"You actually did that?" he said, narrowing his eyes as he spoke each word with care.
A flicker of doubt tugged at her, but she refused to let it show. Carolina lifted her chin and met his gaze without backing down. If he struck her, then so be it. Taking a hit would be better than standing there like she had no will of her own.
"Yes," she answered, her voice sharp and steady.
His jaw tightened, and without another word, he turned his back on her. Long strides carried him out of the room. He had never been the kind of man to raise his hand against a woman, and he wasn't about to start now. Still, dealing with her tested his patience. He had no intention of arguing any further. "If she wants to starve, that's her choice."
The door slammed shut behind him with such force that she flinched before she could stop herself.
"At least he's gone," she muttered to herself, letting her body fall back onto the bed, her arms stretched above her head.
After a while, she sat up and reached for the book lying twisted on the floor.
"I'm sorry about that," she replied softly, brushing her fingers over the cover. Books had always meant something to her.
A short time later, Dolores arrived with a tray of food. As she handed it over, her eyes flicked down the hallway, and Carolina noticed the hesitation.
"Dona Dolores, did you bring this without telling him?"
"Yes, ma'am," Dolores replied. "Go on, take it." She nudged the tray forward, and Carolina accepted it.
"I don't want you getting in trouble because of me," Carolina said under her breath. Dolores smiled warmly in response.
"There's no need to worry, ma'am," she responded. "Mr. Maximo can be stubborn, but he wouldn't take it out on me. At most, he'll say a few words."
Carolina shook her head with a small smile.
"Thank you," Carolina said, her voice soft as she smiled at the older woman. "Good night, Dona Dolores."
She held onto that small exchange. At least someone here showed her kindness.
"You're welcome, ma'am," Dolores replied gently. "And... try to be patient. He'll come around in time."
With a faint smile, Carolina gave a small shake of her head before shutting the door. He doesn't have to adjust to anything, she thought. He's the one who forced this marriage. I didn't get a choice at all. That thought only deepened the bitterness she already felt toward him.
"Enough, Carolina. Stop thinking and go eat. Meals aren't something you skip."
She headed to wash her hands, said a quiet prayer, then sat down and started eating.
Elsewhere, Maximo sat alone in his room, his mood far from settled. A towel still hung around his waist as he remained seated on the bed.
"That woman has no sense at all," he muttered before dropping back onto the mattress.
What bothered him wasn't just the argument. It was the way she had refused him.
After everything that had happened earlier, he couldn't accept it.
"Well, you didn't pay her," he muttered to himself. Even so, something inside him resisted that thought. She hadn't taken the first offer either.
"She's playing a game. Acting distant so she can get more out of it. I know this kind of behavior."
He turned onto his side and eventually drifted off. Sleep didn't clear his thoughts. Even in his dreams, Carolina stayed there, her temper and stubbornness lingering.
Morning came, and he made his way downstairs for breakfast. After waiting for some time, he turned his gaze toward Dolores and asked where she was, questioning why Carolina had not come down yet.
A trace of worry showed on the older woman's face as she looked at him. Sensing something was off, he set his fork down and turned toward her, already expecting something he wouldn't like.
"Sir... Mrs. Castillo left very early this morning."
His expression tightened.
"She left? Where did she go, Dolores?"
"I don't know, sir," she answered honestly. "I saw her coming down the stairs and called out to her, but she only waved and kept walking."
His hand moved to the napkin on his lap. He wiped his mouth, then tossed it onto the table with clear irritation.
"That woman is trouble," he scoffed. Then his voice rose. "Jacinto!"
Moments later, the servant stepped into the dining room. He removed his hat and lowered his head respectfully.
"Yes, Mr. Castillo?"
"Do you know where my wife went?" Maximo held back his temper as he spoke, though it still edged his tone.
"She asked Fernando to drive her into the city, sir," Jacinto replied. "But he refused. He said he needed to speak with you first. After that, she took out her phone and arranged for a car herself. Then she walked out through the gate."
Maximo drew in a slow breath, forcing himself to stay calm. Part of him wished Fernando had taken her. At least then, he would've known where she was and who she was with. Still, the man hadn't done anything wrong, so there was no reason to fault him.
"Alright. Thank you. Tell Fernando that next time, he's to take her without hesitation. And I expect to be informed of where Mrs. Castillo goes." Another breath followed, and a faint smile touched his lips. There was something in it that felt off. "You can go now, Jacinto."
With a small gesture of his hand, he dismissed him. Jacinto nodded and quietly stepped out.
Maximo rose from his seat, grabbed his keys, and adjusted the mask covering half his face before heading out. He wasn't trying to control her. But letting her wander off alone didn't sit right with him.
She didn't know the area. The people didn't know who she was. If anything happened... That thought alone pushed him forward.
He got into the car and drove off, picking up speed without hesitation. Leaving the farm wasn't something he did often, and he rarely showed himself among the people of Aguas Lindas. He knew what they said about him when he wasn't around.
He drove through the outskirts first, scanning every corner. No sign of her. Street after street passed, and still nothing.
"Damn it. I'll have to look on foot," he muttered, frustration rising. His hand struck the steering wheel.
The car came to a stop. He let out a long breath and pushed the door open halfway. Just as he was about to step out, a voice nearby caught his attention.
"Yes, she's new here. She just arrived, and this already happened to her. Poor thing."
His expression changed at once. Visitors were rare in that place. Which meant...
