Bound To A Scarred Billionaire: Can Love Bloom From Ashes?

"Dad... I don't want to marry him," Carolina said, her voice breaking as she rose from her chair.

"There's no room for what you want. You're going to marry him, and that's final. This family needs something from you." Her father, Gaspar Navarro, stepped closer. "After everything I've done raising you, this is the least you can give in return."

"I'm still your daughter!"

His hand struck her face, and the sting lingered. The imprint of his fingers stayed visible as he grabbed her shoulders and shook her.

"You are not my real daughter! You've always known that. I took you in, gave you a life like this, and you think you don't owe us anything?"

"I... why does it have to be me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Why wouldn't it be you? You think I'd send my own daughter to marry someone like that when you're here? You were always meant to be useful for something."

With a rough shove, he let go of her. Her footing gave out, and she dropped to the floor as he turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

At 24, Carolina Navarro stood as the eldest in the Navarro household. Her mother, Paloma, had been branded unfaithful. During her escape with another man, she lost her life, leaving Carolina behind before the child had even turned two. From that point on, Gaspar refused to see her as his own.

He never bothered with a DNA test, not because he believed otherwise, but because he wanted to avoid drawing attention. Even so, he never hid how much resentment he held toward her.

At the time, the Navarro porcelain business was struggling to stay afloat. Then an opportunity appeared, one that solved two problems at once for Gaspar. It would keep his company from collapsing, and at the same time, it would remove Carolina from his house.

Maximo Castillo was the man chosen for her, the only heir to a vast dairy empire. Before everything changed, people described him as handsome, charming, sharp, and successful. Then the plane crash happened. A twin-engine aircraft went down, and half of his face was left scarred by fire. Three years later, he now needed a wife, and more importantly, an heir.

That evening, Carolina made her way to the dining room. Nadia and Eloisa were already seated, waiting. The moment she stepped in, her half-sister Eloisa looked at her with a smile that carried no warmth.

"Well, look at that. Congratulations, sister. Seems like someone's finally getting picked."

"I appreciate it, Eloisa. But I'd still choose being overlooked over being used up."

The words had barely settled when Nadia struck her across the face.

"Watch how you speak about my daughter!" she snapped, her palm slamming against the table.

"What's going on here?" Gaspar demanded as he walked in. His eyes moved between Carolina's face, Eloisa's teary expression, and Nadia's shaking lips. "I won't ask again."

"Gaspar, when exactly is this wedding happening? Carolina just