Chapter 1 Before The Fall

~~Elena~~

"If she doesn't perform any operation now I don't think she will live up to two months", the doctor said, my heart ached so much as I watched the only person left in this world that truly cares about me laying down unconscious. Grandma has always taken care of me after my parents passed away in a tragic accident and my uncle and his family manipulated the will leaving me with nothing and no home, only grandma took me in and now I can't watch anything happen to her, the only option now is her son, my uncle.

"Uncle,Grandma is sick. She's been in the hospital for weeks now, and she needs an urgent operation."I said, with a trembling voice,

I know how evil and selfish he is. For the past 6 months he hasn't even contacted his mother to talk more about caring about me.

"I can help you, Elena " he said, his tone calm but laced with something dark,

"but under one condition.".he continues adjusting his glasses as he rows his office chair

"Isabella is supposed to marry the younger son of the Rodriguez family. But rumors say he's a reckless playboy, and I can't risk my daughter's life in such a marriage. And that's where you come in." I knew he was not always up to something good.

"Uncle, I'm only eighteen. How am I supposed to get married? I'm still too young. Your daughter is twenty-three. She's at the right age for marriage."

He leaned back, staring into my eyes and sighed. "Well you'd better find other alternatives," he muttered coldly, he knew I would do anything for grandma.

My hands trembled as I fought back tears. "She is your mother, Uncle, How can you turn your back on her?"I said with my voice breaking.

"Not mother–stepmother," he said coldly. "Your father was the result of my father's unfaithfulness."

I froze as the words cut through me like a blade. But Dad had told me otherwise. He once explained that my uncle's mother had been my grandfather's ex-girlfriend, long before he married Grandma. It was only later that he discovered he had a son with her after their breakup.

Grandma and Dad had always treated my uncle like family, like blood. They gave him love, respect, and a home. Yet here he was, ready to cast them aside without a second thought.

"If you have nothing more to say, you can leave," he said coldly, flipping through an unknown file on the table as though my pain were nothing more than background noise.

I thought about Grandma, her frail hands, her fading strength,and I have no other options. For her sake, I have to agree to his request.

"Only under one condition: Grandma's surgery must proceed immediately." I raised my chin and added firmly,

He glanced at me for a moment, then quickly made a call, assuring me, "Everything is being taken care of."

"We will be going to the Rodriguez estate to seal the deal".

"What! now?", he gave me a cold stare and step out of the door, and I followed behind.

***************

The car rolled to a stop in front of the Rodriguez estate, its towering gates opening slowly like the jaws of a beast ready to swallow me whole. My palms are sweating and heart racing. My life has been nothing but effortless. I lived as though the world itself revolved around me. I had everything a teenage girl could possibly dream of, loyal friends who never left my side, the latest phones in my hand before anyone else, designer purses and shoes that sparkled with every step, and the kind of attention from boys that made other girls whisper with envy. I was the girl everyone looked at, the beautiful one, the admired one, the one who always had the answers, before the fall.

Never in my wildest dreams had I thought I would be forced into an arranged marriage and at a young age.

We were ushered in by a maid and asked to sit, while she went to call the attention of the Rodriguezs.

Within seconds, an old man in his seventies appeared, guided down the stairs by a middle-aged woman. Their presence alone carried authority and my uncle immediately rose to his feet and urged me to do the same. He bowed deeply, and with a subtle nudge, reminded me to follow. I did, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Is she the bride?" the old man asked, with a deep but calm voice .

"Yes," my uncle answered quickly, almost too eagerly.

The woman's eyes swept over me, cold and sharp, before she scoffed. "Father, why is she marrying my son?, Carlos is still young, let him enjoy his youth." Her tone dripped with disgust at the sight of me, and though I tried to act normal, my skin prickled under her gaze.

"He is not a child!" the old man barked, slamming his walking stick hard against the floor. "He is twenty-six and has done nothing but bring disgrace to my name. It is time he settled down!"

The woman's jaw tightened. "And what about your son?" she shot back. "All he does is bury himself in the company. He's almost thirty-five, and yet you say nothing about him marrying. Why should my son bear all the burden?"

The old man's face darkened, and the air grew tense. I sat stiffly, caught in the crossfire of their argument, secretly hoping this chaos might save me. But a quick glance at my uncle reminded me of the truth, Grandma's surgery had already been paid for. My fate was sealed.

"Mr. Ramos, get prepared,the engagement will happen this weekend. And just as I promised, I will invest in your new project." the old man said firmly.

With that, he pushed himself up from his seat. The woman at his side gave me one last look of pure disdain before hissing under her breath and guiding him back upstairs.

My uncle could barely contain himself. He was grinning and giggling like a child who had just been given candy. To him, this was victory, not sacrifice.

The ride back home felt suffocating, each second pulling me closer to a destiny I never asked for. When we finally arrived and stepped inside, I froze at the scene.

There, in the sitting room, sat my worst enemies my aunt and cousin. Those two robbed me of all my jewelry, my clothes, my beloved treasures that carried whispers of happier days. I just hate them.

Their heads were close together, whispering, their laughter sharp and cruel. They were discussing something, only God knows what. I could feel the venom in their words even without hearing them.

The moment they noticed me, their whispers stopped, and their eyes on me with hate. My aunt leaned back on the chair, crossing her arms with that mocking smirk I had grown to hate.

"Well, well, Look who finally decided to come home. Our little princess." she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

My cousin chuckled, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. "Princess? More like a beggar in silk.I heard you came begging for some cash today," she sneered, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "All to save that old hag you call a grandmother."

Her words struck like poison, but I forced myself not to flinch. Grandma was the only person who had ever truly loved me, and hearing her insulted like that ignited a fire in my chest.

I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms. "Watch your mouth," I said, my voice low but steady. "She is worth more than everything you own."

She laughed loudly, clapping her hands together in mock amusement. "Oh, listen to her! Acting brave now. Do you think that changes the fact that you're nothing but a burden?"Their laughter stung, but I kept my face straight. I refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break.

"Just Shut it, all of you!" my uncle's voice thundered through the room.

Instantly, there was a total silence

"We have finalized the deal with the Rodriguezs," he announced firmly. "So all of you get ready. The engagement will take place in two days' time."

His words struck me like a heavy blow. Two days. Just forty-eight hours before my life would no longer be mine.

My aunt and cousin exchanged quick, satisfied glances. To them, this was another chance to see me caged. To me, it felt like the end of freedom.