sia'

beat in my ears, and my heart pounded like a wild thing inside my chest. I sat stiffly at the long oak table, my

g forward with his eyes blazing. "I have news." His

, my little sister, was beside me, her eyes wide and

to whisper, my voi

nes. "I have made a decision that will secure our f

a reason. I could see a flicker of fear in Livia's eyes, and my own heart sank d

ice shaking as I tried to keep it small and s

an of power, a man who can protect this family. He is as silent as the grave an

tears. My heart screamed for her, and anger churned insid

my insides were burning. "Livia is my sister. I-she

. This is about legacy, about strength. Roman Kade is no ordinary man. He is a force that ca

ice small and rising. "Safe isn't this. It's a cage. Li

s been too loud. This decision was made long before you dared to objec

out to squeeze her hand. "Livia, pleas

ore discussion. The terms are set. Roman Kade will join

s wide and burning with tears that I refused to let fall. I could see the tension in everyone's faces. Cousins shifted uncomf

ng not to disturb the delicate balance of terror in the room. "I agree with your father's

. "Roman, what do you mean by that?" I forced myself to as

s decision is final," he said simply. "I accept the responsibilit

t with emotion. "Livia will never be free if y

g my words. "Freedom is an illusion," he replied slowly. "Pr

of shock and despair. I felt the need to protect her, to fight against this fate my father had chosen

old intent. "You speak of theft, Alessia," he said softly, his tone almost mocking. "But this

he silence that followed. My father's hand slammed on the table. "Enough!" he roared, his voice echoing off the walls. "No one

ve weight of my father's authority. In that moment, every hope of freedom for Livia and for myself seemed to shatt

to say, my voice low and h

ssia," he said, his words cutting deep. "You will learn that family comes

in mine, and I felt the weight of her future press upon me like a stone. Roman's gaze never left mine, and in his eyes I sa

, leaning forward, "has power. B

ry part of me screamed that this was wrong, that no one should be traded like a token. I looked around,

ied to rise, to stand up for Livia, but my body felt frozen. The taste of bile rose in my t

o right, Alessia," he hissed. "You had your chan

g as he added, "She will be mine.

I fought the urge to lash out, to scream, to do something-anything-to stop this madness. But in th

h person around the table played their part in silence, eyes downcast, voices too timid to

tered glass. "There will be no more dissent. Roman Kade is

aze filled with silent terror-and I knew that nothing I said would chan

to squeeze her hand, "stay strong. I'll f

as trapped in it, bound by duty and fear. My heart ached as I realized

ced with questions I dared not voice aloud-What kind of man is Roman Kade? What will become of us

e have no more time for talk," he said, his tone final. "The ar

ak as if I have no right to protest," I said, my voice low and trembl

al. "Your protest is useless, Alessia," he said coldly. "You had

stirred something inside them-a desperate, silent plea for change that would never come. I clenched m

s. I promise I'll find a way." But even as I said it, I knew I was trapped. The

ly's fate is sealed by your father's hand," he said softly. "A

ting us like pawns in his twisted game, but the weight of despair held me back.

er's plan was not just a decision-it was a sentence, a final verdict delivered without mercy. A

said, his voice echoing in the quiet room. "There will be n

if the room had closed in around me, the walls pressing in with the cold certainty of our doom. Every glance

fallen on deaf ears, and I was left alone with the bitter knowledge of what was to come. The future looked da

ll alive-still fighting, still defiant. But the battle had just begun. And somewhere in the shadows of that long, oppressive dinner, I

echoing like a final, desperate plea. And in that mom

s bitter on my tongue, and the promise of a new, dark chapter loomed before me. I clutched Livia's hand

by my father's cruel schemes and Roman's silent, dangerous promise? The answer was hidden

t in that suffocating silence-knowing that the game had changed for