afford to lose all I've worked for, not now.”
• Eena’s breath caught. He can't afford to lose what he worked for, but he can afford to leave his own flesh and blood in the mouth of a roaring lion. She knew nothing about the feud between her father and billionaire Carlos Castillo, how it began or what prompted it. But here she is, about to pay for it.
• “this is a complicated situation.” He continued. “I'm sorry you have to do this, but we don't have any other escape route from this.”
• The more Octavio spoke, the more Eena's eyes widened, and her stomach sank. She still couldn't believe that her parents were not even changing their minds. They've already made up their minds before inviting her for the conversation, and nothing she did or would do can change their decision.
• Eena stared at him, stunned. “Papa, I could work..” the tears she held finally slid down her cheeks. “,I'll save up, I'll repay the debt, I don't need to marry him.
• “ No!” Octavio snapped, slamming his hand on the table. “Which work would pay you 5 million dollars in a month! Are you even listening to yourself, Eena. I'm not going to repeat myself again. You are going to marry him and save your family from this ruin, okay!”
• Eena pressed her hand against her mouth, trying to steady her breathing. Everything felt unreal, like she had fallen into a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from. This was the worst fate could do to her.
• “So,” she sniffed softly, and brushed off the residual tears in her eyes. “If I marry him now, will all your debts be forfeited?”
• Her father’s eyes filled with something that looked similar to hope. “ Yes, Eena. Everything will be cleared. “ We won't lose any of our property.”
• Catalina cut in again. “Yes, Eena. We won't have to live in the streets or start all over again. Think about it.”
• Eena shook her head. “I can’t.. I don’t want to marry him. He’s older, he hates this family, and he …he scares me.”
• “Fear has nothing to do with it,” her mother snapped. “This is reality. And reality doesn’t care about your feelings.”
• The words slammed into Eena like a slap. She stood abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. “I need some space.”
• “Eena…” her father started, but she was already walking away.
• Her heart raced as she pushed through the front door and stepped outside. The cool air brushed her face, but it didn’t calm her. Her legs felt unsteady as she rushed toward her car. Her chest was tight, like she couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t stay in that house one more second.
• She climbed into the driver’s seat and slammed the door shut. For a moment, she just sat there, gripping the steering wheel, her breath shaking. Tears slipped down her cheeks, but she didn’t wipe them. It hurt too much to even lift her hand.
• Her phone buzzed beside her, and she grabbed it with trembling fingers. There was only one person she could call. Only one person who always knew what to say.
• She pressed Ivana’s name. It rang the first time, but she didn't answer. She dialed the number a second time, and finally Ivana picked up.
• “Eena?” Ivana’s voice came through, light but concerned. “Hey, what’s up?”
• Eena swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. “I’m coming to your place. I… I need you. I’ll explain when I get there.”
• Ivana didn’t hesitate. “Okay, you can come. Drive safe.”
• Eena nodded even though Ivana couldn’t see her. “Okay.”
• She ended the call and dropped the phone onto the seat beside her. She rested her forehead against the steering wheel, whispering to herself.
• “Ivana will know what to do. She always does.”