My name is Eron. I am 20 years old.

And yes… I was the guy everyone made fun of.

The neighborhood madman.

The man who decided to marry a 60-year-old woman.

Doña Celia.

Elegant.
Calm.
Mysterious.

And very far from my world.

I came from nothing.

Son of farmers.
No education.
No money.

But she…

She taught me how to dream.

He taught me to read, to invest, to think like someone who does have a future.

I didn’t fall in love with his money.

I fell in love with the way he looked at me… as if I was worth more than I ever believed.

But nobody understood.

“He’s using you!”
“He’s put a spell on you!
” “That’s not love!”

I would just reply:

—You don’t know Celia.

And yet…

I married her.

The living room was perfect.

Too perfect.

Violins.
Warm lights.
Expensive flowers.

But something didn’t add up.

Too many men dressed in black.
Too much security.

As if it weren’t a wedding…

But an event that someone important had to protect.

But I didn’t ask.

Because that night…

She was the only thing that mattered.

The room was enormous.

Silent.

Intimate.

And then…

He handed me an envelope.

One million pesos.

And the keys to a pickup truck.

I felt like the world was spinning.

“This is my gift to you,” he said.

But I shook my head.

—I don’t need anything… having you.

Her lips trembled.

And there…

Something changed.

—Son… I mean… Eron…

That word.

That mistake.

It made me frown.

—I have to tell you something… before you fully accept me.

The air became heavy.

He slowly took off his blazer…

And at that moment…

Everything stopped.

It wasn’t her body.
It wasn’t her age.

That’s what I was wearing…

Below.

A scar.

Big.

Ancient.

It crossed his torso like a story no one wanted to tell.

“This… is not all,” he whispered.

My heart started beating faster.

—What does this mean, Celia?

She looked up.

And what I saw…

It wasn’t fear.

It was my fault.

—I am not who you think I am.

Silence.

—Not even this life… is what it seems.

The world broke.

PART 2

Eron felt his legs tremble.

The room, which a few minutes ago seemed like a dream… now felt like a trap.

“Explain to me…” he said, his voice dry.

Celia closed her eyes for a second.

As if gathering courage were harder than telling the truth.

—That money… is not a gift.

Eron’s heart gave a thump.

—It’s compensation.

Silence.

—Compensation for what?

She took a deep breath.

—Because of what you’re going to lose.

The air disappeared.

-I don’t understand anything.

Celia walked slowly towards the window.

Outside, the lights were still on…

But now Eron noticed something he had previously ignored.

The men in black… were not celebrating.

They were watching.

“Eron…” she said. “I’m not just a rich woman.”

He turned around.

—I am connected to people… who don’t let go of what they consider theirs.

A shiver ran down his spine.

—What kind of people?

Silence.

—Dangerous people.

The words fell like stones.

—So… why did you marry me?

She looked at him.

And for the first time…

He looked vulnerable.

—Because you were the only real thing I had.

That hurt more than it should have.

—So what now?

Celia lowered her gaze.

—Now… they know who you are.

The world froze.

-They?

Then…

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The door.

Three knocks.

Stand firm.

Leisurely.

Fearless.

Eron felt his heart rise into his throat.

Celia didn’t move.

—They’ve arrived.

The air turned cold.

-Who is it?

But deep down…

I already knew that.

The door opened.

Without waiting for a response.

Two men entered.

Black suits.
Empty stares.

And behind them…

An older man.

Elegant.

With a smile… that wasn’t friendly.

“Congratulations on the wedding,” he said.

But his tone… was anything but celebratory.

He looked at Eron.

From head to toe.

—So you’re the boy.

Eron did not respond.

I couldn’t.

—Nice gesture, Celia —the man continued—. Very… sentimental.

He took a step closer.

—But you know this doesn’t change anything.

Celia clenched her fists.

—Leave him out of this.

The man smiled.

-Too late.

The silence became unbearable.

“Eron,” he said, looking him straight in the eyes.

—You have just entered a world… from which there is no escape.

His heart was beating strongly.

—What do they want from me?

The man bowed his head.

—Nothing complicated.

Pause.

—Only… loyalty.

Eron looked at Celia.

She didn’t say anything.

But in her eyes…

There was a warning.

A plea.

And a truth that could no longer be hidden.

That marriage…

It wasn’t a happy ending.

It was a door.

And he…

I had just crossed it.