Chapter 10: 10.

The custom-made dress Evelyn had forced on me felt suffocating, tight in all the wrong places, clinging to my body like a punishment.

The satin dug into my skin, the corset squeezing the air out of my lungs. I couldn’t wait to escape from it, but I had no choice but to endure it. This day wasn’t mine, yet I was the one paying the price.

In the bridal room, things only got worse. My mother had slapped me hard across the face, her palm landing with a sting that radiated down my jaw.

“That’s for your disrespectful tone on the phone!” she hissed, her voice trembling with rage. “You think you can talk to me like that? After everything we’ve done for you?”

I stood there, swallowing back the urge to cry, tasting the bitterness of humiliation instead. My cheek burned, but I refused to let her see me break. My fingers trembled as I adjusted the hem of the dress.

“Vera!” my father’s voice boomed from outside the door, pulling me out of the confrontation.

Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and walked out. My father waited, offering his arm. Without a word, I slipped my hand into his, my nails biting into my palm to keep myself grounded. Step by step, we made our way down the aisle.

The Grand Hall was a blur of lights and faces. The soft hum of whispers echoed as I walked, but I didn’t dare look at anyone. My chest felt hollow, like a bird trapped in a gilded cage.

At the end of the aisle stood Daniel, his expression polished and polite. His dark suit fit him perfectly, his posture confident, every move calculated to maintain his gentlemanly facade. He stepped forward, extending his hand as though this was some fairy tale.

I took it, my grip cold and reluctant.

The vows were exchanged, each word heavier than the last. My lips moved, but the voice that came out didn’t feel like mine. The priest’s words blurred together until I heard him say it.

“You may now kiss the bride.”

Daniel didn’t hesitate. He grabbed me, his hand firm on the back of my head, and his lips crashed onto mine. The kiss was anything but gentle. His movements were rough, demanding, and suffocating. I felt trapped, the air stolen from my lungs. My hands clenched into fists, every fiber of my being screaming to push him away, but I stood there, frozen.

I felt like dying in that moment. Like I was being consumed by something vile and inescapable.

The applause rang through the hall, jolting me back to reality. As soon as Daniel pulled away, I gasped for air, my lips tingling with a mixture of pain and disgust.

He turned to the crowd, flashing his charming smile, while I stood there, trembling.

His parents approached us next, their smiles wide, their words dripping with false warmth. “Welcome to the family, dear,” his mother said, pulling me into a stiff hug.

“May you both have a blessed and prosperous life,” his father added, shaking my hand.

I nodded numbly, murmuring a thank you, but my mind was elsewhere. I barely registered their words, the weight of the moment pressing down on me like a vice.

Just as I thought I could slip away, Daniel’s hand clamped onto my wrist. “Excuse us,” he said to the guests, dragging me off to the side.

“Daniel, what are you—” I started, but he cut me off.

“Shut up and sign this,” he said, shoving a thick contract into my hands. His tone was low but cold, his charming mask slipping.

I stared at the document, my heart sinking. “What is this?”

“An agreement. You’re my wife now, Vera. This is to ensure you understand the terms of this arrangement.”

My hands trembled as I flipped through the pages. It was all there: financial control, behavior expectations, and the cold reminder that this wasn’t a marriage—it was a business deal.

“I can’t—”

“You don’t have a choice,” he said, leaning closer, his voice like ice. “Sign it, or I’ll make your parents regret ever crossing me. Do you want that on your conscience?”

My throat tightened. My parents’ faces flashed in my mind—my mother’s anger, my father’s desperation. They’d put me here, but I couldn’t let them lose everything.

With tears welling in my eyes, I picked up the pen and signed my name. Each stroke of the pen felt like carving pieces out of my soul.

Daniel smirked, taking the papers from my hands. “Good girl,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery.

As he walked away, I stood there, broken and silent. The applause from earlier still echoed in my ears, mocking me. This wasn’t a wedding. It was my surrender.

\--

The dinner was just as miserable as the ceremony. I sat at the long table, picking at the food on my plate, my stomach twisting in knots. The tight dress dug into my ribs every time I shifted, making it impossible to relax. I kept my gaze fixed downward, ignoring the lively chatter around me.

Then it happened.

Evelyn screamed, her voice slicing through the air like a sharp blade. Everyone turned to her as she stood, clutching her stomach, her face pale. Blood seeped through her dress, staining the pristine white fabric in crimson. Gasps erupted around the room, followed by the sound of chairs scraping against the floor.

“Call an ambulance!” someone yelled.