—Hello? Hello? —said insistently before realizing that the call had cut off with her phone falling.

Ava felt overwhelmed by the proposal Daniel had just made to her over the phone. She knew her answer would affect not only her life but also Daniel's, her family's, and their entire world in general.

She went to bed without having dinner, her heart pounding. Her mother noticed her strangeness, but soon returned to her usual concerns and decided not to question her. Maybe it was nothing serious.

After a night of waking up unable to get a good sleep, in the morning Ava knew she needed fresh air and to go for a walk to clear her mind. So, she got up much earlier than usual. Her mother was still asleep, exhausted from taking care of her husband, who was sick.

As she walked through the park, she remembered how it all started, how Daniel had fallen in love with her from the first time he saw her in the restaurant where she worked as a waitress.

How could she, a working-class girl, accept marrying a rich and powerful man? She knew his offer could bring the necessary money to her family. How could she refuse to help her mother and father and improve their lives?

But she also wondered if Daniel really loved her, as he claimed, or if he just wanted to play with her. Could she trust him? After all, she felt he had hidden details about his identity and life while they were casually talking.

What else could he be hiding?

Ava stopped at a park bench and sat down to reflect, sighing without really knowing what to do. Suddenly, she heard a voice that snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Could you give me a little help, miss?" a disheveled woman asked her.

Ava patted the pockets of her skirt, but she didn't have any money with her.

"I'm sorry, I don't have any at the moment." The woman made a gesture of pain and disappointment to leave, and Ava couldn't help but picture herself in that situation. Could... financial troubles lead her to that?

Obviously, she saw herself in that mirror in a distant future, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that it could become a reality.

She snapped out of it immediately, trying not to think chaotic thoughts, and decided to go back home.

Ava entered and found her mother in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Her father, suffering from cancer, was still under observation in the hospital, but she knew her mother would visit him every day.

"Mom, how was dad yesterday? I'm sorry we didn't talk much, but you know I'm always keeping an eye on him," Ava asked with concern.

"Yesterday wasn't a good day for him, my daughter. Your father could barely sleep the night before, and his pain hasn't stopped," her mother replied sadly.

Ava felt desolate hearing this. In addition to her father's illness, the mortgage he had taken out on the house was due, either they paid or they would be out on the street, and she needed to get money immediately.

"Mom, I have to go to work. I need to do everything possible to get money and help pay the debts," Ava said with a worried expression.

"I know it's hard, my daughter, but I believe you'll succeed. Have faith," her mother replied with an encouraging tone.

Ava quickly got ready and left the house in a hurry, without having breakfast. As she walked to her job, her mind was filled with thoughts and doubts about Daniel's marriage proposal.

Would it be the solution to her financial problems? Was she willing to marry someone she didn't know, let alone love, just for money?

She arrived at the restaurant where she worked and started her shift. But her mind kept wandering to his proposal, even as she served the customers.

"Damn, why does it have to be so difficult?" she complained silently.

Ava knew that Daniel's proposal was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but she also knew it wasn't the way she wanted to live her life. But then, the memory of seeing her sick father and the mortgage about to expire came to mind, and she began to wonder if she really had a choice.

Ava felt overwhelmed and confused by her situation, but she knew she had to find a solution soon. Just like that, her shift ended without much trouble.

Upon arriving home, she greeted her mother, who was crying this time because Harry, her father, had taken a serious turn for the worse. He was at risk of passing away at any moment, his body couldn't take it anymore.

Ava went to her room to cry, and suddenly her phone vibrated. She was surprised to hear Daniel on the other end of the line.

Although she had spent the entire day thinking about his proposal, she didn't expect a call so soon. She remained silent for a few seconds before responding.

"I'm sorry I hung up on you last time. Thank you for calling," Ava said in a somewhat cold tone.

"Ava, please, listen to me," Daniel responded urgently. "I don't want you to feel pressured by my previous proposal. I know it was impulsive, and I didn't give you enough time to think it over. But I need you to know why I asked."

Ava lay down on the bed, unsure of what to say.

"My company is in serious financial trouble," Daniel continued. "I urgently need a solution to avoid bankruptcy. At first, the idea of a business marriage seemed terrible to me, but after talking to you, I realized that what I want most is to be with you... forever. This feeling I have for you is not even remotely normal; you've got me crazy."

"Daniel, I... I don't know what to say," Ava said sincerely. "The truth is, I'm very confused right now. I'm not sure if accepting would be the right thing to do. Besides, what would you benefit from it? I don't have assets, I'm not rich or anything like that."

"Ava, your social class doesn't matter right now, and I'm not asking you to decide right away," Daniel replied. "Take all the time you need to think it over. I don't want you to feel pressured."

Daniel sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He was overwhelmed by all the emotions he was feeling right now. On one hand, he was talking to an almost stranger. On the other hand, there was his family, who urgently needed his financial help.

"Daniel, there's something else you need to know," Ava finally said. "My family is going through a very tough time. My dad is sick, and we have a mortgage that's due in two weeks. I need to work more hours to be able to help, one of my brothers is unemployed, and my mother is fully focused on taking care of my father."

Daniel fell silent for a moment, processing this information.

"I... I didn't know any of that," Daniel said softly. "Please, let me help you. If you accept my proposal, you won't have to worry about money anymore. I promise I'll take care of you and your family."

Ava felt overwhelmed by Daniel's offer. It was difficult to resist someone who offered you everything you needed in a time of crisis. But at the same time, she couldn't ignore her own heart.

"Daniel, I... I accept," Ava finally said, her voice trembling. "But only if you promise you'll never hurt me. And if you promise you'll always be honest with me."

The man breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing those words. He had been waiting for two weeks to hear Ava accept his proposal, and now she had finally done it. But he knew his work wasn't done yet.

"Ava López, I promise," Daniel said with his heart racing.