Alexander Williams, a multimillionaire tycoon and owner of Williams Construction, took Valentina, a stunningly curvy woman, as his wife. This match was orchestrated by the elder Williams, who tirelessly awaited his son's decision to settle down. Yet, as the playboy heir showed no signs of reformation, his father was left with no choice but to coerce him into the marriage with Valentina.

The first time she laid eyes on Alexander, her world brightened—it was love at first sight. The exceedingly handsome man, with his brown locks, tall and muscular build, and piercing blue eyes, was the embodiment of her dreams.

For Alexander, however, Valentina represented the antithesis of his desires. His addiction laid with model-esque figures and golden-haired beauties—these were his weakness, his downfall.

Valentina was far from appealing in his eyes, her voluptuous body carrying a few extra pounds. It wasn't that she was overweight; her ample chest and rear gave her a larger appearance.

Marrying Valentina was a bitter pill for Alexander, and their wedding night was nothing short of hellish for her. What she had hoped would be a gentle and romantic initiation turned into a brutal encounter. It was her first time, and he showed not an ounce of mercy.

Despite Alexander's cold demeanour, Valentina couldn't have been more different: kind, affectionate, attentive, doting, she loved Alexander deeply.

"Good evening, Mrs. Williams," greeted her husband's assistant.

"Hello, Kelly. Please, don't announce me."

"But..."

"I'm asking you," Valentina pleaded with a pout.

With a sigh, Kelly relented, nodding.

For Valentina, tonight felt like a defining moment in her life, a hope that perhaps this news would bring her and her husband closer.

Upon reaching her husband's office, she was met with raised voices.

"How much longer?"

"Lore, please, keep it down. I'll do it tonight, look, I've got the papers," Alexander showed.

"This better be real, Alexander."

"I promise, darling. You know you're the only woman that matters to me." Valentina's heart raced, her hands trembling.

"I love you so much, my love. I can't wait to be your wife, the one waiting for you at home. I promise I'll make you happy and that we’ll have many children," Lore whispered, moving closer and kissing Alexander passionately.

"You look stunning today," he complimented, with a firm squeeze on her behind.

"All yours, my love," she gasped under his touch.

Valentina had to cover her mouth, intending to surprise her husband, yet it was she who was taken aback, her heart shattered. She had never heard her husband say "I love you," compliment her, or invite her to dinner. He had never shown Valentina such affection.

Hearing that woman moan and her husband's grunts of pleasure was too much. Reeling from the shock, she stepped back as if wishing to fade from existence, to avoid hearing more. As she stumbled back, expecting to fall, strong arms caught her.

"Are you okay?"

She shook her head, breaking down in tears. She tried to pull away, make her exit, but he grasped her hand.

"Don't go! Can I help with anything?"

She glanced one last time at the office door, and so did the man, understanding a fraction of her plight from the continuing moans.

"I'm Felipe Gutenberg."

"Please, take me away from here," Valentina whispered.

Chivalrously, Felipe took her hand, and they walked toward the exit. The assistant didn't enjoy Valentina's pain but felt it was time she realized her husband's infidelity.

Once outside the company,

"Where to?" Felipe asked.

"I... I just want to cry somewhere."

"Shall I take you home?"

"No." Valentina met his gaze, her honey eyes reflecting her sorrow.

"Alright, I'll take you somewhere else."

At a bar, Valentina had never touched alcohol before. At 23, she always lived healthily and with principles.

"You should take it slow."

"I'm just so sad."

"Don't cry, you're beautiful."

"Then why doesn't my husband love me?"

"Because he's an idiot!"

Valentina fell silent, realizing from her watch that her husband must be home.

"I suppose he didn't even notice I was gone," she mumbled. "I must go now. It was a pleasure, Mr...."

"Gutenberg."

"Right..." Valentina said, standing up.

"I'll drive you."

"No, I'm sorry... for wasting your time, goodbye."

Dizzy after only a few sips due to her unaccustomed drinking, Valentina hailed a taxi, leaving Felipe puzzled and concerned.

As the taxi drove, she cried once more, even stirring empathy in the driver. Gazing out the window, she reminisced about her wedding, longing for a hint of a smile from her husband, who was colder than ice.

Upon arriving at the Williams mansion, she paid the taxi and with a heavy heart looked up at her home. With a bitter smile, she entered the mansion.

Unexpectedly, Alexander was waiting, pacing anxiously in the main lounge.

"Where the hell have you been, Valentina?"

"Hello, dear husband," she greeted him with a sad smile, her eyes brimming with tears.

She continued towards her room.

"Valentina, we need to talk!" Alexander shouted, surprised to see her cry—a rare sight indeed.

Turning to face him, the alcohol had its mild effect.

"What's gotten into you?" Alexander demanded, incensed by Valentina's strange behaviour.

"Dear husband, your eagerness for my return home isn't borne out of concern or love, or a desire to see me. It isn't due to appreciation for my care. Rather, you've come determined to ask for a divorce... Isn't that right?"

Alexander made a gesture of distaste.

"You apparently want it too," he said.

"Me?" Valentina frowned, tears streaming down her cheek, "What I want most is to have your love, but you... you're already looking to divorce me to rush into the arms of your lover."

"Great! I'm glad you know. It saves us from having a silly conversation."

"Silly? You're heartless! Didn't you come to appreciate me at all?" Valentina felt as if a knife was plunging through her heart.

"I never felt anything for you; you're not my type. You're too intense. I married out of obligation for an heir; you couldn't even give me a child."

"You only touched me once, damn it!" she screamed with all her might, leaving Alexander dumbfounded. "It was my first time, and you were a brute! Is that how you wanted me to have your child?"

"What you won't do to me, you do to your mistress. I wish you had once made me moan the way you did to her just hours ago in your office. I wish I had ever heard you gasp with pleasure, but no, you despise me! And I... I was also forced to marry you."

Alexander Williams is stunned.

"You want to divorce me to run to the arms of that woman, she loves you and you love her, while I... I... Alexander, didn't you feel any remorse? I'm the one who takes care of your things, your diet, I live more for you than for myself, and you don't love me?"

"I could never love a woman like you! I can't tell you how much I long to divorce you and give Lore the place she deserves. I loved Lore long before I met you, but my father forced me to marry you, a woman I only despise, because Lore was supposed to be my one and only wife. You ruined everything!"

Valentina felt the knife pierce her heart again with that confession.

"You can't divorce me, even if you want to. It's stipulated that you can't do it unless I agree."

"I refuse to be tied for life to a woman like you! I suggest you sign the divorce papers so we can end this charade."

"I won't sign! I won't do it just so you can run to the arms of that woman."

"Then I will make your life a living hell!"

"You always have!" she cried out in agony.

"Then give me the damn divorce!"

Valentina begins to cry, and all she feels is the urge to run to her room.

"Valentina!" Alexander growls and chases after her, but she manages to lock herself in the bedroom they share. It was a strict order from the boss; if Alexander didn't comply, he wouldn't be put in charge of the construction company. "Valentina!" he bangs on the door loudly. "Open up, damn it!" he shouted arrogantly.

Valentina enters the bathroom, turns on the faucet, and lets the water run over her body, soaking even the beautiful dress she was going to wear to break the news that she had been studying business administration online to work alongside him and spend more time together.

She is completely drenched.

"What do I do if I love him...? I love my husband, God help me," she pleads as she slides down the cold marble wall. "What do I do?" she clings to her legs while the water continues pouring over her body.

Many thoughts wander through Valentina's mind, making her cry out of despair.

Meanwhile, Alexander is in a devilish rage, needing only to divorce Valentina to be with the woman he loves, but Valentina will not yield to his demands.

The next day, Valentina is still sleeping and doesn't feel like getting up, especially since it's Sunday, the day her in-laws come for a family lunch. She always has everything ready on time, impeccable, but this time, her in-laws don't see what they expect every Sunday.

"Isn't there anyone in this house?" the boss speaks aloud.

"Good morning, Father," Alexander greets him, though upset, his parents must not know that he is seeking a divorce from Valentina.

"Good morning, dear. Where is Valentina?" his mother asks.

"She... is still sleeping."

"How could that be? Could it be that there's a baby on board? Women tend to sleep more when they're pregnant," Alexander's mother gets excited.

"Don't get your hopes up. She's just tired. I'll go get her, please wait a moment."

Alexander's parents exchange puzzled glances since Valentina is usually the first to greet them.

Alexander pounds on the door.

"Come in," Valentina commands as she looks in the mirror. He thought she was still asleep, even though she had just woken up.

"My parents have arrived," he informs her.

"I know," she replies, fixing her hair, her eyes no longer sparkling at the sight of her husband.

She walks past Alexander, but he grabs her arm.

"Be careful with what you do," he warns her.

Valentina pulls away from his grip, and without another word, they leave the room, Alexander behind her, discontented with Valentina's attitude.

"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Williams. I apologize for the delay," Valentina greets them with a smile.

"Good morning, dear. It's unlike you not to be here when we enter. Are you alright?" Mrs. Williams asks.

"Yes," she lies. But Mrs. Williams senses something is wrong. "I regret not receiving you as you deserve today. Please go ahead; I will call a chef to prepare a delicious lunch, as I feel a bit under the weather."

"What's the matter, dear?" the boss asks.

"Today is an important day for your son, Alexander. A day he has been eagerly awaiting. So... Dear, I hope you should be the one to break the great news to your parents," Valentina swallows hard. She has always been so reserved, but that betrayal and confession brutally wounded her heart. And maybe that's what filled her with courage because she has endured enough.

"What's this news, son?" Alexander's mother asks, all eyes fixed on him.

Alexander fixates his blue gaze on Valentina, whose own eyes reflect a profound emptiness within her heart.

Seeing that Alexander remains silent, Valentina speaks up.

"We should probably wait until after lunch," she suggests.

"Yes. Valentina is right. Please make yourselves comfortable, parents. I will call the chef to come to the mansion. Excuse us, but I need a moment alone with my wife. We won't be long."

Alexander takes her by the hand and leads her to their bedroom, where he locks the door upon entering.

"What are you trying to achieve, Valentina?" he asks impatiently.

"I want you to face the consequences of your actions," she retorts, only to be backed against the wall by Alexander.

She can feel his breath; it's pointless to hope for a kiss, a touch, yet all he wants is to push her away forever.

"Don't play games with me!" Alexander hisses through clenched teeth.

"You're the one playing games! I hope that when this comes to light, you find true happiness with that woman."

"Of course, I will. So after lunch, you should tell my parents that you no longer want to live with me, and that divorce is the only answer."

"I won't do it! For someone so tall and handsome, you really can't stand your ground," Valentina challenges him.

"You're quite feisty!"

"Because of you! You've brought out this defiance in me, but I refuse to comply, so last night I did some thinking," Valentina shoves past Alexander.

"Be straightforward," Alexander grows impatient.

"Do you want a divorce to be with her? Then it will be easy. Since you've suffered through three years of marriage with my unwelcome presence because I'm not enough for you, I have a proposition. It's this or nothing," Valentina states firmly, locking eyes with him, and then inadvertently, his lips.

"I won’t follow your rules!"

"Then think about how you'll tell your parents," she shoves Alexander aside, and he clenches his jaw in tension.

"Just tell them you don't want to be with me, and that's it, damn it!"

"No. I won't. Because what I overheard in your damned office yesterday broke my heart, but you don't care about that. If you've never had any consideration, then I owe you none," Valentina lifts her chin, holding back tears.

"What do you want in exchange for the damned divorce?" Alexander grunts.

She turns to look into his eyes.

"Pretend to love me for three months."

"What!?" Alexander frowns in disbelief.

"Just three months. Make me feel special. Take me out, kiss me, whisper sweet nothings in front of your parents, take me to your company's important events, work with me – make me a priority. And most importantly, have sex with me three times a week."

Hearing this, Alexander laughs heartily.

"We haven't got time for games, Valentina! My parents are waiting."

"Then don't keep them waiting any longer and accept my proposal."

"What do you stand to gain from all this?" Alexander looks at her with loathing.

"It doesn't matter! Just tell me if you accept or not; we’re running out of time," Valentina finds a strange satisfaction in watching the anguish on Alexander's face, which doesn't compare to the pain in her tiny heart – a wound he opened that almost made her wish for death.

"Nonsense! I don't want to kiss you, touch you – I don't want to!" Alexander's words hurt Valentina even more. "I had to get drunk on our wedding night just to have sex with you," another stab at her heart.

"Then sort out your problem! I won't waste any more time with you," she strides toward the door, but a desperate Alexander grabs her hand and pins her against the wall before she can leave.

Valentina's treacherous heart, masochistic in its thrumming, starts racing crazily.

"Just three months?" he asks between gritted teeth.

"Yes," she replies curtly.

"Let it be just three damned months! And sex just once a week," Alexander frowns.

"Twice, and I never want to know about your mistress at the company again. It's embarrassing. It must be the last time, or I'll tell your parents the truth about your cruelty."

"You're worse than I thought! I hate you even more!" Alexander growls arrogantly and leaves, Valentina collapsing into a sea of tears, knowing her husband hates instead of loves her. She cries to ease her heart, then touches up her makeup to hide the wound unseen but felt as a burning within.

Regaining her strength, Valentina returns to the living room where Alexander's parents are sipping wine and discussing the company.

The chef arrives just in time to start cooking.

"Why did you take so long, dear?" Alexander's mother asks, offering her a glass of wine, and is taken aback as Valentina downs it in one go. "Is everything alright, sweetheart?"

"I'm sorry, I was just very thirsty. It looks like we've run out of wine; I'll get another bottle," Valentina stands up.

"Wait, darling, I'll go," Alexander interjects, taking her hand. Despite the spark she feels hearing him call her 'darling,' she knows it's fake, all too fake.

"I'll go, don't worry."

"Then let's go together," he suggests, and they head to the minibar.

"Valentina, this isn't like you. My parents are getting suspicious; behave yourself. I won't say it again."

She ignores him, opens the wine, pours another glass, and drinks it deeply.

"Valentina!" Alexander chides, but he notices his mother approaching and quickly acts by kissing his wife's lips.