In a quiet rural town in Oaxaca, Mexico, the story of Don Tomás became the talk of every street corner. At 70 years old, he was still a respected and wealthy farmer, admired for his hard work and fortune. Yet, despite his success, one dream had never come true—he longed for a son to carry on his family name.
Years earlier, his beloved wife Doña Rosa had passed away, leaving him with three daughters, all now married with families of their own. Still, Don Tomás held onto the hope of having a male heir. That hope pushed him toward a decision that would change not only his life, but also the life of a young woman named Marisol.
A Marriage of Necessity
Marisol was just 20 years old, the daughter of a struggling family from the same town. Beautiful, youthful, and innocent, she found herself at a crossroads. Her parents desperately needed money for her younger brother’s medical treatment, and Don Tomás’s proposal promised to solve their problems.
Although her heart resisted, Marisol agreed to the marriage for the sake of her family. With tears in her eyes, she told her mother on the night before the wedding:
“I just hope he treats me well… I will do my duty.”
The ceremony was simple yet grand in its own way. Don Tomás wanted everyone in the town to witness that he was still strong and capable of starting a new family. Neighbors whispered about the age difference, some criticizing, others shaking their heads in disbelief. But Don Tomás smiled with pride, determined to prove them wrong.
The Wedding Night That Changed Everything
When the celebration ended, the newlyweds retired to their room. Don Tomás, dressed elegantly, drank a traditional liquor he believed would “revive his youth” and prepare him for the night.
Marisol, nervous and unsure of what awaited her, forced a smile to hide her fear. The atmosphere grew quiet and intimate. But before the night could even begin, tragedy struck.
Don Tomás suddenly clutched his chest, his breathing short and uneven. Within seconds, his face contorted in pain, and he collapsed onto the bed. Terrified, Marisol cried out for help as she tried to shake him awake, but his body grew cold and rigid before her eyes.
Relatives rushed in, followed by neighbors, and the room filled with chaos. He was rushed to the hospital, but doctors could only confirm the inevitable: the elderly farmer had suffered a fatal heart attack.
A Town Full of Whispers
The shocking news spread quickly across the village. Some pitied Marisol, while others mocked the situation with cruel remarks:
“He wanted a son, but fate had other plans.”
The marriage that was supposed to secure Don Tomás’s legacy had ended before it even began.
The Aftermath for Marisol
Though the money from the marriage allowed her family to pay off debts and save her brother, Marisol herself paid the heaviest price. At just 20 years old, she was now a widow, forever remembered as “Don Tomás’s second wife.”
Her story became a haunting reminder of how choices made out of desperation can alter lives forever. The wedding night that was meant to mark the beginning of a new chapter instead became the tragic ending of a man’s dream—and the start of a young woman’s lifelong burden.
