Narrator
Mel had made a decision that, although risky, seemed like the only way out: to buy Judith's father's company to help her with their financial troubles. She knew this was not a romantic gesture, far from it, but she couldn't stand by and watch Judith lose everything. The problem was that her own family had begun pressuring her in an unbearable way.
Her parents, tired of seeing her without a partner, had come to the conclusion that Mel was asexual. And the most painful part was that they no longer cared whether she married a man or a woman; all they wanted was for her not to be alone. To make matters worse, her grandfather Rupert—a man with old-fashioned views but undeniable influence within the family—had set a brutal condition: he demanded that Mel give him a great-grandchild soon. He didn't care who she married; he just wanted the heir to carry his blood.
Mel flatly refused. She didn't want her life dictated by someone else's whims, much less by a grandfather obsessed with seeing the family line perpetuated. But Rupert wouldn't accept her refusal and issued the threat that made her tremble the most: if she didn't comply, he would strip her of the company presidency. And without that power, Mel would lose the ability to continue helping Judith.
She couldn't allow it. Not because she felt love for Judith—they had barely exchanged more than a few words in their lives—but because she owed her something. A debt she had never confessed, but one that was engraved deep in her heart.
When she was in college, Mel had gone through one of the darkest periods of her life. Although popular, beloved, charismatic, and seemingly confident, inside she was consumed. She had never been able to fall in love. The thought of being asexual terrified her—not because she rejected that identity, but because she also dreamed of a happy marriage, a family like her parents, her uncles, or even her cousins. In her family, everyone seemed to have found their soulmate, and that made her feel defective, broken.
One rainy afternoon, the pressure finally broke her. She walked alone across campus under a relentless downpour, her mind a whirlwind of questions and anguish. "What's wrong with me? Why can't I love?" she repeated over and over. Unknowingly, her steps led her to the campus lake. She was in a trance, ready to give in, to let herself be carried away by the emptiness in her chest.
But she was not alone. Judith, who had taken shelter under a tree to escape the storm, saw her approach. And realizing where Mel was headed, she ran after her, soaked through without hesitation. She reached her just as Mel was about to step into the water, grabbing her firmly by the shoulders. Pretending indifference to hide her own panic, she spoke words that would be etched forever in Mel's memory:
—The exams have been insane… sometimes I wish it would all end quickly so I could rest, but I won't give anyone the satisfaction of seeing me give up—not even myself—Judith said in a strong voice, as if speaking of herself.
Mel looked at her, stunned, her eyes filling with tears that mingled with the rain. It took her several seconds to react, to realize where she was and what she had almost done. Finally, with a fragile smile barely held together by the sweetness of that unexpected rescue, she replied:
—We should head back to our dorms. After all, we're already soaked.
Judith smiled too, though inside she was terrified. She knew what she had seen. She knew that if she hadn't been there, Mel would have crossed a line of no return. But she chose to remain silent, as if nothing had happened.
And that was why, now, Mel felt she owed her life.
At that moment, Mel had regained her reason thanks to those simple words from Judith. She had been too immature back then, easily swept away by any emotion. That brief yet precise intervention had changed the course of her life at a decisive moment.
Over time, Mel discovered that Judith was the daughter of the CEO of her father's direct competitor. Although they often crossed paths at events, they never exchanged a word; a wall of silence and family rivalry separated them that no one dared to break. Years later, when Mel became the new CEO of her family's company, she assumed Judith would be her greatest rival, convinced she would inherit the leadership of the Preston company. However, that was not the case: the presidency fell to Judith's younger brother, who soon brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy.
When Mel learned of such a disaster, she did not hesitate to appear at Mr. Preston's office with a proposal. Her intentions were sincere: to help the family of the girl who had once silently saved her. But the man, proud and wounded, received her with disdain, believing Mel wanted to humiliate him. He even coldly kicked her out of his office.
Before leaving, Mel calmly told him where he could find her if he changed his mind. And that was exactly what happened: desperate and out of options, Mr. Preston appeared later at Castle Enterprises, waiting more than two hours while Mel attended a crucial meeting. When she finally emerged, he confronted her directly in her office:
—What do you want in exchange for helping us? —he asked, his tone harsh.
Mel looked at him calmly, neither offended nor losing her composure.
—If I need anything, I'll let you know, Mr. Preston. But right now, I want nothing.
And it was true. She sought no gain, no favors; she only wanted to extend a hand to Judith's family.
Mr. Preston found himself between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, he knew that accepting help from his competitor was extremely risky, in short, a foolish move. But he had no other options. On the other hand, there was his family, who shouldn't have to pay for mistakes he himself had caused. In an act of resentment and frustration toward Judith, he handed the company over to his youngest son, who had never been prepared, as Judith had, to assume the role of CEO.
At that moment, Mr. Preston cursed himself for giving the company to his youngest son, simply because Judith had, some time ago, confided her sexual orientation to him. That revelation had deeply affected him, and blinded by pride, he had entrusted the presidency to an inexperienced child. However, over time, he came to accept Judith's partner and, although belatedly, recognized that the true value of people lies in who they are, not in their preferences.
Finally, Mr. Preston sighed with resignation.—My family must not suffer under any circumstances —he said, looking at her firmly.
—Your family will be fine, Mr. Preston —Mel assured him calmly.
And so, the deal was sealed. Mel took the reins of both companies and, for three months, worked day and night to solve the problems threatening to collapse the Preston empire. Six months later, the situation was under control and ready to return to its rightful owners.
But then came the pressure from the Castles. At first, Mel paid little attention; she was used to their comments, the insinuations about her private life. However, the threat from her grandfather Rupert shook her. That very day, he had temporarily stripped her of the presidency and given her a cruel ultimatum: she would have three months to marry someone and a year and a half to give him a great-grandchild.
With her hands tied, Mel watched as her accounts were frozen, her resources restricted, and she was even assigned an assistant (Robert) to organize her dates, as if her life were a showcase. Furious, she stormed into her parents' house, demanding that they make her grandfather see reason. But they were trapped too: Rupert had planned everything in advance. The next day he would send them on a cruise, and if they didn't obey, Mel would be left with nothing, and they wouldn't be able to protect her either.
The mere thought of their only daughter being unprotected filled them with panic, forcing them to accept the patriarch's conditions, even if it meant betraying their daughter's trust.
The next day, Mel tried to speak calmly with her grandfather again. However, he reminded her of something that always infuriated her.
—You're good at everything, Mel Castle, and yet with all your qualities, you haven't been able to find someone to marry and give this family an heir… —he stated gravely.
Those words churned her stomach. Mel knew it well: she was considered the perfect girl, but to this day, no one had ever made her feel butterflies.
—I don't care if it's a woman or a man, I want you to marry, start a family, and give us an heir to carry our blood. I know there are many ways to give me a great-grandchild in case you try to deceive me or play me for a fool. Also, I want you to give that child what your parents gave you: a happy family. And a family, Mel, is made of two, not one person alone —he emphasized sternly.
Mel clenched her fists in frustration before replying:
—You want me to marry without love? —she asked, annoyed, her voice heavy with restrained anger.
—I did it with your grandmother, may she rest in peace. Your great-grandparents chose her for me, and thanks to their good judgment, I ended up hopelessly in love with her. So I'll do the same with you, since your parents won't act —he replied angrily, slamming his palm on the table.
Mel felt powerless. Her grandfather, with a hint of curiosity, noticed she wasn't reacting as expected. He decided to investigate and discovered that not only had she bought the competitor's company, but she also intended to return it. In less than twenty-four hours, he not only learned this but also believed that Mel was helping the Preston daughter because she felt something for her. Because the Preston son, though the youngest of the family, was already married to an artist.
The grandfather assumed the two girls had known each other since university, although Mel had been a semester ahead. The truth was they knew each other, but only because of that campus incident, and it wasn't even worth mentioning that Mel felt nothing for Judith.
Now, in front of him, was the answer and the solution to the problem with his granddaughter. On a sheet in the huge folder of suitors that Robert, Mel's dating assistant, maintained, was Judith's name. She had initially been dismissed for being engaged. However, upon discovering this feat—as he called it—she became the top candidate among all the others.
And the fact that Judith was happily engaged was an insignificant detail. His granddaughter was better than anyone else; the perfect girl, not just according to the family, but recognized by society, as friends, partners, investors, and acquaintances had all given his granddaughter that title. He was convinced that Judith would ultimately fall at Mel's feet. His goal was clear: Mel had to marry.
Seeing his granddaughter's stubbornness—a trait shared by almost everyone in the family—he moved on to his next plan: to gauge Mel and find out how far she was willing to go to protect the Preston daughter.
—I don't understand why, after all these months, you haven't gotten rid of the Preston company. We should have already merged with them, yet all these documents indicate that you plan to return it… —he accused, his voice full of reproach.
Mel wasn't the type of person to easily show her emotions, but this time was different. Her grandfather realized immediately: his granddaughter cared more about that girl than he had imagined.
Then he smiled cunningly, stepping closer to her to deliver the next move: blackmail.
—If you don't accept what I'm asking right now, forget about returning the company to the Prestons. And if you agree to attend all the dates I've arranged for you, but in the end you don't get married, not only will I withhold the company from them: I'll make them fall into ruin. So the decision is yours now, Mel Castle —he stated without hesitation.
—I accept —Mel said, without wavering.
Her grandfather gave a slight smile at his granddaughter's response because, for him, it was now certain that she would marry.
Unbeknownst to Mel, her torment was just beginning: a full month of blind dates with men and women who not only didn't attract her physically, but were also bland, lacking empathy, and, in many cases, downright idiotic.
But that wasn't her only problem. She was supposed to return the company to the Prestons, but didn't yet have the authority to do so, which meant she had to speak to Mr. Preston and practically lie, saying the company had a minor issue and that she would return it as soon as it was resolved.
To Mel's surprise, Mr. Preston was neither impatient nor distrustful; on the contrary, he trusted her completely because she had saved his company.
The first time Mel saw the list of dates, she immediately dismissed Judith's name without even reading her profile and moved on to the next person. Everything seemed to get worse after each date she attended.
For years, Mel had been in control of her life, but now the lack of control suffocated her. When she realized she had already rejected all the candidates, she panicked. However, Robert, along with her personal assistant Sheldon, reminded her that Judith was the only one left.
The day she had no dates remaining, her grandfather learned immediately because Robert was required to report two important things: first, whether she had already decided whom to marry, or second, whether she had finished meeting everyone in that folder.
Mel's grandfather burst into her office, excitedly asking her whom she was going to marry. The assistant's report indicated that his granddaughter had no one left to date, so she must have already made her choice.
—No, Grandpa, I don't have anyone —Mel confessed, in the middle of her office.
Her grandfather, angrier than Mel had expected, was about to finalize the merger with the Prestons when Sheldon, in an attempt to help her, mentioned that Judith was the only one Mel hadn't gone on a date with.
At that moment, it seemed odd to her grandfather that she hadn't dated her, but he quickly rationalized it: the Preston daughter was engaged. Amid his thoughts, he also remembered an old report about an interaction between his granddaughter and the Preston girl: one day, Mel had gone to find Judith with flowers.
Her grandfather imagined a romantic encounter based on the report, but the truth was different. That day, Mel had indeed gone to see Judith to thank her: unknowingly, she had saved her life. But she wasn't bringing her flowers for Judith; rather, her friend Sara had asked her to deliver them to the girl she liked, who happened to be in the same dorm building as Judith. Yes, as you might be thinking: Mel had gone only as a flower delivery girl.
In the end, Mel didn't find Judith, because she had left campus the day before, due to the unfortunate passing of her grandfather. That last part wasn't included in the report given to Mel's grandfather—or rather, they hadn't discovered it. And so, the misunderstanding was born, enough for her grandfather to demand, without compromise, that Mel marry Judith.
—Since you won't choose, I'll do it for you, just like they did for me, Mel. You will marry the Preston daughter, because it's no mystery: they haven't yet repaid you for saving their company. Or what have they given you, Mel? Because right now, they have nothing good to offer you, right?
Mel froze. Everything her grandfather said was true, but that didn't justify what he was asking. Under no circumstances would she break the promise she had given to Mr. Preston, nor allow her family to suffer, and certainly not the girl who had saved her that rainy day. She felt a knot in her throat and a chill running down her spine; her mind desperately searched for a way out that didn't exist.
—I don't have time, Mel. Either you accept, or they get nothing —her grandfather blackmailed her, his voice firm and his gaze relentless.
Mel closed her eyes for a moment, trying to breathe and think desperately. Finally, with a heavy heart and a sigh that betrayed her uncertainty, she said:
—I accept —finally, Mel agreed, her throat tight.
Her grandfather smiled with satisfaction at seeing his goal fulfilled. He did not suspect, however, that Mel already had a plan in mind, one she intended to execute if she didn't find another way before the day she was to marry Judith.
That same day, she decided to go to the Preston mansion to inform Judith's parents of the terrible news.
—Excuse me? You want to marry my daughter to return the company to us? —Mr. Preston raised his voice, upset and incredulous.
Mel calmly explained everything, detailing her grandfather's pressure and the circumstances that had led her to that point. The Prestons listened attentively, though tense. Judith's mother, the more incomprehensible and furious of the two, was quick to react:
—You want my daughter to marry you because you can't find a partner like any normal person? —she said, fixing Mel with a look of disdain.
Both parents flatly refused her request. They demanded only that she return the company, threatening to reveal everything within their social circle if she refused.
For Mel, this became yet another obstacle. She knew her family's reputation and stability were at risk. If it got out that there might never be an heir, investors would start pulling out, and many opponents would seize the opportunity to manipulate shareholders in order to remove her from the CEO position. It would be chaos, not only for the business but also for the family, as everyone knew the rule: succession could only fall to the children of previous CEOs. Being the sole heir, there was no one else to inherit the position.
Aware of this reality, she had no choice but to claim the favor the Prestons owed her. She stood up firmly and declared:
—Since we won't reach an agreement, I will collect my favor: Judith must marry me.
She left the room, leaving the Prestons frozen, stunned. When they finally reacted, they argued at length. They searched a thousand ways to find another solution, but all roads led to the same point: Judith had to marry Mel.
Mr. Preston resigned himself, torn between impotence and the pain of being unable to protect his daughter. But Mrs. Preston was not ready to give up so easily.
With courage in her eyes, she went to confront Mel in her office. No sooner had she entered than she exploded:
—My daughter will never marry you. She is already engaged! —she shouted furiously.
Mel froze. She hadn't known. Had she known the day before, she would never have told her grandfather that she would marry Judith. All she could think in that moment was that this was a nightmare—a terrible nightmare that was growing darker and bigger by the minute.
She took a deep breath, holding back her desperation, and spoke with conviction:
—I've already told my grandfather that I will marry Judith, and if I back out now, I don't know what he might do —she said softly, measuring every word—. So, Mrs. Preston, here's what we'll do: I will marry Judith, but it will be in name only. She can continue with her fiancée. We will only be married for a year and a half, and after that, I will say that I've fallen in love with someone else…
—Then why not do it now? —she interrupted, angry, her face flushed with rage.
The silence became heavy. Mel knew every word plunged her further into an abyss of lies and sacrifices, but she also understood she had no other way out.
—Because my grandfather would never believe me —she warned—. Mrs. Preston, during the year and a half that I am married to Judith, we won't even see each other. She can live wherever she wants, as long as she is willing to go with my family when necessary. In the first year, my grandfather wants us to "get to know each other," so I will say we are traveling the world. And in the last six months, before we divorce, we will only live together under the same roof, but in separate rooms. After that, she will be free to marry her fiancée…
—And you think that will work? If your grandfather can go as far as assigning bodyguards to make sure you're with my daughter —she interrupted again, frustrated.
—I know, Mrs. Preston. And the only thing I can think of is this —Mel replied, annoyed, though she quickly chastised herself for losing her composure.
She took a deep breath and added solemnly:
—I give you my word that I will not come near your daughter during the time we are married.
Mrs. Preston watched her with incredulity and barely contained anger before concluding:
—I hope that, this time, you keep your word. —And she left the office with determined steps.
What no one present could have imagined was that that day marked the beginning of a rollercoaster of emotions for Judith. She felt crushed, powerless, and deeply frustrated. That very night, she wept bitterly in the arms of her fiancée, Amber.
They had fought so hard for their families to accept their love, and now, because of Mel—whom she considered an egocentric, wealthy, and heartless woman—all that happiness was crumbling before her eyes.
Outraged, Amber suggested running away and starting a new life in another country, far from intrigues and family pressures. But Judith refused. She could not leave her family unprotected, in the hands of the powerful Castle family. There would be no peace in her heart knowing that her loved ones suffered because of someone else's ego. With her soul in pieces, she confessed to Amber that she was going to marry Mel.
Amber couldn't bear it, and their relationship broke. However, the next day, Judith's mother sought out Amber and explained what Mel had promised: a fictitious marriage, a year and a half of appearances, and then freedom. Amber hesitated, but Mrs. Preston encouraged her: "It's just another test. If your love is real, you'll overcome it," she said decisively.
Finally, Amber accepted and returned to Judith's side, though the wound remained open.
On the day of Mel and Judith's wedding, Mel did not show up. She claimed she was dealing with a business issue in another country and asked that the papers be sent to her wherever she was. Mel's grandfather, upon hearing this, erupted in fury over her behavior, while her parents remained perplexed, unsure of how to react, as the other bride waited.
In the end, all that was necessary was for her to sign and leave, and the officiant declared them wives, even though one of them was not present.
When Mel arrived, her grandfather's reprimand lasted almost two hours. With extraordinary poise, Mel apologized, assuring that she would make it up to her "wife" that very day, having purchased tickets for a world tour to get to know each other, just as her grandfather had requested.
She temporarily left the presidency to her grandfather and set off… but not toward Judith. In reality, Mel headed to the airport to catch a flight and begin her solo journey around the world, leaving behind the wedding and everyone's expectations, determined to live the adventure she had always dreamed of, even if it meant postponing any encounter with Judith.
And so began the most dangerous charade of her life.