THE SECRET FACE

One night, Ella couldn’t sleep.

She went out onto the veranda of the big house.

There she saw Don Armando — standing at the edge of the garden,
removing something from his neck.

She covered her mouth.

The skin on Don Armando’s face…

was slowly peeling off.

And beneath the skin, what she saw was not a fat old man —
but a young man who was extremely handsome, muscular, and well-known in business.

“My God…” Ella whispered, “what is this?”

The man was surprised, immediately approaching.

“Ella, wait a minute. Don’t be afraid.”

“Who are you?!” she shouted, shaking.

He slowly removed the entire mask.

And in front of him, stood Ethan Vergara, the real CEO of the company owned by Don Armando.

“I am Ethan.

I used the form of Don Armando… because I wanted to know you — not as rich, but as a man.”

THE REAL TEST

Ella couldn’t believe it.

“Why did you do this?”

“Because everyone I met only wanted me because of my money.
So I decided to pretend to be a fat old man… to see if anyone would still love me even if I had no shine, even if I had no form.”

Ella burst into tears.

“And I… I was really the one you chose to try?”

“Yes,” Ethan replied, “because the first time I saw you, you didn’t reject a life that others didn’t want.

I wanted to see how far you could go — and I saw it. You have a beautiful heart.”

But she ran away.

Not out of anger, but out of shame.

“The only reason I agreed was for money.

But now, I feel like… I’m the poorest person in the world.”

THE CHANGE

She left the mansion a few weeks later.

She hid in a small apartment, looking for a job.

But one day, a man came with an envelope.

Inside, there was a note:

“Ella,

I don’t need a perfect woman.

What I want is someone who knows how to love even if she makes mistakes.

If you’re ready, I’ll go back to the old church where we were first married — not as Don Armando, but as me.”

THE REAL WEDDING

On Sunday, she went to the old church.

Inside, Ethan stood, wearing a simple barong, no mask, no wealth.
She approached, crying.

“I’m sorry… I don’t know how I’ll pay for all the lies I’ve told myself.”

“You don’t have to pay,” Ethan replied, holding her hand.

“Because of love, what’s needed is not change — but courage.”

And there, before God, the two of them embraced.

This was no longer a marriage of necessity.

This was a marriage of truth and heart.

EPILOGUE

A year later, they returned to Ella’s village.

A scholarship fund was set up for women like her —
those who were once forced by life to make choices, but learned to choose the right one in the end.

And to every girl who approached her, Ella said:

“You don’t have to pretend to be loved.

Because your true heart is your best form.”