Leaving the restaurant, the night air struck me like ice—but it wasn't the cold that unsettled me.
It was him.
What does he take me for?
Did Matheo really expect me to trade my freedom for his money? Marriage? For capital?
I clenched my jacket tighter as Marcus opened the car door.
The drive home blurred past in silence, my thoughts louder than the chaos outside.
By the time I reached my apartment, exhaustion dragged me to the couch. I barely had a second to breathe before my phone rang.
Aria.
I groaned but answered. "Hey."
"Hey, Rora! So—how did it go?"
I hesitated. "I don't know if I should call it good or bad."
Her tone sharpened with curiosity. "So… did you get the loan?"
"Well, not exactly. He made a request."
"What kind of request?"
I exhaled slowly, chest tightening just at the thought. "He said he'd give me the money… if I married him."
There was silence—then a sharp squeal.
"What?! I knew it! I knew he always liked you—deep down behind that cold glare. Oh my God, Rora, we have a wedding to plan!"
I sat up straighter. "What? Whose wedding?"
"Yours, obviously! Wait—don't tell me you turned him down."
"I didn't," I admitted. "But I didn't say yes either. I told him I'd think about it."
"Think about it?" Aria groaned dramatically. "Rora, he's Matheo Gonzalez. The most eligible bachelor in the entire city! Do you know how many women would kill just to get a glance from him? And he asked you to marry him!"
I rubbed my temple. "So what if he's Matheo? Being handsome, wealthy, and powerful isn't enough to make someone a husband."
She clicked her tongue. "Yeah, I get it. But come on—have you ever seen him linked to anyone? No scandals. No mistresses. No drama. He's untouchable. He doesn't even know my name, Rora—he only knows me as your shadow. The man is… perfect. And way better than his brother, who's basically public property."
I let out a shaky laugh. "Okay, fine, he's all that. But marriage isn't something I want to rush into."
"Maybe," she admitted softly, then added, "but he's still a once-in-a-lifetime catch."
"Whatever," I muttered. "We'll talk tomorrow."
"Fine, but picture me as maid of honor—I'd look stunning."
I rolled my eyes and ended the call, tossing the phone onto the table. For a moment, silence filled the room again. My hands trembled slightly as I leaned back into the couch.
Marriage for money.
Marriage for power.
Marriage to Matheo Gonzalez.
I wasn't sure whether to laugh, cry, or scream.
Before I could wallow in my thoughts, my phone rang again.
Ugh, Aria again.
I answered without checking the screen. "What is it now—"
"Elise."
I froze. That name. Only one person ever called me that.
"Mom." I sat up instantly, straightening like she could somehow see me through the phone.
"You've been so busy you can't even check on your father and me? You don't even bother to visit."
"I'm sorry, Mom. It's just… the company is still new, and there's so much to handle."
"Oh, but you could answer Aria, right? You even thought it was her calling just now."
"Mom—"
"Don't bother explaining." Her voice was clipped, tired. "Your father and I are worried. You moved out, and now this company thing you're chasing… Elise, the business world isn't what you think. It's dangerous. Full of people who would do anything to climb the ladder."
"I know, Mom."
"No, you don't. You're still just a baby. And you're a woman, for heaven's sake."
My chest burned. "Being a woman doesn't mean I can't fend for myself. You just don't believe in me. You think I'm fragile. That I'll break under a little pressure."
"That's not what I mean—"
"That's exactly what you mean."
There was silence. Then, softer: "I do believe in you. I just don't want you to get hurt."
"I'm not a baby, Mom."
The line went quiet again, her sigh heavy.
Finally, she said, "Your brother will be back from Tarragona tomorrow. We're having a family dinner to welcome him. It wouldn't be a family dinner without you."
"Fine," I whispered. "I'll come."
"Good. Be home by six."
The line clicked off, leaving me alone in the silence. My phone slid from my hand, landing softly on the couch cushion.
Matheo's proposal.
Aria's excitement.
My mother's doubt.
And now, a family dinner with my brother.
It felt like the walls of my life were closing in.
Would you like me to now turn this final Chapter Two into a clean, mobile-friendly PDF to match the layout and style of Chapter One?