The Next Morning...
Emma woke up and got ready, wearing an elegant long-sleeved white dress with delicate embroidery. She completed her look with silver earrings and her hair flowing gently over her shoulders. She looked like she was ready to face a day full of challenges. Once done, she headed to Jacob's room.
Emma (loudly): Jaaaacob! Wake up!
Jacob (groaning): Let me sleep a bit more, Emma...
Emma: Fine, I'll go see Mom and Dad on my own.
Jacob (sitting up quickly): No, no! Okay, I'm up!
Emma (smiling): I'll wait for you in the living room. Don't take long.
While she was waiting...
Emma's phone suddenly rang. It was Mrs. Russo.
Mrs. Russo (anxiously): Emma! Turn on the TV now!
Emma (worried): What? What is it?
Mrs. Russo: Just turn it on! You'll understand!
Emma, now nervous, grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. She froze in shock as the screen showed Jacob holding Camila, with a headline reading:
"Jacob, Emma's manager, seen with a mystery lover at Emma's album launch party!"
Emma (stunned): What on earth is this?!
Jacob walked in, rubbing his eyes.
Jacob (sleepily): Why all the yelling? Turn down the TV a bit.
Emma (angrily pointing at the screen): Look for yourself!
Jacob stepped closer. When he saw the pictures and the headline, his eyes widened in shock.
Jacob: This is nonsense! It's a ridiculous rumor!
Emma (serious): Tell me the truth, Jacob. I'm your sister, but I need to know everything.
Jacob (explaining): Nothing happened! She almost fell, I caught her. I don't even know who she is. She seemed like she was from a middle-class background.
Emma (worried): Oh my God. This could hurt both your reputation and mine.
Jacob (reassuring): Don't worry, I'll talk to the media and explain everything.
⸻
Meanwhile, with Victor and his family...
Victor (angrily): You told me you went to the store! What is this?!
Camila: Please, brother, calm down! We're in a hospital.
Victor: Don't dodge the question. Tell me the truth.
Camila: I did go to the store. I almost fell, and he caught me.
Victor: And now how are we supposed to call this a rumor? We're from a modest family—who would believe us?
Aline: Calm down, sweetheart.
Victor: Mom, do you know who that guy is? He's wealthy and from a famous family. Of course he'll spin things to blame my sister.
Aline: He'll understand, son.
Victor: I don't think so.
Aline: We'll see what happens.
⸻
At the hospital...
Emma rushed to her parents' room.
Emma: Mom! Dad!
Isabelle & Edward: Sweetheart!
Emma: Are you okay? I was so worried about you.
Isabelle: Don't worry, dear. We're fine.
Jacob: The media is all over the place outside.
Edward: Because of us?
Emma: Because of you both... and Jacob.
Edward: Jacob? Why?
Emma turned on the TV to show them what had aired.
Edward: When did this happen?
Emma: Last night.
Jacob: Dad, I don't even know who that girl is. She nearly fell, and I just helped her.
Edward: So what are you going to say to the press now?
Jacob: I have no idea.
Emma: I'm going to speak with the doctor. Stay here, Jacob.
As she left, she passed Victor, who was talking to the same doctor. Reporters were following Emma, eager to ask about her family and the situation with Jacob.
Emma (firmly): My family is fine. As for Jacob, that's none of your business. Please leave.
Doctor: Mr. Victor, I'm sorry, but if the rest of your father's bill isn't paid, we'll have to discharge him.
Emma overheard the conversation and, without saying a word, paid the bill. She then returned as if nothing happened.
Emma: Doctor, when can my parents be discharged?
Doctor: Tomorrow.
Emma: Great.
Doctor: By the way, Mr. Victor, the remaining amount for your father has just been paid, so you don't need to worry.
Victor: Really? Who paid?
Doctor: I wasn't told.
Victor: Thank you so much, Doctor. If I knew who it was, I'd thank them personally.
Victor turned and saw Emma on the phone, pretending to be busy.
Victor: Can I talk to you?
Emma: Me?
Victor: Yes.
Emma: What is it?
Victor: About what aired on TV... It's just a rumor. I hope it gets taken down.
Emma: I hope so too. My brother doesn't even know that girl. But why do you care so much? Her family will deal with it.
Victor: She's my sister.
Emma: Oh... sorry.
Victor: It's fine. But what's the solution to this rumor?
Emma: We'll say it's true and have them marry.
Victor: WHAT?! Are you crazy?
Emma: I've said what I had to say. I'm leaving now.
As she left, Victor was left wondering how they could possibly marry off his sister to someone she didn't even know.
Aline: What's wrong, son?
Victor: I just met the sister of the guy who was with Camila.
Aline: And how did she react?
Victor: She said the best way to shut the media up is to get them married.
Aline: WHAT!!!!
Victor: Yeah, Mom. But how are we going to tell Camila?
Unbeknownst to them, Camila had overheard the conversation.
Camila (shouting): WHAT?! No way!
Victor: Camila?!
Camila: Brother, please! I don't want to marry him!
⸻
Meanwhile...
Jacob: Are you insane?! How could I marry her?!
Emma: So this problem ends.
Jacob: I don't even know her, Emma!
Emma: Dad, please talk to him.
Edward: She's right, but Jacob's also right.
Emma: Dad, how long will this keep chasing him? We need to end it. My plan will do just that.
Isabelle: Are you sure?
Emma: Yes.
Isabelle: What about her family?
Emma: They seem like a middle-class family. They'll agree to end the scandal.
Isabelle: What do you think, Jacob?
Jacob: No!
Emma: Jacob!
Jacob: How can I marry someone I don't even know?!
Emma: I don't care! I'll go tell her family you agreed.
Jacob: You're always right, aren't you? Fine.
Emma (smirking): Hmm...
⸻
Emma: Where's that guy?!
(She coincidentally sees Victor coming out of his father's room.)
Emma: Hey, you!
Victor: What did your brother decide?
Emma: What did your sister decide?
Victor: She agreed.
Emma: So did I.
Victor: Are you sure? They don't even know each other.
Emma: I don't care. I'm sure.
Victor: Then let's at least introduce them.
(Emma ignored his suggestion.)
Emma: Tomorrow, there will be a press conference at my mansion. You're all invited. I'll send a driver to pick you up.
Victor: We can come ourselves.
Emma: Impossible. Your sister will be my brother's wife. We must treat her like a queen.
Victor: Do as you wish.
Emma: I'll also send the proper clothes for the occasion.
Victor: But wait... my father is still in the hospital!
Emma: When is he being discharged?
Victor: Tomorrow.
Emma: Perfect. The conference is in the evening.
Victor: Fine.
(She left without giving him a chance to respond.)
Victor (muttering): Arrogant!
⸻
Emma: I told you, they'll agree. They have to—otherwise the whole village will be talking about that girl.
Oh! I forgot to tell him her name.
Jacob: Should I go?
Emma (with a sly smile): Wow! You seem very eager to know her name.
Jacob: Shut up.
Emma: [smirks silently]
(Jacob walked out and bumped into Aline.)
Aline: My dear, I'm sorry for everything that's happening.
Jacob: It's fine. I don't care.
Aline: Don't worry. In time, you'll get to know each other.
Jacob (with a sigh): ...I just came to ask her name.
Aline (teasing): Seems like you care a lot about her.
Jacob: Oh, for God's sake!
Aline (smiling): Her name is Camila.
Jacob: And mine is Jacob.
(He turned and left.)
Aline (whispering to herself with a smile): I hope she's the girl of your dreams.
⸻
A few minutes later...
Victor: I didn't expect your wedding day to turn out like this.
Camila: I'm the one who messed up by going out. I'm such an idiot.
Victor: Don't say that, sis. Maybe... maybe he's the one you'll love someday.
Camila (sarcastically): In your dreams, brother. I always dreamed of marrying a rich guy, but not like this. What will people say now? That I married him for money?
Aline: Your sister is right, Victor.
Victor: But this is her fate, Mom.
Andrew (struggling to speak): M-my sweet Camila...
Camila: Dad! Look what they've decided for me!
Andrew: Sweetheart, everything they're doing is for your good.
Camila: But Dad, I'm still young!
Andrew: You're twenty-five! And you call that young?
Camila: But still, Dad... fine. As you wish.
Victor: His sister told me there's going to be a press conference tomorrow. We have to be at their house.
Camila: What about Dad?
Victor: He'll be discharged tomorrow.
Aline: Are you sure, dear?
Victor: I'm really scared.
Aline: You could ask her to postpone the conference. Her parents are still in the hospital too, as far as I know.
Victor: I'll go talk to her.
(He walked out and saw Emma on the phone.)
Victor: ...
(She gestured for him to wait until she finished the call.)
Emma: Yes, yes... talk soon. Goodbye. (She turned to him.) What is it?
Victor: Can you delay the conference until my father recovers? And your parents too?
Emma: That's what I was just discussing. The conference is postponed for a week. And listen—your sister won't be leaving the house during that time.
Victor: What about her job?
Emma: I don't care. I want her to follow my orders.
(Camila had been standing behind them. She overheard everything.)
Camila (furious): Who do you think you are to decide for me?!
Emma (calmly, with authority): I'm Emma Edward. And around here, people do what I say. I don't care what you think—you'll do as I say.
Camila: I won't!
Emma: Then the media will follow you everywhere. Your life won't be yours anymore.
Camila (sighing deeply): Ugh... Fine. I'll do what you asked.
-
To be continued...
⸻
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