Chapter 5

"You're insane."

That was the only word that could come out of my mouth.

Luca was still smiling, completely unfazed by my response. His hand was still holding mine, his thumb still stroking the back of my hand in a way that made it hard for me to think clearly.

"We only met a few days ago!" I said.

"And in those few days, you saved my father, kicked me in the face, and made it so I can't sleep thinking about you." He leaned in closer. "I think that's enough."

I pulled my hand away and stepped back.

"I don't believe you. I need to find out for myself what's really going on."

I walked toward the door. Luca didn't stop me. I could feel those blue eyes on my back as I stepped out of the room.

I walked silently, keeping close to the wall, heading toward my father's study at the end of the other hallway. My father's study door was half open, and I went in.

On his desk were scattered documents, pens, and a cold cup of coffee, but what caught my attention was a thick brown folder lying in the middle of the table.

My hand reached for it.

On the cover of the folder, it read: Vitale - López Marriage Agreement

I opened it. The first page, the second, the third.

"Hereby, the first party (the Vitale Family) and the second party (the López Family) agree to bind in marriage Luca Vitale with the eldest daughter of the López Family, namely Camila López..."

I turned to the next page.

"After the marriage is solemnized, Camila López will be taken to Italy and reside at the Vitale Family residence in Rome..."

The next page.

"In return, the Vitale Family will settle all debts of the López Family totaling 2.5 million US dollars and invest an additional 1 million US dollars in fresh funds to save the López family company from bankruptcy..."

The next page.

"This marriage is binding and cannot be annulled except by mutual consent of both parties. Camila López shall not have the right to file for divorce within the first three years..."

The folder fell from my hands.

My father sold me.

I heard footsteps behind me before my father's voice started to sound.

"Camila."

I turned around.

My father stood in the doorway.

"You sold me," I said.

"I can explain."

"You sold me!" This time my voice rose. The tears I'd been holding back since earlier began to fall. "You called me home because Sofia was getting married, but it turns out you actually sold me like cattle?"

"Don't talk like that! I did this for our family!"

"For the family or for your company?" I asked.

My father fell silent.

That was enough of an answer. I stared at him with disappointment. Such deep disappointment that I didn't know where to put it. My father was my hero when I was little. The father who carried me when I had a fever. The father who sold his land to fund my medical school. The father who promised I could be whatever I wanted to be.

And now he was standing in front of me with a marriage agreement that sold his own daughter.

"Originally, this marriage was meant for Sofia. I'd been discussing this with them for three months."

"Then why is my name on that document?" I asked.

"Mr. Luca changed his mind."

I fell silent.

"He'd never seen you before, and I don't know how he found out about you. I couldn't refuse his request."

"So you still chose your business over me?"

My father didn't answer.

"You're my daughter. I had no choice."

The living room door opened. I heard Sofia's voice.

"Dad? What's going on?"

Sofia walked into the study with a worried face. Her wavy black hair was slightly messy. Behind her, I could see my stepmother's silhouette standing in the hallway, not daring to come in.

"I've known Mr. Luca for three months, but suddenly he changed his mind and chose you," Sofia said.

I looked at Sofia. Even though I didn't like her because she was my father's golden child, she was still my sister.

I hugged her.

Sofia was surprised. Her body was stiff for a moment, then she melted into my embrace and cried even harder.

"He dumped me and chose you, so what was the point of these three months of getting to know each other?" Sofia asked.

"This isn't your fault. It's that crazy blue-eyed man's fault," I said.

I released the hug and walked out of the study. I walked through the hallway, past my stepmother who looked down and didn't dare meet my eyes, and entered the living room.

There, Luca was sitting on the sofa with a cup of coffee in his hand. His face was calm. Those blue eyes looked at me as I walked in.

"Darling?"

I walked toward him, and before I knew it, my hand had already slapped his cheek. The sound of the slap echoed through the silent living room.

"You bastard! You think we're puppets? Today you hurt Sofia, and the day after tomorrow you'll get bored and throw me away like trash?"

Luca didn't move. His hand was still holding the coffee cup. On his clean white cheek, the mark of my slap left a reddening.

"You toyed with my sister. I don't know what you want, but I will not be part of this dirty game!" I said.

My father walked into the living room. His face was flushed red.

"QUIET, CAMILA!"

I stared at my father in disbelief.

"You don't know what I went through to keep this family alive!"

"And you think selling your own daughter is the solution?"

"This is the only way! My company is bankrupt and my debts are piling up. The bank has already sent a final warning. We could lose this house. We could lose everything. Do you want that? Do you want Mom and Sofia living on the streets?"

I fell silent.

"The Vitale family is the only one willing to help. I'm not proud of selling my own daughter, but I had no choice."

Meanwhile, Luca was still sitting on the sofa. His coffee cup had been set down on the table. Those blue eyes stared at me with an unreadable expression.

"The wedding will take place tomorrow morning at San Miguel Church. The priest has already been contacted and everything is ready," my father said.

"Tomorrow morning?" I asked.

"Tomorrow morning," my father repeated. "After that, you'll be taken to Italy with Mr. Luca. All the documents have been taken care of. Your passport is still valid, isn't it?"

"You can't force me," I said.

"I can. Did you forget? In Mexico, parents still have full rights over their unmarried daughters, no matter how old they are," he said.

"But..."

"TOMORROW MORNING!" my father yelled. "I don't want to hear any more protests. You will marry Mr. Luca, you will go to Italy, and you will be a good wife. That's the final decision!"

My father turned and walked out of the room. My stepmother followed without a word, pulling Sofia who was still crying, and then the living room was empty.

Just me and Luca.

He stood up from the sofa. His black suit was slightly wrinkled at the sleeves from when I'd gripped him too tightly while he kissed me.

"Ms. López?"

"Don't come closer."

He stopped.

"You hurt my little sister. I know what it feels like to be betrayed because I've been through it too," I said.

Luca was silent, but those blue eyes stared at me with an intensity that made my chest feel tight.

"Tomorrow at eight in the morning, a small ceremony at the church nearby, and after that, we fly to Rome," he said.

"I don't want to."

He smiled, that smile that made me want to slap his handsome face again.

"We'll see."

He turned and walked toward the door. At the door, he stopped and looked back.

"Your room will be guarded from outside. Don't try to run. If you're reckless, then your entire family will die by my hands," he said.