Episode 16

After the laughter subsided, he moved even closer to Augusto. The same look that had haunted him all those years ago, the look that sent shivers down his spine, Augusto could see it again. His body begged him to retreat, but he couldn't even move.

"Well then, if you know the consequences of your choice and are willing to face them, then I accept. Let's do it your way."

The two brothers looked at Pietro in surprise. Despite knowing the possibility, they seemed unprepared for his response. Especially Augusto, who was left motionless.

"What's the matter? Didn't you say you knew the consequences? Did you really think I would back out of this contract after your move?" Pietro approached even closer, holding Augusto's chin. "You don't know me at all, my dear. Don't try to outsmart me. I will always be two steps ahead."

Alice watched and listened, fearing for her brother. Not only because Pietro could torture him for the offense of proposing such a thing, but also because she found him oddly calm after hearing a marriage proposal from another man. She was also afraid that her brother would lose control at some point, attack Pietro, and end up dead. She wouldn't forgive herself if something like that happened.

"Augusto, forget about it. I'll marry him. You don't have to do this or go through this," she tried to argue.

"Forget about it?" Augusto stepped back a little and looked at Alice. "Now it's my turn not to accept a change of mind. He agreed to go in your place, and I accepted the offer. So now we have a new agreement. It seems like it's you, my dear fiancé, who will have to pack your bags." He said those words with a smile.

It was difficult for Augusto to decipher what was going through Pietro's mind at that moment. He didn't seem angry about everything, his expression was different from what he always carried before. He seemed to be enjoying it all, and that was what intrigued Augusto.

"As for you, Alice, don't forget what you did at your party. Your mischief won't go unpunished. I'll give you a year, after that, you will marry my brother. During this time, you can date and get to know each other better. I'm doing this because I know I'll have trouble with him. If I force you to get married immediately, I don't think you should oppose this marriage, right? Since you seemed to like him, not to mention there are no more brothers to take your place."

Alice was quite surprised by what he said to her. She thought she would be free from an arranged marriage, but she ended up with another one. She was surprised, but at least he wasn't a person like Pietro, considering his brother seemed different.

"Pietro, she made a mistake, but please, you don't have to do this. Let her choose who she wants to marry," Augusto intervened for her.

"I'm giving her a deadline, as I said, they can date and get to know each other. Maybe they will even fall in love with each other. I'm giving her an opportunity that not everyone has, so I'm still being generous."

Neither of them had any more arguments at that moment. As it seemed that everyone had said what they wanted, Pietro was firm in his order.

"I'll wait outside the room while you say goodbye. Don't take too long, as you still have to pack your things. I'm in a hurry."

Pietro left the room, leaving the two of them alone. After he left, he leaned against the wall and smiled. Everything was going according to plan so far. He knew that within a few minutes, he would leave that house with Augusto, and he would never let him go. Inside the room, however, things were not as exciting as they were outside.

"Augusto, what are we going to do now? You were sure he would refuse," Alice whispered.

"We knew this could happen, Alice. I have to accept what's to come."

"And what's to come? Do you have any idea what this man is thinking of doing to you?" she argued anxiously.

"I don't know what he's going to do, Alice, but what choice do we have? Besides, he should have told me earlier about what happened in that garden. I could have come up with something, but now all we can do is accept this. You'll still have a year to get used to the idea of marrying Diego. At least he seems different from his brother. As for that, I can't do anything else. I don't know if I can intervene in this marriage with Diego," he was being realistic with her.

"It's time to go," he knocked on the door, alerting the two.

The two brothers hugged, and Augusto took a deep breath. He would grab the suitcase he had prepared, as he was aware of that possibility. But he still had to explain to his parents that he would be taken instead of his sister. He didn't know what their reaction would be, but he tried to think positively. Perhaps they would suffer more if their daughter was taken instead of him. At least he knew how to defend himself, unlike his sister.