⚠️Yes, there will be spelling mistakes! Unfortunately I'm not fluent in English and I hope yours understand me.⚠️

It was a lively night at the club, friends Bryan and Logan were sitting at the bar chatting animatedly, when Bryan brought up the subject of his wedding, which was scheduled for next month.

Logan was excited and asked how the preparations were going, but noticed that Bryan looked a little down. He asked if everything was all right, and Bryan gave him a worried look.

— I don't know, Logan, I'm beginning to think that my fiancée's father is trying to trick me. — said Bryan.

Logan was surprised and asked what he meant by that. Bryan told him that he had a bad feeling, he trusted his instincts. Bryan didn't trust his fiancée's father, even though the marriage was by contract, which would generate benefits for both of them, he knew he had to be smart, he couldn't trust anyone, he had to keep his guard up.

— My fiancée's father can't be trusted, he was accused of trying to cheat some companies a few years ago, of course he was cleared, but that's enough for me not to trust him completely. Apart from the fact that he's starting to act strangely, Anton, my fiancée Emma's father, came to talk to me about getting married early. He even suggested that I get married in two weeks' time, and when I told him I wasn't going to do that, he got an annoyed look on his face and then left without saying anything. I need to be careful with this guy.

Logan frowned as he listened to the story. He tried to shed some light on the matter and asked if there was any possibility that it was just a misunderstanding, but of course, he told his friend not to let his guard down. 

— Of course, misunderstandings can happen, he could be having some personal problems. — said Bryan. — But I think it's more than that. He's been evasive when I ask him why he wants to speed up the wedding, he always comes up with some excuse or says he just wants to see his daughter married. He doesn't strike me as the kind of father who wants his daughter to get married, unless he's going to get something out of it, he's greedy, he only thinks of himself. 

Logan agreed that this sounded suspicious, but argued that perhaps Bryan was just suffering from pre-wedding anxiety. 

— Maybe you're looking for problems where there aren't any — he said. — It can be hard to trust others when you're responsible for a large sum of money, but maybe it's better to try to let go of that mistrust.

Bryan seemed relieved to talk about his fears with Logan. He thanked his friend and decided to take his advice and try not to worry so much. 

— You're right, maybe I am being paranoid. — he said. — I'll try not to worry so much, and if something's wrong, I'll find out in time.

Logan smiled and lifted his drink. 

— That's it, buddy. Let's drink to the success of your marriage, and to the benefits you've seen from it, and that everything goes according to plan. — he said.

The two friends then toasted and enjoyed themselves for the rest of the night in the club, putting their worries aside and enjoying each other's company.

. . .

It was dawn when Bryan drove his car down the deserted road, returning home after leaving the nightclub where he and his friend Logan had been drinking too much. He was so drunk that he could barely keep his eyes open. He stumbled over his words as he tried to sing a song on the radio, barely noticing that the road was starting to wind.

Suddenly, Bryan's car veered into the opposite lane and crashed violently into another vehicle coming in the opposite direction. The impact was so strong that Bryan's car's tires flew off, and the vehicle began to overturn several times until it finally came to a stop upside down on the side of the road.

The sound of the collision reverberated through the surroundings, and the driver of the other car got out of the vehicle, still dazed by the accident. He approached Bryan's car, which had been completely destroyed, and realized that the driver was unconscious. His eyes were closed, and his body was restrained by his seat belt.

The driver of the other car immediately called the emergency services and within minutes, a team of paramedics arrived on the scene. They managed to get Bryan out of the car and immediately took him to the nearest hospital.

Fortunately, Bryan survived the accident, but he was seriously injured and had to undergo several operations. His situation was complicated, he had to have surgery on his spine, perhaps this would have some consequences, perhaps he could become paraplegic, were one of the consequences. But he also fell into a coma, hit his head, and had to undergo several X-rays to check that the blows hadn't caused any problems. Fortunately, nothing happened, but it did leave him in a coma.

Bryan's family heard about it and went to the hospital. The news of the accident spread throughout the city, with all the news channels and websites talking about it. He was receiving a lot of criticism for driving drunk and putting people's lives in danger. This was perhaps the end of his reputation as a good guy, and even of his own career as a businessman. Bryan's family knew this, so his mother had the idea of getting her son married as soon as possible. Perhaps the news of the wedding and the merger of the Martínez and Miller companies would be enough to cover it up, or at least keep people's attention on other news, and stop the news of the accident getting out.

However, Bryan's mother Rebekah's plans went up in smoke when Emma, Bryan's fiancée, said she would no longer get married, she had learned that her fiancé might become paraplegic, and according to her, she would rather not be with a disabled man, she would rather not have to spend her whole life pushing a wheelchair, or appearing in front of cameras and at fancy parties with a man who couldn't walk.

Rebekah was furious and Emma's father, knowing what his daughter had done, apologized and said that Bryan could marry his youngest daughter, Petra. He also said that she was a well-behaved girl and would be an obedient wife. Rebekah, angry at Emma's words, accepted the deal, but said that Petra had to get married as soon as possible, even though Bryan was still in a coma.

Young Petra sat on the sofa in the living room, silently watching as her father spoke with Mr.  Miller, a man she had never seen before.  The words her father spoke were hard to hear, but Petra noticed the serious expression on Mr.  Miller and wondered what was going on.

Suddenly, Petra's father looked up and looked at her.

— Daughter, I have great news for you. — he said.  — You're about to get married.

Petra was shocked and disbelieving.

Her father explained that Mr.  Miller, was the father of Bryan Miller, Emma's fiancé.  However, due to the accident, Emma didn't want to get married anymore, Bryan needed a wife, so he had offered Petra to become his sister's surrogate bride, and marry Bryan.

Petra was outraged.  How could her father be so insensitive, forcing her to marry a man she didn't know.

She protested and tried to reason with her father, however, he was not open to negotiations, he had already decided everything.

She refused to be "sold" in this way, and began to argue with her father.

— Why does Emma have the right to choose and I don't? — asks Petra indignantly.

— Because Emma is already an adult, now you, you are a minor, I am responsible for you, so I command you.  — he says in a serious tone as he approaches Petra.  — and if I'm saying you're getting married, that's why you are.  The conversation ended.

So Anton leaves, leaving his daughter there, still processing what had been said by her father.

Petra runs up to her room and throws herself on the bed, she starts to cry.

— I see you already know about your fate.  — says Emma entering the room and staring at her sister who was lying on her stomach while sobbing.

— Go away. — Says Petra without looking at her sister.

Emma laughs and sits on the bed.

— Accept your fate dear little sister, you will forever be at the side of an invalid man. — she says, laughing.  — while I'll be traveling the world, spending money and buying whatever I want.  You will spend the rest of your life pushing your invalid husband in a wheelchair.

Petra could no longer bear to hear her sister's words, she got up abruptly from the bed and slapped her face, the impact was so strong that it made Emma fall out of bed, over her arm.

Anton appeared in the room and his gaze went straight to Emma, ​​who was writhing in pain on the floor as he held onto her arm.  He ran to his daughter and helped her up, Emma was crying as she said that her arm was hurting a lot.

The two directed their contemptuous gazes at Petra, but they didn't say anything, they just left, but Petra ended up hearing Emma say that she would take revenge.

Petra knew that her sister was capable of anything, so she was a little scared.  But now she had bigger problems, the damn marriage.

She had recently turned seventeen, and was already scheduled to be married, if that wasn't worse, she didn't know her fiancé.  Maybe he didn't even know about her existence.

Heartbroken by all these thoughts, Petra continued to cry as she wondered what would become of her life.

.  .  .

The sun was almost down, Petra walked slowly through the garden, her feet gliding smoothly over the stones in the path.  She looked around, noting the lush flowers and the cool breeze that blew across her face.  She wondered how she could feel so much sadness in such a beautiful place.  For a moment, Petra stopped and looked around, taking in the vibrant flowers and tall, stately trees that surrounded her.  It was such a beautiful place, she thought, and yet, she felt so trapped there.

It was hard for Petra to think about her life without feeling a wave of despair.  She was a teenager, but her life was governed by other people.  Her father especially seemed determined to control her in every way.

Petra sighed as she thought of the subject that troubled her the most.  The wedding, in which she was subjected to being a surrogate bride.

She never saw the man in question, but learned that he was a very rich man that her father had chosen for her sister, however, as a result of the facts, it would now be hers.  Petra didn't have much say in the matter-her father was very clear that she should marry him.

— It's like I don't have a choice. — Petra muttered to herself as she looked up at the sky.  — I feel so helpless.

Petra's father always did everything to make her feel powerless, rejected, humiliated.  Her mother died during childbirth, and since then, her father has mistreated her, because according to him, she is to blame for the death of Stella, the great love of his life.  So, since then, Anton can't stand his daughter, because Petra is very similar to Stella, and that makes him even more angry with her.

But, as Petra knew only too well, there was nothing she could do.  She just had to accept her fate, and try to make it at least bearable, so that she wouldn't suffer any more than she already was.

Petra had no idea what the future held, but for now, she focused on the present.  The beauty of the garden and the feel of the sun on her face helped her feel a little better.

So, she stayed there for a while, until she saw her father's car pulling up in front of the house.  Petra sighed tiredly and started walking towards her house, she knew the torment would start, but as long as she was living there, she would have to endure it.

That's why, in the midst of so many bad things, she saw in that marriage, a chance for her to escape that mediocre life she led.  But also, she was very afraid, afraid of leaving a bad place for a worse one.

Petra was terrified.  She was inside the hospital room, dressed in white, ready to marry a complete stranger.

A man she has never seen before.  It was her father who arranged it all, giving her no choice or opportunity to refuse.  She felt trapped in a situation that wasn't her choice, but she couldn't do anything to change it.

The man she was about to marry was in a coma after being in a car accident.  She felt a little relieved that she didn't have to face the physical act of marrying a complete stranger, but she was still apprehensive about the situation.

The priest began the ceremony, and Petra stood beside the unconscious groom, staring into his pale, still face.  She wondered who he was, what he did for a living when he wasn't working, what his interests and dreams were.  Would he have liked her if he'd been conscious?

Petra's thoughts were interrupted when the priest called her to the oath.  She hesitated for a moment, but ended up reading his pledges of love and fidelity.  She didn't know why she was doing this, she wasn't in love with him, but she knew she had to move on.

At the end of the ceremony, Petra kissed the unconscious groom's forehead, imagining what life would be like from that moment on.  A life without love, without choices, but with the weight of a wedding ceremony like a chain around her wrist.

And so, Petra left the hospital a wife, but not a happy bride.  She wondered if she would ever be able to fall in love, if she would ever have the chance to choose the man that was right for her.  But for now, she needed to deal with her new reality, and take care of a comatose and possibly paraplegic husband.

.  .  .

— You will stay in that room. — says Rebekah, Bryan's mother.  — but only until tomorrow, your house needs some maintenance work before you move there permanently.

— All good. — said Petra, pulling her suitcase into the room.  — Is the house very far from here?

Petra was very curious, but she was also relieved to know that she wasn't going to be staying in that house, with these people she didn't know.

— Your house is five kilometers from here. — says Rebekah.  — now go take a shower and improve that appearance.  I don't want people to say that my daughter-in-law looks like a beggar.

So she leaves, leaving Petra alone in that room, gaping.

What do you mean, a beggar?

Petra moved to the large mirror she had there and looked at herself closely, her casual clothes were normal, sure her hair needed a cut and a good moisturizer, but she didn't look that bad.

But about one thing, the witch, I mean, her mother-in-law was right.  She really needed a shower and a good rest.

So, Petra walked to the bathroom where she took a relaxing shower, did a quick conditioner to her hair and made a mental note to cut it later.

After getting out of the shower, Petra opens her suitcase and takes out a lace nightgown, she wanted to be comfortable to sleep a little.

When she finished getting dressed and had her hair in a bun, she heard a knock at the door.  Petra, thinking it was her mother-in-law, walked over to it and opened it.

But who was at the door was not Rebekah, but a man completely unknown to her.  The man in front of her should have been 1.90 tall, honey brown hair and blue eyes.  He wore business attire, and the look on his face made Petra uncomfortable.

— Who are you?  — Asked Petra trying to hide behind the door, so that the man would stop looking at her body.

— Excuse me, I'm Adrian, Bryan's brother — he says, extending his hand, but then lowers it when Petra makes no move to take it.

— I'm Petra.  Hey!  What are you doing?  — Said Petra when Adrian was entering her room without any invitation.

— I just want to meet my sister-in-law.  — He says looking at Petra's body, at that moment she felt as if she were naked, and tried to cover her body with her arms.

— Can you leave my room? — says Petra, pointing to the door. — I didn't invite you in.

— I was really curious when my father told me that Bryan was going to marry the youngest Martinez daughter. — says the man, sizing Petra up and practically devouring her with his gaze. — I've never seen you before, but now, I see you're even better than that bitch sister of yours, and even hotter.

— Get out of my room! — exclaims Petra, already getting very angry.

— Lower your tone, my mother told me you would make a good wife, calm and obedient.  — says the same with a smile of debauchery.  — I'm not seeing any of that, I'm seeing that it's very angry, you know, I love angry women.

Adrian started walking towards Petra, while she walked backwards.  The space between them decreases when Petra hits her back against the wall and is left with no way out, Adrian smiles, taking his hand to Petra's chin, however, a voice is heard by them and makes Adrian move away from Petra.

— Adrian? — It was a male voice calling him from the hallway.

— It was nice meeting you, Petra.  — says the man, moving further away from her with a smile on his face.  — hope to see you again.

So he leaves, leaving Petra still with her back against the wall and her breathing ragged.  She knew she would have to be careful with Adrian, despite not knowing him, she already knew he could bring her problems, and problems were the last thing she wanted at that moment, after all, her life was already full of them.

She takes a deep breath and walks to the door, locking it with the key, after that, Petra walks to her bed and throws herself on it, feeling all her muscles relax as She comes into contact with the softness of that mattress.

Tomorrow she would move out of that house, and she was quite relieved, however, she knew that the problems would still continue to accompany her, and she was afraid of all that, because she knew, that maybe she could have even bigger problems in the future.