Prologue
Ten years ago, in a time when the world seemed far simpler, Alessandra found herself lost in a whirlwind of emotions. Her heart ached, and her soul shattered as Sancho, the man who she believed loved her, spoke words that cut deeper than any blade.
"You know how it goes, Alessandra. I just revelledd in our love until it lasted. My parents would never approve of us," Sancho declared, his voice laden with frustration. "You knew this from the beginning. So, don't be surprised that I'm ending this."
Alessandra was left speechless, her worldunravellingg before her eyes. She had thought their love was genuine, a cherished bond, but Sancho revealed it was a mere pastime. He had no intention of resisting his parents' will in choosing his future wife.
"I thought you loved me?" She uttered those clichéd words, the only ones her stunned heart could muster.
Sancho's response was cruel and unwavering: "That's nonsense! No matter how deep our love is, you'll never be good enough. You must engrave this in your heart. The wealthy belong with the wealth and the poor with the poor. I'm rich, exceedingly so. I don't belong with someone as poor as you."
Alessandra's dreams crumbled as Sancho continued, "Wake up! You're no Cinderella, and fairy tales are long gone. You must face the reality that some things are beyond our control. Just like us, I'm sorry, but I will marry a girl of wealth, sophistication, and elegance from high society. So, we need to end this now."
She listened to his words, feeling as though time stood still. Every word was crystal clear, but something within her refused to accept this harsh reality. She wanted to believe it was all a nightmare, a terrible dream.
Yet she found her hand drawn to Sancho's face, and she slapped him, the pain confirming this was no dream.
"Are you saying that everything you told me was a lie? That you never truly loved me?" She asked, her voice shaking.
"No, but... I'm sorry. Sooner or later, you'll realize that I did this for you. Because I care about you, and I do love you," Sancho admitted sincerely.
Alessandra couldn't contain her anger, cursin, and feeling her blood boil. "Now that's nonsense! After all the insults you hurled at me earlier, do you expect me to believe you did this out of love? Damn it!"
Sancho silenced her with a stern look. "Stop cursing! You know how much I hate hearing you talk like that. Hate me if you must, but it doesn't change the fact that I'm leaving you. I'm sorry."
With those words, he left, leaving Alessandra shattered and in tears, her heart in pieces.
The aftermath left her with nothing; her world was reduced to echoes of his hurtful words. She felt as if the world was replaying his cruelty in her mind. Her despair seemed endless, as if her very soul would wither away.
But one day, when she turned on the television, there he was: Sancho, as handsome as ever, smiling and charming the press alongside a beautiful woman. Alessandra's heart ached as she realized this was just a week after their breakup.
It was a week where she had hidden herself away, unable to face the world. Her appearance had suffered, and she looked nothing like her former self. She couldn't bear to see Sancho move on so quickly.
Turning off the television, Alessandra looked in the mirror, shocked by her own reflection. This wasn't her. She vowed never to let someone like Sancho into her heart again.
With unwavering determination, she decided to leave the past behind and rise from the ashes of her heartbreak. That day, Alessandra promised herself that she would never allow another Sancho Rodrigo de la Vega to break her spirit.
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