Episode 4

""Who is this guy?!"Matt asks."

""He is...

""Her husband!"the intruder responds. And instantly, my heart races, feeling like it's about to collapse, as images flash through my mind... Short black leather dress, a bottle of tequila in my hands, a veil covering my face, the night, the lights, intoxicated people like myself, a judge in front of me, and that man beside me, placing a ring on my finger. Of course, the cheap ring I brought in my suitcase. Anna, you truly are stupid! I mentally chastise myself. My father's exasperated voice brings me back to reality."

""THIS IS ABSURD! GET THIS MAN OUT OF HERE!

""You can review the marriage certificate if you wish,"he approaches my father and hands him a document held in his right hand."

My father looks at me stupefied, after reading.

""You got married in Las Vegas?""

""Well... I believe..."was all I could manage to respond."

""You believe?! "Now it's Matt who intervenes."You walk down the aisle with me and you only believe that you're already married? "He grasps my arm tightly, forcing me to look at him, but his grip hurts me so much that it causes a grimace of pain on my face. The stranger walks toward us confidently and pushes Matt, who immediately lets go of me and regains his balance to avoid falling. Nevertheless, he ignores the presence of the stranger and turns back to me."

""You're a damn whore!

""I warned you,"the man raises his fist to hit Matt but manages to stop himself as I hold onto him in an embrace. He stops, somewhat confused, and looks at me. Understanding the embarrassing situation, I separate myself from him."

""This is my responsibility,"he looks at me confused but nods."

""Leave him, let him hit me, let's see who ends up more damaged!"Matt adds, who by that point is held by his father and a guest."

""I don't need someone to defend me, and if we've reached this point, it's your damn fault for insisting on this ridiculous wedding. Look at you, the lucrative business slipped through your hands. After all, you're not as efficient as you thought. You see, dear mother-in-law"sorry, ex-mother-in-law"now you can finally choose a damsel who fits your high standard of hypocrisy.

""Don't you dare insult my mother, she is a lady. You should ask her for a few lessons!"Matt says, and that woman looks at me with an air of superiority that I quickly wipe off her face."

""Of course, she's as much of a lady as I am a virgin, which is nothing.

""Anna, that's enough, you're making us look ridiculous!"my mother exclaims with scandalized voice. My father simply turns around, searching for the exit."Do you plan on letting this girl do as she pleases?

""She already has,"those are his last words before he proceeds on his way."

""Matt, let's go home. Your mother isn't feeling well,"his father speaks to him, holding his wife up so she doesn't fall to the ground, while his gaze filled with hatred rests on me."

""Ex-father-in-law, don't be scandalized, your son already has someone to comfort him long before this embarrassing disaster. Let me introduce you to the prospective future wife for your son,"I say, pointing to the redhead who sleeps with Matt."

""That's enough,"the man interrupts me, a husband whose name I still don't know."

""This won't be left like this,"says Matt as he helps his father support his mother, who is an actress. The stranger takes my hand and drags me towards the exit, while men dressed in black keep the reporters and curious bystanders away."

"I find myself in his vehicle, a Lamborghini Veneno, he drives at high speed, which I'm grateful for, leaving not only those who apparently are his bodyguards behind, but also the press."

After a few minutes of silence, I burst into tears. He says nothing, which I appreciate.

""How did you find me?"I finally ask after a long silence."

""I have the means, and well, the whole wedding affair of the year helped too,"I smile ironically at his response."

""I need you to sign the divorce papers and relinquish everything that belongs to me.

"Of course, the idiot arrives, showing everyone that he married me, only to ask for a divorce minutes later. Couldn't we have dealt with this privately?"

"I knew it, you're a money-hungry harpy. How much do you want? Name your price and let's get this over with already." He says while abruptly slamming on the brakes.

"You heartless jerk, my day has already been disastrous, and now you want to kill me too?"

"Name your price."

"How much do you think your freedom is worth?"

"Three million dollars, would that be enough?" I see him pull out a check, already prepared, and hand it to me.

"Is it still not enough? I'm not a woman raised in poverty."

"How much then? Just say it and let's stop with the games."

"It could be ten million."

"You're a witch." He fills out the check and hands it to me. "You'll have to give me a night."

"No problem." I say as I take the check from his hands and lean in to give him a kiss. When he closes his eyes, I place the check between our faces and tear it apart. "Your freedom is worth very little, mine is priceless. Where do I sign?" He clenches his jaw and tightens his fists.

"My lawyer will be in touch with you."

"I thought you were in a hurry. You bring a check but not the divorce papers? How clever!"

"You're a foolish and arrogant girl who thinks she's smart but ends up at the church door with a stupid man who climbed the ladder through a forced marriage. That money could have helped you start anew, away from your wretched parents, but you turned it down. I'm not a man of second chances."

"And I'm not a woman for second-rate lovers. I'd rather let go of those ten million." Judging by the expression on his face, that was a harsh blow for him. He seems to ponder for a moment, then smiles sideways.

"I don't know how you can compare. I've been the only one."

"Correction, the first one." I watch as his smile slowly fades.

"Where should I drop you off?" He abruptly changes the subject. I give him Rodrigo's address, my childhood friend who must be searching for me everywhere. He's probably called me but my phone is with my mother as I didn't bring it into the church.

"We've arrived. Who lives here?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"I need to know the floor and the owner's name to be able to send you the divorce papers."

"Rodrigo Velez." Without saying a word, he starts the engine and accelerates forcefully, triggering a headache.

"YOU'RE A DAMNED IMBECILE!"

"As long as you're my wife, you won't sleep under the same roof as another man! You'll come with me."

"You're a cretin; I won't stay in the home of a man who wants to pay me for sex."

"Then I'll pay for a hotel."

"I don't need your charity. I can support myself. You'd be surprised how much."

"You're a spoiled brat, arrogant and foul-mouthed despite the supposed class you have."

"How kind of you. I've never received such praise from a high-class gentleman before." I say, emphasizing the sarcasm in my voice. "I'll be leaving the country in two days, so don't delay sending the documents. I'll sign them and leave everything in the hands of my lawyer."

"You won't do it until the divorce decree comes out. I don't want any surprises. I'm a busy man, and my time is valuable. I won't travel halfway across the continent searching for you."

"I'll do it, even if you hate it, so hurry up." He stops the car.

"I'd love to see you try." He looks into my eyes, and my gaze briefly shifts to his lips. He notices and smiles sideways. "I owe you an apology."

His words confuse me.

"Why?"

"For asking you for a night of sex. Now I see that you'll come running to me on your own."

"Idiot."

"Fool."

"Cretin."

"Ridiculous."

"Jerk."

"To be a jerk, you must really like me. If, while standing at the hotel door, you'd rather stay in my car. That triumphant smile returned to his annoying but admittedly charming face."

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