weeks

r the day's event, a twenty-three-year-o

bric glowing under the morning light. Her neatly styled black hair fr

he knew she was supposed to feel excited, but

't seen since childhood. She had asked Mrs. Martez if she

h his mother to prepare for the wedding, and the second-days later-apolog

y about. Yet an uneasy feeling lingered in Isabella's

oke her reverie. "You look beautiful. Just like

a small smile.

artez, taking a seat beside them. "He rarely talks about women, bu

ifted elsewhere. How could she marry so

the hearts of the two women who

k on the door shatte

Knock

xchanged startled gla

is

ce came from the other s

y in his tone, a

n Martez filled the doorway-tal

to speak wi

Martez asked, alarmed

." His tone was

Mrs. Martez hesitated but finally nodde

ment, okay? Somethi

ught only a glimpse of the man's broad shou

d a puzzled glanc

l's older brother, righ

ded slowly.

omehow. Her heart whispered a quiet warning. Wh

an walked briskly, his jaw tight. He led his mothe

id in a low, strained voice. "I

owned, confuse

ne and showed her the text th

'm not ready for an arranged marriage

ez just stared. The col

a joke. Miguel wou

cracked mi

ers. "I tried calling him, but his number's inactive. What mat

x! We can't! The guests are already here-the hall is fu

on't have

means for me? Ever since your father passed, they've looked

dding is canceled, they'll laugh at me. They'll say I fai

enched as he watched

Your brother always obeyed me before, but you-Max-yo

flickering in his eyes. "Don

red desperately. "Marry I

hing fell silent-his thoughts, the fai

re asking?" he said, his voice low

think we've humiliated their daughter. Both our families'

er life hasn't been easy since her husband passed-she raised Isabel

tched across her face. "Please, Max... just

good girl. I know it's unfair, but.

eyes. The air felt t

ce. And yet, his mother wa

d from the ballroom-the wed

ime had