na'

, the weight on my chest got heavier and oppressive every mile that went. The vast estate that awaited us was far from the luxury of my famil

and fixed on the foreign scene. Though there was no way I could protect her from all of this. I wished

nsion seemed like a fortification, its black and menacing windows above us and iron gates towering a

ains nothing from this marriage. Nothing more, nothing less is it. She looked at me, as if to say I couldn feel anything or object anything was forbidden

ne else was dictating my life, when my own existence had b

remember Mila. As long as you follow guidelines, you will be good. But s

t, but I held my voice. The

wn inside. Tatyana, the housekeeper, received us at the door. Her face was gentle but tired. She

ed with pity as she turned to face Mila. "You have to be w

to be calm. Not in front of strangers, not when I could still pu

sunlight. The home felt stifling, as though every step I took was watched and every breath

ll. The furnishings were extravagant yet oddly frigid; the area was tastef

entered. I glanced toward the entrance witho

nd relentless control helped him to create an empire. But now he was different in one other way. Marko's once-dominant persona had become a shell of his past

not grin or extend any kind of greeting to me. His presen

yet it had the same keen edge I had re

ising within me. Uncertain knowing how e

, leaving me alone with the guy I was meant to wed. The quiet betwe

e backtracking to me. With a clipped, official tone, he said

not sure I

. But avoid mistaking my generosity for weakness. Elena, I ref

whisper. Especially not now, when I had no idea what

letely imprisoned I was standing there. Right now there was no es

ne, but I hadn't seen her back into the room. She whispered gently, "Please, Elena: these are only the

er me like a weighted blanket. These documents were not merely legal records. Their relationship

fingers shaking as I

ly Marko said, "You'll regret it

paper, the pen millimeters from the sheet.

ia walking into the room with icy eyes taking over me. Her

le the weight of this marriage was smothering

and started to sign, th

toward the sound. He

w a dark man in the gateway. Their faces half-hidd

started

to chat