Clara had always believed that poverty could take away comfort.
She never imagined it could take away her freedom.
At twenty-four, she had dreams of becoming a teacher, opening a small bookstore, and one day taking her mother on a trip to the sea.
Then her father gambled away everything.
The house.
Their savings.
His business.
And finally, fifty million pesos he could never repay.
The money belonged to the most feared businessman in the country.
Don Sebastian Montemayor.
Everyone knew his name.
Everyone feared him.
But almost nobody had ever seen him clearly.
Newspapers described Sebastian as a reclusive billionaire who weighed nearly three hundred pounds. Rumors claimed he could barely walk, suffered from numerous illnesses, and hid his body beneath enormous clothes.
The cruelest newspapers called him:
“The Pig Billionaire.”
Clara had never met him.
Until the night his men came to her house.
THE DEBT
Three black SUVs stopped outside the family’s small home.
Clara looked through the window.
Her father immediately went pale.
“Who are they?”
Her mother whispered.
Her father didn’t answer.
A knock thundered against the door.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
“Mr. Reyes!”
Clara’s father closed his eyes.
“They found us.”
Two men entered.
Behind them stood an enormous figure sitting in a motorized wheelchair.
His face was partially hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat.
His expensive black suit looked several sizes too large.
A handkerchief was pressed against his forehead.
Clara stared.
So this was Don Sebastian.
The billionaire everyone mocked.
One of his men placed a folder on the table.
“Fifty million pesos. Your deadline was yesterday.”
Clara’s father dropped to his knees.
“Please! Give me another month!”
“You’ve been asking for another month for two years.”
“I’ll find the money!”
Sebastian finally spoke.
His voice was deep and strangely tired.
“You won’t.”
Clara stepped forward.
“Sir…”
Sebastian looked at her.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Clara’s father suddenly shouted:
“I have another way to pay!”
Clara turned.
“Dad?”
Her father’s eyes avoided hers.
“I’ll give you my daughter.”
Silence filled the room.
Clara stared at him.
“What?”
Her father swallowed.
“Clara will marry Don Sebastian.”
Her heart stopped.
“You’re selling me?”
“No! I’m saving us!”
“You’re selling me!”
Sebastian’s expression hardened.
“Enough.”
Everyone became silent.
He looked toward Clara.
“I don’t want a wife who hates me.”
Clara’s father immediately answered.
“She won’t! She’s obedient. She’s kind. She’ll take care of you.”
Clara felt tears burning her eyes.
Sebastian watched her carefully.
Then he said something nobody expected.
“She can refuse.”
Her father looked horrified.
“If she refuses, you go to prison.”
Clara looked at her father.
Then at her mother.
Then at the terrifying billionaire.
She realized there was no real choice.
Her voice trembled.
“I’ll marry him.”
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed.
“Are you certain?”
Clara nodded.
“Yes.”
He looked away.
“Then the wedding will be next Saturday.”
THE WEDDING
The wedding became the scandal of the year.
Reporters crowded outside the church.
Guests whispered behind Clara’s back.
“She is beautiful.”
“Why would she marry him?”
“She must be desperate.”
“Imagine spending your wedding night with that man.”
Clara heard every word.
She wanted to disappear.
But when Sebastian arrived in his wheelchair, sweating beneath his suit, she noticed something unexpected.
He looked nervous.
Not angry.
Not arrogant.
Nervous.
When they stood beside each other, Clara quietly asked:
“Are you uncomfortable?”
Sebastian looked at her.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re sweating.”
“I always sweat.”
She pulled a handkerchief from her purse.
Before he could stop her, she gently wiped his forehead.
The entire church seemed to freeze.
Sebastian stared at her.
Clara smiled faintly.
“You’ll ruin your suit.”
For the first time in years, Sebastian didn’t know what to say.
During the ceremony, Clara never pulled away from him.
When photographers asked them to hold hands, she did.
When Sebastian struggled to stand for the photographs, she quietly supported his arm.
And when everyone expected Clara to look disgusted…
she simply looked kind.
That kindness disturbed Sebastian more than hatred ever could.
THEIR FIRST NIGHT
The mansion was enormous.
Marble floors.
Crystal chandeliers.
Dozens of servants.
Clara had never seen anything like it.
Sebastian’s bedroom was almost as large as her entire childhood home.
He entered with difficulty and sat heavily on the edge of the bed.
Clara waited.
Finally, he said:
“You can sleep on the sofa.”
She blinked.
“Why?”
“Because I’m too large. You’ll be uncomfortable.”
She nodded.
Then he added coldly:
“And before I sleep, I want my feet cleaned.”
Clara stared at him.
He continued.
“Then bring me food.”
Something about his expression made her suspicious.
But she didn’t argue.
She brought water.
She helped him remove his shoes.
She prepared his meal.
She even placed a pillow behind his back.
Sebastian watched her the entire time.
Finally, he asked:
“Why aren’t you complaining?”
“Would it change anything?”
“No.”
“Then there’s no point.”
He stared at her.
“You don’t hate me?”
Clara paused.
“I don’t know you well enough to hate you.”
Those words stayed with him long after she went to sleep.
THE STRANGE MARRIAGE
The following months were nothing like Clara expected.
Sebastian was difficult.
He complained constantly.
He pretended to be helpless.
He demanded strange things.
But Clara slowly noticed inconsistencies.
Whenever he thought she wasn’t watching, he moved differently.
His shoulders straightened.
His breathing became normal.
Sometimes he disappeared into his private study for hours.
And every morning, Clara noticed something strange.
His clothes were enormous.
Far too enormous.
One evening she accidentally entered his study.
Sebastian immediately turned around.
“What are you doing?”
“I was looking for you.”
“Leave.”
Clara stopped.
She noticed a strange device on the table.
It appeared to be some kind of medical equipment.
“Are you sick?”
Sebastian’s face hardened.
“No.”
“Then why do you need that?”
“Because I said leave.”
Clara quietly walked out.
She didn’t ask again.
But she became curious.
THE SECRET
Six months passed.
Something changed between them.
Sebastian stopped pretending to be completely helpless around Clara.
He began talking to her.
Really talking.
They had dinner together.
They watched movies.
He discovered that Clara loved old books.
The next morning, he filled an entire room with them.
When Clara asked why, he simply said:
“You mentioned liking books.”
She smiled.
“You remembered?”
“I remember everything you say.”
She looked at him differently after that.
Sebastian noticed.
And for the first time, he was afraid.
Because he was falling in love with his wife.
But Clara still didn’t know the truth.
THE ANNIVERSARY
One year after their wedding, Sebastian arranged a private celebration.
No guests.
No reporters.
Just the two of them.
Clara entered the dining room and stopped.
Candles covered the table.
Her favorite flowers surrounded the room.
There was a cake.
And beside it sat a small velvet box.
“What is this?”
“Your anniversary gift.”
Clara smiled.
“You remembered.”
“I told you.”
He stood.
But this time…
something was different.
He didn’t use his wheelchair.
Clara froze.
“Sebastian?”
He took one step.
Then another.
She stared at him.
“You can walk?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he reached for the buttons of his enormous jacket.
Clara’s eyes widened.
“What are you doing?”
“You deserve to know the truth.”
He removed his jacket.
Then his gloves.
Then he reached beneath the collar of his shirt.
Clara stepped backward.
“Sebastian?”
He pulled gently at something near his neck.
And Clara screamed.
THE “SKIN”
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