"It was not easy for Nicolas to lose the person on the motorcycle. He had been chasing them for almost half an hour. He did not know who he was, but he could see that his presence upset the girl. In the end, Nicolas realized that the best way to get the man away was to take the girl to his house. He lived in an exclusive complex, so the guy would be stuck trying to get in, which would give the girl time to stop seeing him and calm down.
After parking in front of his house, he touched the shoulder of the girl who was crying silently, but with such great pain that Nicolas' own heart ached. "Are you all right?" Nicolas touched the girl's arm. "We've already lost them."
Mia had been watching through the car's mirror the whole time, seeing how Esteban was chasing them and signaling them to stop. She hadn't been paying much attention to the road, so she didn't know where she was. When she realized that she had gotten into the car of a stranger, she was afraid of what could happen to her because of her carelessness. "Where are we?" Mia dared to ask after a while. "We're at my house. I didn't know where else to go."
Mia looked down at her cell phone and decided to send a message to Rebeca to pick her up. But at that moment, a call from Esteban's number came, followed by many messages. When she saw that the girl didn't answer, Esteban was quite worried to see how Mia left with a stranger. Not only did Esteban call, but Mia also had calls and messages from Rebeca and Sara, worried about her whereabouts. Although in the end, something in Mia told her to trust Nicolas. She felt comfortable and safe. "I'm fine, don't worry. Just tell my grandparents that I'm with you."
After that, Mia turned off her cell phone. She wanted to be calm at least for the rest of the night. Nicolas could only look at the girl with some intrigue, trying to decipher the complexity of the person in front of him. It was not what he thought. It seemed that she was always running away from something. "Do you want to come in?" Nicolas broke the silence in the car. "It's a little cold."
Mia didn't answer; she just gave him a sad smile in agreement and let the boy lead her inside the beautiful house. She wasn't aware of the path she was walking; she only knew that the boy's hands on her shoulders felt comforting.
"Stay in the living room. I'll go get a blanket," the boy said as he got up from the sofa. But before he could leave, he felt a small figure clinging to him. "It's okay. I'm not going anywhere," he reassured her.
"I can go with you. I just don't want to be alone," Mia whispered.
Nicolas took Mia's hand and led her to the room where there were blankets to take the chill off Mia's body. The girl had come out so quickly that she didn't think to protect herself from the cold of the night. Without realizing it, she was shivering, and her clothes were not the most suitable for the autumn night wind.
The boy approached the closet while Mia remained seated on the bed. In the end, neither of them returned to the sofa, but instead, they hugged each other on the bed. Mia refused to let Nicolas' strong arms leave her waist, and after a few minutes, the two of them fell asleep.
Nicolas' faint heartbeat completely calmed Mia. The girl who always needed medicine to sleep was so relaxed that her face stopped being sad and showed a tenderness that few knew. This put a smile on Nicolas' face. It had been so long since a girl had slept on his chest that his heart was on fire.
The sun's rays coming through the open curtains of Nicolas' room woke up Mia, who was wrapped in the same blanket that the boy had taken out the night before. The smell of Nicolas' strong and imposing perfume snuck through Mia's nose, making her smile. The warmth of the memories from the night before made her feel like she was in a fairy tale. Mia got out of bed and took one of Nicolas' cardigans from the closet. It reached her mid-thigh, and she realized that the boy who had saved her twice the night before was even taller than Esteban, almost as tall as Ivan, her friend's boyfriend. She then realized that her cell phone had been turned off since the night before and that her friends were probably very worried about her. Mia didn't know how to face Nicolas after causing her so much trouble the night before. She also felt ashamed that she had used him as a pillow, even though she had felt comfortable with his company. The shame made her want to run away from there as fast as possible
Mia's grandparents were in the foyer of the house when the girl entered. They were expecting a scolding from her grandmother and a look of disappointment from her grandfather, but none of that happened. They were both smiling as if they didn't know that she had run away from the party, but if they called Rebeca it was because they already knew. "Did you have fun with your friends?" Her grandfather was the first to approach Mia. "A lot, Grandpa" Mia didn't know what was going on, but when her grandfather firmly took her hand, she knew that something was wrong at that moment. The man guided his granddaughter into the living room, where she could see more people. Her grandmother was smiling at her, and it was clear that something was not normal, causing alarms to go off for Mia. "She is quite beautiful," a middle-aged man stood up to welcome her. "Right, Nicolas?" That name made Mia look at the person standing next to the man. It was him, the guy who saved her the night before, the
Mia got into Nicolas' car, holding her grandfather's head. She felt guilty for being the one to blame for her grandfather fainting. She was determined to break off the engagement, and her emotions overcame her, causing tears to run down Mia's cheeks like a river. "Don't worry, he will be fine," Nicolas saw the girl in the rearview mirror and felt the need to comfort her. "The hospital is not far away, and you will see that everything will be fine." "Grandpa, please open your eyes," the girl wanted to believe what Nicolas was telling her, but seeing the situation, she couldn't help but think the worst. "Dada, I'll do whatever you say, but please wake up." While it was true that Nicolas wanted to marry Mia, in the end, he knew that his parents had played dirty to get the great Arthur Brown to give as a guarantee to his granddaughter. The truth was that the great empire had suffered many losses in recent years, and Arthur was too old to take over the management of such a large business
At the hospital, a team of doctors and nurses was already prepared to assist Arturo. It was Nicolas' parents who called the hospital and followed their son's car, with Mrs. Brown inside. Despite the chaos, the only one who couldn't maintain her composure was Mia. Her grandmother, who knew what was happening, remained calm. After all, the couple had lived together for 60 wonderful years, and she knew that the end was near. Besides, it was not Arturo's first attack. "Grandma, Grandpa, me..." Mrs. Brown considered telling her granddaughter that this was normal, but she and her husband knew they had to make Mia accept it. "Calm down, Miranda. Everything will be fine, but I hope you understand that your grandfather and I only want the best for you," Mrs. Brown said sternly. "No more childish scandals. You must obey us." "I'll do whatever you ask of me from now on," Mia said. Mrs. Brown knew that her granddaughter's will was not very strong, but she had grown up sheltered from the family
Mia was weak, so Nicolas had to carry her almost the entire way to her grandfather's room. He found the old man connected to monitoring machines, appearing to be asleep but with a worried and guilty expression on his face. He had never wanted to sell his granddaughter and didn't want her life to be marked by duty, but he had no choice. The decision weighed heavily on him."Grandma, go eat something," Mia said. "I want to talk to my grandfather for a while." Mrs. Brown approached her husband and kissed him goodbye, knowing it might be the last time. The kiss caused the man to open his eyes as if he wanted to see the face of his life partner."I haven't taught them to live without me yet," Arturo said with a broken voice, looking at the two women he loved most in his life."It was long enough to love you," Mrs. Brown replied, her voice shaking.Arturo's gaze shifted to Mia and then down to the waist of the girl who was being held up by Nicolas. This brought some peace to his heart, know
The Brown Empire was coveted by many, and this led Mia to mature overnight. She stopped thinking about trivial things that had worried her until that morning. She almost laughed when she saw a message from her ex-boyfriend on her cell phone. She used to yearn for that to happen, but now it didn't matter to her anymore. She no longer wanted to be his girlfriend when she had to be another man's wife. A man who had embraced her, trying to hold her up so that she wouldn't fall. It was as if he didn't want her to suffer, but in the end, nothing mattered anymore. The past was buried, and now the future of her surname was all that mattered to her.Nicolas took Mia out of the hospital and asked her to rest. She hadn't slept well since the previous night. He also offered to take care of the funeral arrangements and other things. In the end, he had known from the beginning that his family was bankrupt, and it was an open secret among the businessmen. But with the merger of the companies, not on
On the journey to the hotel, during the time it took Nicolas to inform his parents that they had arrived, Mia settled into the room. However, Nicolas's mood soured as a photo of Mia reached his cell phone – a photo taken on the morning of their wedding day. There she was, wearing her wedding dress, locked in an embrace and sharing a passionate kiss with a man whose face remained hidden from view. The sight of Mia, tears streaming down her face as she kissed a man who wasn't him, erased the calmness from Nicolas's voice, replacing it with a rabid ferocity."Why did you kiss him just before marrying me?" His words dripped with a seething anger as he burst into the room, demanding an explanation from his newly-wedded wife."You're such a slut," Nicolas's formerly composed tone had vanished, replaced by the snarl of a wounded beast."Because it's him I love. He's the one I want to be with," Mia retorted defiantly."You're repulsive.""I'm repulsive? What about you, who bought a wealthy wi
Upon arriving back in the country, they got into a car, leaving Mia with no chance to escape, once again."Are you going to stay like this the whole way?" Nicolas was tired of the lifeless expression on Mia's face. Since disembarking the plane, she seemed devoid of soul, as if her body had lost all its vitality. "Do you want me to stop for breakfast? It's still a long way to our house.""I'm not hungry.""I didn't know you lived on air. You're the perfect woman for a poor man, very cheap. Honestly, marrying me wasn't worth it.""I thought the same thing, but you insisted on buying me."Nicolas didn't say anything; he simply continued to drive, aiming to reach their destination as quickly as possible. With the threat of his wife's escape looming, they were well-prepared. Two SUVs led the way, and two more followed behind, ensuring that no one could take Mia away. The couple's new home was a grand mansion nestled within a forest. It was far from the city, and cellphone reception was poo
The days in Nicolas' mansion seemed to stretch endlessly. Mia found herself trapped in her room, her voluntary prison, contemplating the life she had left behind and the love she yearned for with all her heart. The distance from Esteban made her suffer, and the coldness with which she treated Nicolas only made things worse. Every attempt he made to get closer to her was met with icy glances and sharp words.However, deep in her heart, Mia knew that she couldn't go on like this forever. Nullifying the marriage and returning the money Nicolas had given to her family was an option, but the reality of her deceased grandfather and the responsibility she now had over the Brown empire forced her to consider other alternatives.One afternoon, while wandering through the mansion's expansive garden, Mia made a decision. She decided it was time to take a step toward peace, even if it was a small one. She approached Nicolas, who was sitting by the pool, gazing at the reflection of the sun on the
Things in the mansion were far from good. Arguments were constant, and Mia lived in profound darkness. She cried from the moment she woke up, barely ate, and when she wasn't crying, she was fighting with Nicolas. Things couldn't be worse; it was all torture. Her room was the only place where she felt a little peace, although Nicolas would barge in from time to time to argue."Don't cry anymore, please. Forgive me. I swear I'm not like this. I don't know why, but you always bring out the worst in me," Nicolas felt like his world was going to hell every time he saw her cry. But his ego wouldn't let him set her free."Don't touch me. I told you I'm disgusted by you," Mia responded with anger. It was the only thing she could control.In the end, Nicolas always gave in, leaving in silence, hoping that one day she would love him. But it seemed like her hatred for him grew every day, that the repulsion for him was getting bigger. It was the worst feeling, having the person he loved leave him
Solitude was something Mia cherished in that house, a place that always seemed crowded with people who watched her every move, waiting for her to make a mistake so they could report it to Nicolas. Meanwhile, fury consumed him. He longed for the right to barge into the bathroom and take a shower with his wife, but it wasn't possible. She would kick him out, so he retreated to the garden, as far away as he could, to contain his rage."I brought you more coffee," Ana resumed her duties as a secretary swiftly. By the end of the first week, Nicolas hardly spoke to anyone."Don't you want to join me?" Nicolas sought to regain control of his life after a week of alcohol and solitude."You already have your wife for that.""Please, Ana, have a seat.""I'm sure your wife will get angry.""Just sit down," Nicolas's tone was much calmer than the one he used with his wife. "Being married doesn't mean we can't be friends.""You could have at least told me.""It was all over the news, Ana. You coul
Upon arriving back in the country, they got into a car, leaving Mia with no chance to escape, once again."Are you going to stay like this the whole way?" Nicolas was tired of the lifeless expression on Mia's face. Since disembarking the plane, she seemed devoid of soul, as if her body had lost all its vitality. "Do you want me to stop for breakfast? It's still a long way to our house.""I'm not hungry.""I didn't know you lived on air. You're the perfect woman for a poor man, very cheap. Honestly, marrying me wasn't worth it.""I thought the same thing, but you insisted on buying me."Nicolas didn't say anything; he simply continued to drive, aiming to reach their destination as quickly as possible. With the threat of his wife's escape looming, they were well-prepared. Two SUVs led the way, and two more followed behind, ensuring that no one could take Mia away. The couple's new home was a grand mansion nestled within a forest. It was far from the city, and cellphone reception was poo
On the journey to the hotel, during the time it took Nicolas to inform his parents that they had arrived, Mia settled into the room. However, Nicolas's mood soured as a photo of Mia reached his cell phone – a photo taken on the morning of their wedding day. There she was, wearing her wedding dress, locked in an embrace and sharing a passionate kiss with a man whose face remained hidden from view. The sight of Mia, tears streaming down her face as she kissed a man who wasn't him, erased the calmness from Nicolas's voice, replacing it with a rabid ferocity."Why did you kiss him just before marrying me?" His words dripped with a seething anger as he burst into the room, demanding an explanation from his newly-wedded wife."You're such a slut," Nicolas's formerly composed tone had vanished, replaced by the snarl of a wounded beast."Because it's him I love. He's the one I want to be with," Mia retorted defiantly."You're repulsive.""I'm repulsive? What about you, who bought a wealthy wi
The Brown Empire was coveted by many, and this led Mia to mature overnight. She stopped thinking about trivial things that had worried her until that morning. She almost laughed when she saw a message from her ex-boyfriend on her cell phone. She used to yearn for that to happen, but now it didn't matter to her anymore. She no longer wanted to be his girlfriend when she had to be another man's wife. A man who had embraced her, trying to hold her up so that she wouldn't fall. It was as if he didn't want her to suffer, but in the end, nothing mattered anymore. The past was buried, and now the future of her surname was all that mattered to her.Nicolas took Mia out of the hospital and asked her to rest. She hadn't slept well since the previous night. He also offered to take care of the funeral arrangements and other things. In the end, he had known from the beginning that his family was bankrupt, and it was an open secret among the businessmen. But with the merger of the companies, not on
Mia was weak, so Nicolas had to carry her almost the entire way to her grandfather's room. He found the old man connected to monitoring machines, appearing to be asleep but with a worried and guilty expression on his face. He had never wanted to sell his granddaughter and didn't want her life to be marked by duty, but he had no choice. The decision weighed heavily on him."Grandma, go eat something," Mia said. "I want to talk to my grandfather for a while." Mrs. Brown approached her husband and kissed him goodbye, knowing it might be the last time. The kiss caused the man to open his eyes as if he wanted to see the face of his life partner."I haven't taught them to live without me yet," Arturo said with a broken voice, looking at the two women he loved most in his life."It was long enough to love you," Mrs. Brown replied, her voice shaking.Arturo's gaze shifted to Mia and then down to the waist of the girl who was being held up by Nicolas. This brought some peace to his heart, know
At the hospital, a team of doctors and nurses was already prepared to assist Arturo. It was Nicolas' parents who called the hospital and followed their son's car, with Mrs. Brown inside. Despite the chaos, the only one who couldn't maintain her composure was Mia. Her grandmother, who knew what was happening, remained calm. After all, the couple had lived together for 60 wonderful years, and she knew that the end was near. Besides, it was not Arturo's first attack. "Grandma, Grandpa, me..." Mrs. Brown considered telling her granddaughter that this was normal, but she and her husband knew they had to make Mia accept it. "Calm down, Miranda. Everything will be fine, but I hope you understand that your grandfather and I only want the best for you," Mrs. Brown said sternly. "No more childish scandals. You must obey us." "I'll do whatever you ask of me from now on," Mia said. Mrs. Brown knew that her granddaughter's will was not very strong, but she had grown up sheltered from the family
Mia got into Nicolas' car, holding her grandfather's head. She felt guilty for being the one to blame for her grandfather fainting. She was determined to break off the engagement, and her emotions overcame her, causing tears to run down Mia's cheeks like a river. "Don't worry, he will be fine," Nicolas saw the girl in the rearview mirror and felt the need to comfort her. "The hospital is not far away, and you will see that everything will be fine." "Grandpa, please open your eyes," the girl wanted to believe what Nicolas was telling her, but seeing the situation, she couldn't help but think the worst. "Dada, I'll do whatever you say, but please wake up." While it was true that Nicolas wanted to marry Mia, in the end, he knew that his parents had played dirty to get the great Arthur Brown to give as a guarantee to his granddaughter. The truth was that the great empire had suffered many losses in recent years, and Arthur was too old to take over the management of such a large business