Married by Mistake, Loved by Design

Monterrey, Mexico – 8:45 a.m. The air inside the elevator was thick with silence, but Valeria couldn’t shake the buzzing in her ears. Her heart was still racing from the insane proposal she’d just agreed to. She was going to pretend to be Alejandro Herrera's fiancée. For one day. Maybe two. In front of an investor. But the more she thought about it, the more questions kept coming up.Why her? Why not someone else? There had to be a reason he picked her, and it wasn’t just about her design skills, surely.Alejandro stood next to her in the elevator, his tall frame still radiating the kind of confidence that bordered on arrogance. His eyes were locked on the ascending numbers above them, but Valeria could feel the weight of his presence beside her, like a shadow, dark and looming."You still haven't told me why me," she finally broke the silence, the question slipping out before she could stop herself.He didn’t look at her but answered without hesitation. "You’re reliable. And you nee

Monterrey, Mexico – 8:30 p.m.The evening sky was a brilliant swirl of purple and pink, casting a soft glow over the city as Valeria sat in the back of a black SUV, the cool leather seat pressing against her as the car sped toward the venue. She could already feel the weight of the night pressing down on her.The public debut. Her first official appearance as Alejandro Herrera’s fiancée.Her stomach twisted at the thought. It felt like she was walking straight into a lion’s den, only instead of fangs, she’d be facing the cold, sharp eyes of Monterrey’s elite—the investors, the media, the high-society crowd that Alejandro mingled with effortlessly. And here she was, pretending to be someone she wasn’t, in front of people who had no idea what was real.Alejandro had barely spoken to her since the announcement. He'd been all business, giving her brief instructions and expecting her to fall into line. He had already picked out her dress—a sleek black gown with a plunging neckline, simple y

Monterrey, Mexico – 7:00 a.m.The sun had barely risen over the skyline when Valeria stumbled into the sleek kitchen of Alejandro’s penthouse, her hair a tousled mess and her oversized T-shirt slipping off one shoulder. She squinted against the light pouring through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows.Who needed that much sunlight anyway?She shuffled barefoot across the cold marble, muttering curses about rich people and their obsession with minimalism. Where were the curtains? Where was the coziness?Instead, the penthouse screamed cold efficiency. Black granite counters, sharp-edged furniture, and a silence so heavy it made her ears ring."Coffee," she grumbled, opening random cabinets in search of the sacred beans.She didn't hear Alejandro behind her until his smooth, deep voice sliced through the stillness."Third cabinet from the left."Valeria yelped, nearly knocking over a crystal glass.Alejandro stood by the entrance, impeccable in black joggers and a fitted T-shirt that d

Monterrey, Mexico – Saturday, 10:00 a.m.Valeria adjusted the simple gold bracelet on her wrist, staring at her reflection in the mirror. There she was — dressed in a tasteful floral dress Alejandro had "suggested" she wear for today’s brunch meeting with one of his family’s old friends.Friends.Right.Valeria had a sinking feeling this wasn’t just any casual brunch. Alejandro had been tense all morning, fussing with his cufflinks and checking his watch every thirty seconds.“You ready?” he asked, poking his head into her room without knocking.Valeria turned to him, forcing a bright smile. “Born ready.”He studied her, his gaze lingering a second too long. His jaw tightened.“You look… perfect.”Heat bloomed in her cheeks. She hated how easily he could do that — disarm her with a few simple words."Let’s just get this over with," she mumbled, grabbing her purse.They rode down the elevator in silence, a thick, unspoken tension simmering between them.At the lobby, a sleek black car

Monterrey, Mexico – Monday, 12:03 a.m.The moonlight poured through the thin curtains, casting silver patterns across the dark bedroom.Valeria lay on her side, staring at the wall, wide awake.Sleep was impossible.Every time she closed her eyes, she felt it — the almost-kiss, the words Alejandro had spoken, the heat of his body so close to hers.“I do like you. Too much.”She pressed her hands to her chest, as if she could physically hold her heart together.This wasn’t supposed to happen.It wasn’t real.It couldn’t be.Except... it felt real. Too real.A soft knock at her door.Valeria sat up abruptly, heart leaping into her throat."Valeria," Alejandro’s voice came, rough and low. "Can I... can we talk?"She hesitated.Common sense screamed at her to stay silent, to pretend she was asleep, to protect herself.But her heart — foolish, stubborn heart — overruled."Come in," she whispered.The door creaked open, revealing Alejandro in sweatpants and a plain black t-shirt, hair mussed