The sun began to hide behind the few clear clouds that remained, making the inside of that small room feel cozier as it dimmed. The clouds began to turn gray and a cold wind lashed against the white skin of that young girl.

Eda felt the cold air run through her body, giving her chills. She walked to the window of her room and looked at the rain that was beginning to fall. The pastures moved from side to side in the sound of the wind. The thin coat she was wearing hardly covered her in that season when the rain began to fall almost every day.

Before the cold hit her room any harder, she lit the small fire that was there. That afternoon she was alone in her modest house. Her parents had gone to a meeting with the neighbors of the small farm, and as usual, they didn't take her into account to accompany them.

It was almost seven in the evening when the rain continued to fall, but now with more force. Eda left her room and went to the kitchen for a glass of hot milk. Just as the girl was returning with it in her small hand, lightning struck, making everything clear, followed by a loud thunderclap that made her jump and immediately drop the glass. Before she could prevent it, it fell on the rug in the middle of the small living room, spilling the liquid on it. At that moment, the front door was opened, and when she looked up, her heart began to beat very fast as she saw her parents enter. The gaze of Gema, her mother, and Elio Gazmey seemed to pierce the young woman at that moment, who quickly stood up to apologize for what had happened.

"I'm very sorry, Mother, I was startled and it fell," she hastened to say with nervousness in her voice.

"You are a very silly girl!" the woman blurted out. "You've stained my mother's rug!" Followed by that, a strong slap landed on her white, or rather pale, cheek.

Eda restrained herself from shedding a tear in front of them, bringing her hand to where she had received the blow.

"It wasn't my intention, Mother, I'll clean it," she tried to appease the woman's fury.

"I don't know what the hell I'm going to do with you," the man growled, looking very angry. "You are a useless girl, I don't know what I'm paying for, my God," that man blurted out with his eyes full of rage.

Eda stared at her father and didn't understand why he was acting that way just for spilling a glass of milk on a rug that was already old.

"Father, I think it can be fixed, I'll clean it in the morning," the girl said, bending down again to take out the rug, but before she could reach it, a strong hand grabbed her arm and made her stand up.

"Tomorrow?" the man asked and she nodded. "You will do it right now!" he exclaimed. "And you won't come back until you've done it."

"But it's raining very hard, Father," she reminded him. "I'll get sick if I go out like this in the rain," she tried to make him understand, but the man refused.

"I said now!!" he exclaimed forcefully. "Go before I give you a lesson," that man blurted out as he also released her, causing her to fall to the ground with force and hit her knees.

Without saying anything more, Eda stood up, took the old rug, and left the house. When she reached the porch, the cold enveloped her, making her shudder. A tear began to fall down her cheek and many more followed. She went to the side of the house where the laundry tub was and began to scrub forcefully on the fabric. After a good while, it was finally clean. Eda hung it on one of the ropes to let it drain, and luckily if it was sunny, she would take it out in the morning.

At that moment, the feeling of loneliness returned to take hold of her with such force that her tears fell again like waterfalls. She tried to clean them before returning home, but when she reached the door, it had been locked from the inside with a bolt. Her father had left her outside, without the slightest compassion for the torrential rain. Eda looked around to find a place to stay for the night and shelter from the cold that was reaching her bones. Then she noticed that the only place was that small barn.

Without being able to do anything else, she began to run calmly, careful not to fall under the rain, until she reached the structure in the middle of that land.

When she opened the door, she was completely soaked from head to toe, and she knew that the next day she would wake up with a cold. The young woman took off her coat and wrung it out with her thin hands and threw it on a wooden bar next to the door...

Ironically, she felt at peace in that place. In the barn there were only four horses, including a mare as black as the night, which belonged to her deceased brother. That horse was the only thing she had left of him, plus the memories she had before the tragedy where he had lost his life a year ago. After that, her father's mistreatment had increased towards her. Every time he came home drunk and got angry about some business matter, hitting or insulting the girl was his best way to vent, and her mother did nothing about it.

"Someday I will leave here and take you with me, darling," she told him with a sweet voice and a small empty smile to the animal that clung to her as if seeking her warmth.

That idea of leaving had occurred to her after, less than a month ago, her father came home very drunk and, seeing her without any reason, gave her a beating that made her spend two days unconscious. They had taken her to the town doctor's office, but he convinced the doctor on duty not to notify the police and not get him into any trouble. Eda knew that if she continued to endure that, he would end up killing her at any moment. Although she had wanted to leave before, she didn't because she felt that if she did, she would be abandoning her brother's memories, but she remembered the times he told her that he would help her go to the city to continue her studies at the university, all the times he defended her from the mistreatment of her father and mother. Without a doubt, he was the only good thing left in her family, but using her father's mistreatment turned into physical injuries, she knew she had to escape, but the idea of doing it to some city was a distant hope, since she didn't have money to do that.

The mare lay down to one side and Eda next to her, so she could calm her cold with the animal's warmth and she could feel that her brother was still accompanying her.

The crowing of the roosters woke her up very early. When she opened her eyes, she found herself curled up on the straw piled up to one side of the cutter. The mare had woken up next to her.

"Good morning, Bonita," she exclaimed with a sweet smile, and the mare made a sound as she approached her.

Eda began to caress her when she stood up. Her back hurt from having slept in that place, but she ignored it.

When Eda left the barn, she found her father who was mounted on his horse already ready to go and tour the fields and start yelling at the few workers they had left.

She passed next to him and without saying anything, went to the house, where her mother was on the porch with a steaming cup of coffee in her hands.

"Good morning, Mother," she greeted her politely, but the woman made a gesture of contempt when she saw her with her clothes wrinkled and dirty and with her beautiful jet-black hair disheveled and with some hay branches in it.

"You are shameful as you are, go take off those rags, I don't know how you can be my daughter," she said dismissively. "No one will ever notice you like that."

Without responding to that, Eda entered the house and went to her room to take a shower. The hot water seemed to restart her life. After washing her hair, she came out of the water and looked for something comfortable to wear to go and do her chores on the farm.

A good while later, she came down with worn jeans and a simple flannel shirt as well. Her hair, as it was still wet, fell over her shoulders like a cascade of waves.

"Oh my girl," was heard to say suddenly. Eda turned towards the kitchen and saw Yaret, the woman who took care of her and her brother when they were children, and who now helped her mother with the housework. Eda could say that apart from her brother, it was that older woman who truly loved her.

"When have you returned?" she asked with a smile as she gave her a strong hug. The woman had been away on the weekend at her sister's house who had fallen ill and she had gone to take care of her.

"I did it this morning," the woman said, then a trait of bewilderment passed through her eyes and Eda gave the reason why.

"Don't worry, it wasn't very cold," she said feigning a smile as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Anyway, come, I have prepared a tea to prevent you from getting sick, darling," the woman said as she led her to the kitchen.

After breakfast, Eda went to tour the fields as she always did. Although she was a girl, her father entrusted her with tasks that men normally performed, but she did them without complaining and that helped her keep her mind occupied.

It was around six in the afternoon when Eda returned to her house. Being several meters away, a flutter in front of her house caught her attention. Her father raised his arm and lowered it again with force, the animal in front of him neighed from side to side trying to break free. When the young woman saw what was happening, she ran there.

"DAD!" she shouted forcefully. "But what are you doing?" she asked when she arrived at the place, a pair of eyes as dark as the night rested on her. Seeing that her father's eyes were red, she knew that he was very drunk.

"Don't interfere," the man shouted.

"Why are you mistreating Nick's mare?" she asked with sad eyes.

"Get out of here before I give it to you too," the man blurted out angrily.

That afternoon, Elio had received the news that one of the investments he had made with other farmers had been a fraud for which he had lost what for him was a lot of money. Rage had blinded him and he had drunk a lot. When he arrived at the house, the first thing he saw was the mare that was eating in a pasture near the house and he went for her. Without thinking twice, he began to vent his rage with whiplashes to the poor animal.

"I won't let you hurt her, she's my brother's mare," Eda blurted out, raising her voice.

"Very well," Eda was surprised to hear that. "I won't give the animal another blow, but I will give it to you."

A strong lash fell on her arm leaving a mark quickly on the white skin, just when Eda was about to move away, her father threw her to the ground.

Her screams were drowned out by the moans of pain that came from her mouth, the man had given some blows to the girl leaving her lying on the grass, the shirt was torn, Eda felt the blood gush from her back, without being able to move even a little, she closed her eyes from the strong pain she felt burning in her injured back.

A week later.....

Eda was opening her eyes carefully, she tried to move a little but couldn't do so, a somewhat intense pain ran through her body forcing her to remain still.

"Don't move much darling," said a man's voice, Eda opened her eyes quickly and found herself with a look full of sadness and pain.

"Grandfather?" Eda asked in a low voice.

"Yes my daughter," said the older man taking her hand "I'm sorry I didn't find out sooner about what the wretch of your father was doing," darling," he expressed with impotence.

"How did you find out?" she asked.

"Yaret has called me daughter," he explained "I'm sorry I didn't arrive in time, the wretch of my son hurt your back a lot darling, but the doctor has assured that you are improving very well and that perhaps there will be no marks on your skin," explained the old man calmly.

Eda began to remember everything that happened, each of the blows that her father gave her and each whiplash that he released, a chill ran through her entire body when she remembered the pain she felt.

"What has become of him?" the girl asked.

"He is in prison where he should have been a long time ago darling, I have denounced him and he is detained dear." assured the man "but don't worry about him, he is not worth it" just make sure you get better "said in man with a smile and the girl nodded.

Josue Gazmey lived on the outskirts of the town in a small house, he did not know at all the situation of his son's family whom he had not seen for many years, but despite that he loved his grandchildren, a huge sadness overwhelmed him when he lost one of them so when he found out what his son had done to her, he did not hesitate to go for the girl and denounce him. The man knew that he did not have much time left to live because he had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer but he refused to undergo any treatment, that was alien to Eda, The man seeing that his granddaughter would be left out in the open again when he died, he made a decision, he would collect a favor that they owed him from many years ago..

The days passed and Eda was recovering quickly, a smile and a different gleam in her eyes adorned her beautiful face, the bad days were behind her, she felt happy next to her grandfather who gave her all the affection that she lacked before, but all that lasted only a month and a half, because the man had declined so much that his last day was approaching.

After telling everything to the girl who was crying next to his bed, he made her promise a couple of things, the first was that she would never return to her old house, the second that she would not let herself be humiliated by anyone ever again, the third that she would obey him by calling a number that he left written on a paper, that number was of the person who would help her change her life and protect her for the rest of her days.

"I know it's very hard to do something like what I ask of you darling, but he is a good man I assure you, he will never hurt you or force you to do something you don't want to," assured the man taking her hands between his.

"It's okay grandfather," she agreed "I will do it as you ask," she said sincerely.

A week later it happened, the old man had died in a room of the town's medical office, the girl asked for a mobile phone and did just what her grandfather asked of her in life.

"I am Eda Gazmey," she said in a sweet voice when the call was answered on the other side.

Hacienda "Los Santos"

The interior of the Santos mansion was a bit busy. The patriarch, Maximo Santos, had requested a special dinner that night to share some news. He was pleased that his two sons were finally under the same roof, with the arrival of the eldest, Maximiliano Santos, 26, and Joseph, 22. The eldest had gone abroad when he turned 18 and had finished university in Architecture and Business Administration, undoubtedly a source of pride for Maximo. Joseph, on the other hand, had decided to study veterinary medicine there. The personalities of the two brothers were different. The eldest was characterized by his strong character and workaholism. Since starting his own architecture firm abroad, his popularity had increased much more than when he was just the eldest son of the wealthiest rancher in the city, which led to many women being after him, not only for that but also for his spectacular physique. He was almost six feet tall and had every muscle of his body defined, with blue eyes like the sky itself, which contrasted perfectly with his tanned skin and dark brown hair. The youngest had a docile character, was very friendly with everyone, and dedicated himself much more to the care of the animals on the hacienda. The physical difference was also more noticeable; he was shorter than his brother, with fair skin and dark blond hair.

The Santos family was the most important in the area, dedicated to the export and import of the best breed of cattle. They had a large company producing different products. Money had never been a problem for them. The Santos mansion was enormous, with a large extension. Despite having a white stone facade with different shades of brown, the interior was luxurious but cozy, with a very large living room and many rooms. The kitchen was beautiful, in white and gray marble.

The last renovation was done by Maximiliano himself a couple of years ago. His father had been delighted with the result, so he asked his son to work on the other structures of the hacienda, which was why he was there at that moment.

"The table is set, Mr. Maximo," the housekeeper informed, entering the man's office.

"Tell my sons, Claudia," he said calmly as he stood up.

The man was wearing a custom-made black suit. Maximo was fifty years old, but because of his good looks, he could appear younger. His hair was still not covered in gray, and his blue eyes and a big smile that was always on his face made him seem attractive still, perhaps because of his life on the hacienda, it could still be said that he was in very good shape.

Upon arriving at the dining room, the man showed a big smile when he saw his two sons there.

"Max, my son!" he exclaimed with a smile, approaching him. "Welcome."

"Thank you, Father," he replied with his peculiar deep voice.

"We missed you a lot, brother," Joseph assured.

"And I you," he replied.

"Let's have dinner," said Maximo. "Then I'll give you a couple of news," the man informed with a smile.

Dinner was served and everyone ate peacefully. The dining room was extremely large for only three people to be there, well, the house in general was.

A while later they finished dinner, the two boys looked at the man with enthusiasm and curiosity.

"And well, Dad, what news do you have for us?" Max asked.

"Alright, sons," the man began to say. "I wanted to inform you that soon we will be four in this house." The look of both boys was different.

"Be clearer, Father," Max growled.

"I'm going to get married, sons," he said without further ado, the expression of surprise was immediate.

"Dad," Joseph whispered.

"Is this a joke, Father?" Maximiliano asked in a bad way. "This is absurd," he growled.

"It's not a joke, son," the father replied. "Tomorrow I will bring my future wife home, she is a good woman, I know you will get along well," he assured.

"This is idiotic, Father," Maximiliano complained. "After so many years?" he asked, running his hands repeatedly through his hair.

"I hope you respect my decision, son," the man said more seriously.

"Well, I don't agree," he blurted out, hitting the table.

Maximiliano was angry, it seemed very absurd to him, even the simple fact that his father gave them that news as if it were something meaningless, the eyes of that one had clear bewilderment.

"I have always stayed out of your personal affairs, son," the man blurted out with annoyance at his attitude. "I don't need your approval to do so, I'm just informing you," that man spoke with determination, the character of both was very similar. "So I hope you know how to behave tomorrow when I bring her home."

As the man seemed that he would not stop to listen to opinions of either, Maximiliano turned around and left.

Max felt so angry that to release the tension that was suffocating him, he went to do some exercise in the fields, the man ran from one end to the other without stopping, despite the fact that a small drizzle was falling, he did not seem to care, the water soaked his dark hair.

"If you weren't so stubborn, I would explain it better, son," Maximo exclaimed, seeing his son from a distance.

The following morning the sun rose in the high sky, it was so radiant that it seemed that rain would not fall that day, Max got up very early and after looking for Sultan his horse, he went to the grounds where the new construction that his father had asked him to carry out would begin, it was a fertilizer plant for cattle, a project that Max showed him a couple of months ago, leaving his father delighted.

While he was heading to the area, a group of workers was there, one of them approached Max who was still on his horse.

"Good morning, Mr. Max," Fernando, the foreman of the hacienda, greeted him.

"Likewise," said Max in a neutral voice. "Any news?" he asked as he surveyed the grounds.

"Your work team has arrived in the early morning, I have already installed them in one of the houses in the urbanization, sir," the man reported, on the hacienda there was an urbanization where some of the hacienda's employees lived with their families.

"Perfect, I'll stop by to see them in the afternoon," he said, and without further ado, he took the horse's reins and left.

When Max was passing by a group of cattle that were next to the lake, a voice called him, when he realized who it was, he ignored it and continued on his way.

A good while after riding through the different areas of the hacienda, Max tied the reins of his horse to the branch of an oak tree that was next to the crystalline stream that was in the farthest area of the ranch.

The sun and the clouds were reflected perfectly on the crystalline water, Max approached the shore and when he put a hand in he realized that the water was cold, Max took off the black hat he was wearing and wiped the sweat from his forehead before leaving the hat aside and splashing some water on his face.

Max sat on the bank of the stream, the grass was somewhat grown and very green, without a doubt that was the best place on the hacienda, the silence there was something blessed, far from the sight of others, on one side there was a small cut of red rose bushes perfectly flowered.

That was Max's favorite place, he had even asked the employees of the place to take care of it in his absence, therefore every time he was visiting no one dared to go to that place since that was Max's personal sanctuary, sometimes he stayed to take a nap on the grass in the middle of the afternoon, and that day had not been the exception.

Max was just falling asleep when someone interrupted in his place, He opened his eyes and found the body of a completely naked woman in front of him.

"What the hell are you doing, Cynthia?" he asked, quickly sitting up.

"You've been ignoring me before, Max, but I know you won't now," the woman affirmed confidently as she adjusted her blonde hair to one side.

Max looked her up and down without saying anything. His body did not react until a moment later when she knelt right in front of him and began to lower the zipper of his pants.

"Remember not to break the rules," Max whispered just when she began to make those movements right there with her mouth.

The girl looked at him and nodded.

A while later Max was already fixing his pants when he stood up and the woman was fixing the dress that had been lying aside since she arrived.

"When are you going to come see me?" the woman asked pouting.

"I don't know, Cinthya," he replied coldly, as it bothered him to have to explain again that what he offered her was only sex and only that, in his plans there was no commitment.

Without saying more, Max got on his horse and when he was returning to the big house the sun had almost completely set.

Just when he opened the door he heard a voice, that voice was different from the ones he had heard before, it was soft and tender, it seemed like the voice of an angel, Max felt something run through his body.

Upon entering the room three pairs of eyes turned towards him, he immediately understood who that voice was.

Honey-colored eyes framed by thick and long eyelashes, with a deep gaze, caught his attention enough for him to ignore the other two.

Max felt his hairs stand on end at that slim but well-formed figure of five foot seven, a skin so fair that it seemed very delicate, pink cheeks as well as pink and plump lips, despite the fact that she was wearing an out-of-fashion dress and even below the knees and her hair gathered in a high ponytail he felt how his body reacted immediately.

It was impossible for him not to imagine those eyes looking at him from below his body in another circumstance and with many emotions reflected in them, Max brushed those thoughts aside abruptly when he realized who that girl of no more than 22 years old was, Max's expression quickly became fierce and he looked away towards his father who had moved closer to the girl holding her hand in his.

"It's good that you've arrived, son," he began to say. "I present to you Eda Gazmey, my future wife."

At that mention, Max felt nauseous, it was so unpleasant to him that he did not hide his disgust at all.

"I'm tired, I'm going to sleep," he blurted out without further ado, but when he was about to leave, his father stopped him.

"Where are your manners, Maximiliano?" the man asked, somewhat displeased.

"I still have them, Father," he affirmed. "But not for certain people," in saying that he glanced sideways at Eda who remained silent and with her head down next to Joseph who looked at his brother with disapproval for his behavior.

"Well, get used to the idea that you have to put them into practice, Max," the man warned.

Max left without saying anything else, he threw a last look where he made direct contact with Eda and left quickly upstairs.

Eda felt that her life would be a bit stormy just because of the presence of that other son of the man she would marry in a month. She knew immediately that when Joseph described Max to her, he had fallen short. Luckily for her, Mr. Maximo and his youngest son were kind people, as was the kitchen employee she had been introduced to.

After that inconvenience, Maximo took her by the arm and led her upstairs. Eda began to feel a lump in her throat, but then she remembered what her grandfather had told her and remained calm.

"He's a good man, daughter, he will never disrespect you." "Marrying him will be the only way I can protect you better."

Those words echoed in her head, and she knew it was true when, upon reaching a corridor on the second floor, he guided her to the last door.

"This will be your room, Eda" he began to say with a sweet smile "after the wedding we will look for a solution so that no one suspects"he assured her, and she nodded.

"Thank you very much, sir.."just when she was about to say that, Maximo raised a hand and smiled slightly

"Call me Maximo"he said calmly "remember that you are my fiancee, it's not good for you to call me sir, is it?"he said with a smile, and she nodded with another.

"Okay, have a good night" said the girl sweetly and opened the door to enter.

Eda almost fainted when she saw all that. The room was like the size of her room multiplied by 20. A large light wood bed was in the middle of the room, right in front of the huge window. The walls were high and light pink with gray tones in some of them. The light that entered through the large window gave more life to that bedroom. Eda felt better than she had in a long time. When she approached the bed, she confirmed that it was as soft as it looked. Despite not seeing a fireplace for the cold nights, she felt that she would never be cold again.

Eda took a hot bath and washed her hair with a shampoo she found on the large shelf in the bathroom, along with many other products she had only seen on television.

After putting on comfortable pajamas and drying her hair, she went to bed, but to her unawareness, that hard and cold look from those beautiful blue eyes kept her restless for a long time until she could fall asleep almost at two in the morning.

That morning the sun didn't even show up. Gray clouds would cover the entire sky, announcing a strong storm. The weather was cold while the rain was already falling. Eda put on a red floral dress with a black background, making a unique contrast with her fair skin. Although she put on her old coat, she knew that it wouldn't protect her from the cold in the environment. She checked the time before leaving the room, and it was already eight in the morning. Although the kitchen lady had told her the night before that breakfast was served at seven thirty, she wasn't used to having breakfast so early, not for pleasure but because in her old house she could only eat after doing some of the main tasks that her father left her from a very young age.

When she went down the stairs, she discovered that everything was silent.

"Good morning, dear" she heard, and when she turned around, she saw Maximo coming behind her, but he was wearing a perfect suit, which indicated that he was going out.

"Likewise, si.."she began to say, but she stopped quickly "I'm sorry, likewise to you, Maximo"she said with a small smile that softened his heart.

"Go have breakfast and then come to the office, I'll tell you something" he said calmly and with a smile.

"Very well" she said...

Eda finished going down the stairs. Upon entering the kitchen, her hairs suddenly stood on end. When she looked up and saw the broad-shouldered figure sitting at the head of the table, she understood the reason.

"Good morning" she exclaimed, but as expected, Max didn't bother to answer. He only fixed his gaze on her for a few seconds, then focused it again on the newspaper that was on the table.

The woman who was cooking served her the food and gave her a smile.

Eda thanked her and began to eat.

"A strong storm is coming today" said the woman calmly while looking out the large kitchen window, the same one that overlooked the garden.

"Yes, it's a pity" Eda began to say "I would have liked to take a walk around" she said enthusiastically, and the woman smiled slightly.

"You can do it as soon as it stops" she assured, and Eda nodded.

Max watched the two women in absolute silence, finished his cup of coffee and stood up without giving the girl a single look.

Eda finished her breakfast, and just when she was about to take the dishes to the sink, the woman approached and immediately took them away.

"But what are you doing," dear?"she asked."

"I was going to wash the dishes and help you a little" she replied in a soft voice, and the woman smiled apologetically.

"Don't worry about that, dear" she began to say"you will soon become the lady of this house and doing this is improper" Claudia explained calmly.

"Please just call me Eda" she asked with a smile "I wouldn't feel comfortable with someone older than me like you addressing me so formally" she assured sweetly, and the woman nodded.

"I'll see what I can do" Claudia was a fifty-four-year-old woman who had been on those lands since Maximo had married the previous Mrs. Santos.

"Very well" exclaimed Eda before leaving the kitchen.

Eda remembered which was the office door among that large room and went there because she remembered that Maximo had asked her to.

Upon opening the door, she realized that he wasn't alone. Max was with his father, and when he saw her, his expression became very somber and full of disgust.

"Oh, I'm sorry" she apologized quickly "I didn't know you were busy" she said.

"Don't worry, dear" he said with a smile "I was waiting for you" Eda approached, closing the door behind her.

Max felt his stomach churning when he saw that. He couldn't understand anything that was happening no matter how hard he tried to find the logic.

His father had asked him to come see him after breakfast, but he didn't expect that he would have also summoned her.

"I wanted to inform you that I have to go on a trip this afternoon" he said suddenly.

"I won't be back for a couple of days, I'll come for the engagement party and then I'll leave until next month"he explained.

"What does that have to do with me, father?"asked Max without understanding anything "in any case, it's with your fiancee that you have to talk about these issues"Max blurted out.

"I know, son, but I want you to take care of her in my absence as well as the hacienda" said Maximo confidently "try to make Eda feel comfortable, please."

Max almost let out a hysterical laugh, because did his father not remember that that girl was not to his liking? As if to ask him for such a thing, but just when he was about to respond, an idea occurred to him.

"Okay, father" he said without saying more, leaving the other two surprised.

"Can I trust you then," son?"he asked, and Max nodded, forcing a slight smile"

"I'll do it for you, father" he said, glancing sideways at Eda and looking back at his father.

After that, Max left the office without saying anything else. A completely malevolent smile appeared on his handsome face.

"You can rest easy until I come back, Eda" said Maximo calmly.

"Okay" she said, although deep down she felt that things wouldn't be that way. She didn't swallow Max's story that he would support her, although the man hadn't done it completely either.

"I would have liked to show you the surroundings, dear, but this storm won't let us go horseback riding around there" he pointed out with regret.

"Don't worry, we'll have time" she said with a sweet smile.

Maximo could recognize the innocence in her as well as her sincerity, so he was convinced that bringing her to his home was the best option.

"Very well" he said.

A couple of hours later, the rain was still falling, but Eda was with Maximo on the porch of the house waiting for the driver to pick him up to take him away. The man's two sons were also there.

A moment later, Maximo saw Eda holding her arms against herself, and then he realized something. She was wearing a coat that seemed very thin for that time and the cold that it was.

"Dear, go inside, it's cold here" he said, approaching her

"Oh, don't worry" she exclaimed "I'll wait for you to leave."

Maximo smiled, but made a mental note to buy her new coats in the city, he would ask his assistant to buy new clothes for her since it was inappropriate for the future lady of the Los Santos hacienda to be without good clothes. Or at least with clothes that would protect her in these times of rain and cold.

When the car finally arrived, Maximo said goodbye to his sons with a hug and a handshake. When he went to approach her, he felt the fixed gaze of his eldest son on him as if he were his prey or something similar. Maximo approached Eda and hugged her affectionately, leaving a kiss on her forehead.

"Be careful out there" she whispered sincerely.

After all the greetings, the engine resonated when the car was running.

Eda waved her hand in the direction of the car. This seemed very sweet to Joseph, but very ridiculous to Max.

Joseph entered the house, leaving the other two outside.

When Eda was about to enter, Max's voice stopped her.

"Go to the office in a few minutes, I have to talk to you" he said in an authoritarian tone. She realized that this had been the only time he had spoken to her more than two words together.

"Okay" she said. Max entered the house, and she stayed outside for a moment longer thinking about what he had to say to her.

When Eda entered the house, she went to the office. Upon opening the door, he was sitting comfortably and motioned for her to come closer.

"The acting can end now" he said incredulously. She raised her eyebrows without understanding anything"Don't act like the saint is talking to you, Eda" he blurted out, losing patience.

"I don't understand what you mean" she said sincerely.

"My father is gone now, it's not necessary for you to pretend to be the sweet and innocent girl" he said dismissively, and she began to understand what that was about.

"I'm not pretending anything, Maximiliano" she blurted out confidently "you have no right to disrespect me in this way" she stated.

Without saying anything more, Max put his hand in his shirt pocket and took out a paper envelope and threw it on the table.

"Look at that before giving me any answer" he blurted out.

Eda hesitated a bit before doing it, but she took it anyway.

Upon opening it, she realized what it was. Eda opened her eyes a little when she saw the amount that was put on that envelope, many zeros, she had never before had a check for that amount in her hands, or rather she had never had a check in her hands before.

"It's what I can give you to leave" he said as if nothing had happened "think about it well, it's a good offer"he continued saying while he approached her, going around the desk.

"But..."

"It's better than marrying my father, think about it better Eda, you wouldn't have to reach the altar with a man you don't want and even less would you have to reach the moment of the wedding night, think about it" he said with great naturalness..

Eda looked at him and couldn't believe that. How was it possible that any man could think like that about a woman he doesn't even know? She looked for some sign of hesitation on his face, but it was serious.

"If you want a little more, I could think about it if you leave today of course" he said when he saw that she didn't respond "I know that you're doing all this plot for money and I'm giving it to you so that you save yourself all the little wedding act and everything that includes your married life" he assured "so what is your answer?"he asked.

Without hesitating twice, Eda looked at him with rage and his smile disappeared when he felt her hand hit his cheek.

"I won't allow you to insult me in this way!!"she blurted out with rage.

Max had been shocked by that reaction of the girl.