Episode 12

CHRISTOPHER FERRER

The week passed by quickly. Alana isn't very happy with Leo, her bodyguard, but he's the best and I won't change him. Today, my brother Cristobal and our best friend Ian are arriving, so I went to pick them up at the airport.

"Brother, did you miss me so much that you came for me?" my silly brother asked.

"Don't be ridiculous. It's me who I miss," Ian replied.

"Why don't you both just be quiet and let's go? I haven't had a good day at work," I said, annoyed.

"Alright, but at least say hello," they both hugged me, and we walked to my car. Along the way, I told them everything I needed, I asked them to thoroughly investigate the Rodriguez family, and I also told them about what that family did to my wife. Remembering everything Alana told me made my mood even worse.

"Take it easy, brother. Those people will regret ever touching my sister-in-law," said Cristobal.

"Yeah, buddy, we'll uncover their darkest secrets," added Ian.

"I hope so." We arrived at the mansion, and as we entered, I was surprised to see Alana waiting for us.

"Alana, these are my brother Cristobal and my best friend Ian," I introduced, and she greeted them.

"Pleasure to meet you," Alana said, somewhat nervously, I don't know why.

"The pleasure is mine, dear sister-in-law," my brother said, embracing her.

"That's right, it's nice to meet you," Ian also hugged her.

"Is something wrong, Alana?" I asked.

"Yes, I wanted to talk to you alone," she said nervously.

"We'll wait for you in the kitchen, brother. We're hungry," my brother said, and they both disappeared from my sight.

"Come, let's go to the study," I said, and she followed me. "Alright, what do you want to talk about?" I asked as I took off my coat.

"About my sister," she said, and I didn't understand what her sister had to do with anything.

"What about your sister?" I asked.

"She's here at the mansion, and I want her to stay and live with us," she said, turning to look at me.

"Why do you want her here? Did that family hurt you?" I asked, more annoyed.

"No, my father and his wife hurt me. Lucia never hit or insulted me, she just stayed on the sidelines to avoid suffering the same fate as me," she replied.

"It's the same. She's your sister and she never defended you," I said, even more annoyed.

"Do you think it's easy to stand up against the Rodriguez family? She would have ended up beaten just like me, and it wouldn't solve anything," Alana raised her voice, which annoyed me even more.

"Well, I don't want her here. Let her go to her dear parents' house," I said, annoyed.

"No, she can't go with them. They want to force her into marrying a forty-year-old man," she shouted.

"I don't care. I promised to protect you, not her. So, I want her out of my house. She's of legal age, if she doesn't want to get married, she doesn't have to. Her grandfather left her a monthly allowance, too. Let her go and rent a room," I said, annoyed.

"Well, I'm not going to leave her alone," Alana spoke loudly.

"And what will you do? Because I don't want her in my house," I asked firmly.

"I'll go with her," she said seriously, and I lost whatever patience I had left.

"You're not leaving from here even if I have to tie you up. We have a contract," I shouted angrily.

"The contract says we have to be married for a minimum of three years, but it doesn't say we have to live under the same roof. I'm not going to leave my sister alone because I know what the Rodriguez family is capable of. I'm going with her," she yelled angrily.

"You're not leaving," I shouted angrily, and she stormed out of the study. I followed her.

"Alana, Alana, come back here right now! You're not going to do whatever you want. This is my house," I shouted, annoyed.

"This may be your stupid house, but I am not your property. I'm leaving you, I can no longer stand your icy face, I can no longer stand that only your desires matter without me being able to have an opinion. I don't want to be in this golden cage anymore, I'm leaving," she shouted angrily, tears streaming down her face.

"Mommy, don't go, don't leave me," Chris cried, and both of us froze. Chris tightly clung to his mother's leg, and I realized everyone was watching us.

"Brother, let's go to the study," Cristóbal and Ian guided me towards the study, but before entering, I turned to see Alana, who was already embracing Chris.

"Your sister can stay, and we will discuss the man they want to marry her off to. For now, she must not leave the mansion," I said, and entered the study.

What the hell just happened? I let out all my frustration and stress from the past few days on Alana. I would never allow anyone to force a young woman into marrying an old man. What the hell did I do?

"What's wrong with you? Why did you yell at her like that?" Ian asked angrily.

"Yeah, brother, what was so serious that happened?" Cristóbal asked, equally upset.

"I'm an idiot," I confessed, and both of them punched me.

"You are the biggest idiot in the world. You took out all your frustration on her. You have no idea what happened in that house with her sister, and even if she was mean to her, no one should force her to marry an old man," Ian shouted at me.

"Brother, you have to apologize to Alana because if she leaves, my nephew will suffer a lot, and so will you, because I can see in your eyes that she matters to you. I know you," my brother said.

"I will talk to her, but Ian, could you go and speak with her sister? Find out everything about the man she is being forced to marry and why. Help her in every way possible. Cristóbal and I will investigate that family," I said, feeling really guilty.

"Sure, friend. I'm going now. Cheer up. If you behave, she will forgive you. She seems like a good girl with a pure heart, unlike you," Ian said and left.

"Brother, go see her. I'll investigate on my own," Cristóbal said.

"In a moment, I need to think and calm down a little more," I said, and he nodded.

I stayed in my study for an hour and then went up to the room. It was empty, no sign of Alana. I went to my son's room, but they weren't there either. I suppose they are with her sister. I was an idiot, and I have to pay for my stupidity. I returned to my room and tried to sleep, but it was impossible. I need to hold Alana to fall asleep, and now my pillows don't work. I spent the whole night awake. This girl has already become my weakness. What am I going to do? She can do whatever she wants with me, and I can't stop it. I am lost.

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