The Only Choice

Marisol stared at Adrian for a long second, and then she laughed.

It was a sharp, loud laugh that echoed off the cold stone walls of his study. She waited for him to smile, or to tell her it was just a mean trick to punish her for coming to his house. But Adrian did not smile. He did not blink. His dark eyes stayed perfectly still, fixed on her face.

He had never looked more serious in his entire life.

The laugh died in Marisol’s throat. A cold chill ran down her spine. "You are completely crazy," she whispered, shaking her head. "You think I would marry you? We hate each other."

"I am not crazy. I am practical," Adrian said. He walked back to his desk and leaned against the edge, looking down at his expensive shoes. "Let me explain the terms plainly so you understand. It is a legal marriage. A public merger of our land and our names. Nothing more."

He looked up, his face expressionless. "I do not expect a real relationship from you, Marisol. You will live under my roof, you will stand by my side at public events, and you will show my family that I have settled down. That is all. We do this for two years. After two years, we get a quiet divorce. You walk away, and the vineyard is fully yours, completely free of debt. I will even add a large inheritance for your time."

"No," Marisol said instantly. She felt sick to her stomach. "Never. I will find another way."

She turned around and stormed out of the room, her high heels clicking loudly against the floor. She didn't look back, not even when she heard the heavy front door shut behind her.

For the next four days, Marisol worked until her bones ached. She stayed up until the sun came up, making phone calls to every single business contact her father had ever known. She begged old family friends for investments. She called smaller loan companies in the city, trying to find anyone who would look at her paperwork.

But it was no use. Every single door slammed in her face.

"The debt is too big, Mars," one old friend told her over the phone, his voice filled with pity. "Nobody in the valley has that kind of cash lying around. And honestly? Nobody wants to get between a Duarte and a Ramirez. It’s suicide."

By Wednesday night, the end of the week was only hours away. Tomorrow morning, Adrian would arrive to take the land. Marisol sat at the kitchen table, her head in her hands. She felt completely defeated. Her pride had brought her to a dead end.

Suddenly, the headlights of a car flashed through the kitchen window, cutting through the darkness.

Marisol frowned, standing up slowly. It was nearly ten o'clock at night. Camila was upstairs asleep, and the vineyard workers had all gone home hours ago.

She walked to the front door and opened it. A flashy red sports car was idling in the driveway. The door swung open, and a man stepped out into the cool night air. He ran a hand through his carefully styled brown hair and gave her a wide, confident smile.

Nico Herrera. Her exboyfriend.

Marisol felt her stomach tighten, but not in a good way. Nico was the son of another wealthy vineyard owner nearby. They had dated for a year, but she had broken up with him six months ago when she realized he cared more about her father’s business connections than he cared about her. He was selfish, vain, and always looking for an advantage.

"Mars," Nico said, walking up the porch steps with his hands in his pockets. He looked at her with fake sadness in his eyes. "I heard about your father. I am so sorry. And I heard about the trouble with the Ramirez family."

"How do you know about that, Nico?" Marisol asked, her voice cold. She did not invite him inside. She stood right in the middle of the doorway, blocking him.

Nico shrugged, stepping closer until he was standing just a foot away from her. The smell of his expensive cologne filled the air, making her miss the clean, simple scent of the vineyard.

"People talk, Mars. This valley is small," Nico whispered, reaching out to touch her arm. Marisol pulled away instantly, but Nico didn't seem to care. He leaned in, his smile turning into something sharp and greedy. "I know you're drowning. And I know you're about to lose everything tomorrow morning. But I can make this all go away. I can help you pay off Adrian... for a price."

Marisol looked into his eyes, and a wave of pure dread washed over her. Adrian Ramirez was dangerous and cold, but he was honest about what he wanted. Nico was different. Looking at her ex-boyfriend's fake smile, Marisol realized she trusted him even less than she trusted the man who wanted to take her home.