"That man shouldn't mistake me for a fool. I have the upper hand; I am the kind of woman any man of status would want. Esteban's father will only accept me as a daughter-in-law, not those women who surely only want money and fame," she said. "Let's see... Esteban doesn't do charity; he already knew all about this marriage, and it's surely because his father demanded it." She swallowed hard. "As for the rest, he would never have agreed because he isn't a one-woman man," she thought, but the flood of thoughts had her on the verge of collapsing, fearing that perhaps she didn't have as much control as she believed. "I can't give up. My family needs me. My father would die if he lost his corporation. I can't give up, nor can I allow myself to be the laughingstock of a man like Esteban. H

e's going to hear me out when we see each other."

Esteban Hamilton, seeing that he had achieved what he wanted so much, stepped back as if nothing had happened. He adopted a cold personality, which made Roma regain her composure as she saw him stand up and head for the elevator door. Silence hung between them, an echo of the tense negotiation. Esteban showed no emotion; his face was a closed book despite the possessiveness he had exhibited moments before. She, for her part, had recovered her cold composure and stood up, approaching him quickly.

"Is that all?" her question stopped him right at the elevator door.

"Were you perhaps expecting a moment of passion between us?"

"I'm making it clear that I'm not like those women you usually go out with, Mr. Hamilton. Show more respect," she told him with determination.

"It turns out I'm doing you a favor by marrying a woman as controlling as you, and I repeat: you are in no position to complain, are we clear? And to make something else clear to you, you should be very happy to marry the man who will be your savior," he spoke to her in a deep voice. "I'll send someone to pick you up. You'll be told which residence you'll be moved to. An important event awaits me. Until later, Miss Parker."

The elevator doors opened and Esteban stepped in; he didn't even wait for her to get in, but pressed the button and the doors closed.

"You're a fool, Esteban Hamilton!!" Roma snapped, crossing her arms. "Now I have to accept the new rules of your damn game. What matters is that we're on the same side now."

Arriving at the mansion in her beautiful red luxury car, Roma went inside, taking off her expensive coat. She felt somewhat stressed by what had happened with Mr. Hamilton and by what was to come, accepting the new rules of the game.

"Daughter, it's so good you're here! Your father has been asking for you," her mother greeted her with a strong hug.

"And where is he, Mother?" Roma approached the sofa and took a seat, taking off her heels to relax a bit.

"You know how your father is... he's looking for solutions to keep from losing the company, honey. He refuses to let you get married. Look, they're talking about the company on the news, honey." Her mother prepared to turn up the volume on the television, while Roma tried not to pay attention; she was worried about her father and his opposition to this marriage.

"Everyone is finding out that we are in the Hamiltons' hands. How is it possible they found out?"

"We are one of the most important families, Mother; it's impossible for them not to know. I think I'll go to my room; I have a headache."

"Wait, daughter, look!" Her mother, Gala Parker, looked at the television in surprise. "Do you see, honey? That's the reason your father refuses to have you marry that handsome young man."

Roma stood frozen. On the screen, Esteban Hamilton appeared walking the red carpet, arm in arm with a young woman dressed in an elegant and fiery red dress, during the anniversary gala organized by Alpha Group Hamilton. He was giving her a light caress on her bare back, which was favored by the sexy dress.

Gala Parker, Roma's mother, saw the images on the television, recognizing Esteban and the woman by his side. Her face contorted into an expression of alarm.

"Daughter, please... are you sure about this?" she asked, looking into her eyes, wishing to save her daughter from a disappointment.

Roma forced herself to stay calm. She turned toward her mother, a mask of serenity on her face despite the internal turmoil-despite wanting to scream and tell Esteban off for being with another woman when they had supposedly reached an agreement.

"It must be a commercial event scheduled in advance, Mom. Don't worry. Everything is under control. You know how the Hamiltons are. I'm going to my room; please, don't bother me," she said, leaning down to grab her heels and then her coat. The girl almost ran to her room and, upon arriving, locked the door and dropped her coat. She was furious.

After pacing back and forth so much, she ended up standing in front of the large mirror where she could see her whole self. She thought about that woman who was walking arm in arm with her future husband. That image of the woman in the red dress was superimposed over her own. She brushed a lock of hair from her cheek, a nearly unconscious gesture.

But in her mind, she couldn't stop reliving the day's events: the negotiation, Esteban's possessive gaze, and now, the image of him with another woman. She let out a long, weary sigh.

"That man shouldn't mistake me for a fool. I have the upper hand; I am the kind of woman any man of status would want. Esteban's father will only accept me as a daughter-in-law, not those women who surely only want money and fame," she said. "Let's see... Esteban doesn't do charity; he already knew all about this marriage, and it's surely because his father demanded it." She swallowed hard. "As for the rest, he would never have agreed because he isn't a one-woman man," she thought, but the flood of thoughts had her on the verge of collapsing, fearing that perhaps she didn't have as much control as she believed. "I can't give up. My family needs me. My father would die if he lost his corporation. I can't give up, nor can I allow myself to be the laughingstock of a man like Esteban. He's going to hear me out whe

n we see each other."