Chapter 5

• When her mother said those words, Eena felt her stomach twist. She hadn’t expected to see Ivana again in the house, being that she didn't pick her call all-day and definitely not like this. Ivana raised her head slowly from where she sat beside her parents and looked straight at her. Her eyes were cold and sharp, disappointment flickered in them.
• “Congratulations on your marriage, Eena,” she said. Her voice wasn't loud, but it held weight, heavy enough that Eena felt it.
• Eena blinked, and her heart dropped in her stomach. She wished she could turn the hands of time to when she visited Ivana yesterday morning and tell her everything about the marriage.She opened her mouth, trying to form some kind of explanation, but the words felt trapped in her throat. Everything had happened too fast. She hadn’t even processed it herself, how was she supposed to explain something she barely understood?
• She managed to mutter, “Thank you…” though the word came out broken and dry. She took a few hesitant steps forward, wanting to sit beside Ivana, and fix what had shattered between them. But before she could reach her, Ivana stood up abruptly, almost knocking the chair backward.
• “I’ll take my leave,” Ivana announced to her parents politely, completely ignoring Eena.
• Eena froze. “Ivana, wait…” she whispered quickly as Ivana made her way past her.
• “It’s not what you think,” Eena whispered, her voice shaking.
• Ivana didn’t stop walking. She didn’t soften. She didn’t even blink. She just shot Eena one stern, wounded look, and walked right out of the door.
• The sound of the door closing echoed too loudly in the living room.
• Eena swallowed the lump in her throat, but it didn’t go away. Her hands trembled slightly. She had lost her best friend in a single day, all because her life had been tossed into chaos.
• Her mother’s voice cut sharply through the silence. “Eena, come and take a look at the contract.”
• Of course. The contract. The reason Ivana had even come here.
• Her mother didn’t ask if she was alright, she was only concerned about the contract and having Eena sign on it.
• “Yes child, come on.” Octavio added, gesturing to her to come and take the contract document.
• Eena walked slowly toward them and took the paper from Octavio's outstretched hand. Her finger trembled as she started to flip the pages open.
• Her mother and father watched her closely, with all the expectations in their eyes.
• She scanned through the pages word-for-word. Each line was written boldly with the rules and demands that governed the contract.Her eyes paused on every section. From living arrangements, to public image expectations, family involvement, personal behaviour, confidentiality and every other essential guideline.
• Her heart sank deeper and deeper as she read. At moments she had to blink, because the words blurred too quickly from the weight of her emotions.
• And all she could think about were the last 48 hours that ruined a lot for her. Her so-called arranged husband, her cheating boyfriend and now her angry best friend. Everything was happening to her at the same time, and she didn't have one single person on her side to at least guide her through her decisions.
• Her mother’s voice pulled her out of her spiraling thoughts. “Eena. Sign it. We have to send those documents back to him. Just sign it.”
• With slow fingers, Eena picked up the pen. Her hand hovered above the paper. Her mother and father leaned closer, watching her with wide eyes.
• Eena pressed the tip of the pen down, and signed.
• She stared at her signature for a few seconds. This is it. She just signed her life into the hands of a stranger. An enemy. And his signature stood just by her own.
• Seeing them side by side made her chest tighten painfully.
• A tear fell before she could stop it. Then another.
• She dropped the pen. Without saying a word, she turned and slowly walked toward the stairs.
• Neither of her parents called after her.
• In her room, she closed the door softly behind her. She stood still for a moment, then her gaze slowly drifted around the space she had called hers for years. Her walls, her little desk, her books, her memories. She walked toward her closet, then her bed, then the shelves, touching things lightly, as though she was memorizing them.
• It hit her all at once: She wouldn’t be here much longer. She has to move in with her husband two days after signing the contract. No wedding, no celebration, just straight to business.
• She walked to her balcony and stepped outside. Her favourite view stretched before her. The one she always looked at for comfort. Tonight, it hurt more than it healed.
• Thunder rumbled overhead. The sky flashed brightly, signaling rain.
• Eena looked up. She loved when it rained, It always felt cleansing to her. Growing up as a child, she would always play in the rain until she got cold, with or without her parents' approval.
• As the first drops started falling, she stretched her hand out, letting the cold rain touch her palm. It was the only comforting thing she’d felt since yesterday.
• The rain grew heavier. She closed her eyes and let her hand stay stretched out into the storm.
• * * * * * * * * * * * * *
• Meanwhile, across the city in Carlos Castillo’s mansion, the rain poured down in heavy streams.
• Carlos stood on his massive balcony, hands tucked loosely in the pockets of his dark trousers. The cold rain kept pouring and he didn’t move. He stared out into the night, completely lost in thought.
• He was also a big fan of the rain, especially when it came at night like this. Something about the sound, the darkness and the rhythm calmed him.
• His jaw tightened slightly as he watched the storm. His thoughts were unreadable, but his eyes were heavy and serious.
• After a moment, he stepped back into his room. The balcony door shut softly behind him. He walked toward the small table near the window and poured himself a glass of wine.
• He raised the glass, took a slow sip, and let out a deep exhale.
• Just as he set the glass down, his phone began to vibrate.
• He glanced at the screen.
• Octavio Morales.
• A slow, knowing smirk tugged at his lips.
• The call continued to ring.