Morning came too fast.
Too heavy.
Too real.
Elena didn't remember when she fell asleep.
Or if she even did.
Her body was still on Adrian's bed, curled slightly to one side, as if trying to make herself smaller.
Invisible.
Safe.
But there was no safety here.
Not in this room.
Not in this mansion.
Not in this life.
A faint knock echoed through the room.
Soft.
Careful.
"Ma'am…"
A female voice.
Elena's eyes slowly opened.
Heavy.
Burning.
Her head throbbed slightly as reality settled in again.
The room.
The bed.
His room.
Her chest tightened instantly.
Another knock.
"Ma'am, we've come to prepare you…"
Prepare.
The word felt suffocating.
Still—
She didn't respond.
Didn't move.
Because if she didn't acknowledge it—
Maybe it wouldn't be real.
But the door opened anyway.
Three women entered quietly.
Dressed neatly.
Professional.
Their eyes lowered in respect.
"Good morning, Ma'am."
Elena pushed herself up slowly.
Her body felt weak.
Her mind even weaker.
One of the women stepped forward with a tray.
"Please freshen up. Today is… important."
Elena almost laughed.
Almost.
But no sound came out.
Important?
Was this what they called it?
Being forced into something she never chose?
Her fingers curled slightly.
But she didn't argue.
Didn't fight.
Not now.
Because something inside her had changed again.
Not broken this time.
Not empty.
But—
Quietly resisting.
—
Time passed in a blur.
The room filled with soft movements.
Fabric.
Jewelry.
Brushes.
Voices speaking gently.
But none of it reached her.
She sat in front of the mirror.
Still.
Silent.
Watching a stranger take her place.
Her hair styled carefully.
Her face softened with light makeup.
A dress placed over her shoulders—
White.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Everything a bride should be.
But her eyes—
They didn't match.
They were distant.
Haunted.
Trapped.
"Perfect…"
one of the women whispered softly.
Elena looked at her reflection.
And for a moment—
She didn't recognize herself.
Because this girl—
She wasn't free.
She wasn't happy.
She wasn't even alive.
She was—
A bride in a cage.
—
Outside the room—
The mansion was alive.
Guards lined every corner.
Security doubled.
Then doubled again.
No one moved without permission.
No one spoke unnecessarily.
Because everyone knew—
Something was coming.
They could feel it.
Adrian stood in the main hall.
Dressed in black.
Sharp.
Dominating.
Untouchable.
His expression calm.
Too calm.
But his eyes—
They weren't.
They scanned everything.
Every movement.
Every shadow.
Every possibility.
"Boss."
Alex stepped beside him.
"Everything is secured."
Adrian didn't look at him.
"Nothing gets past today."
His voice was low.
Deadly.
Alex nodded.
"It won't."
But even he—
Wasn't fully convinced.
Because the enemy they were dealing with—
Wasn't normal.
—
Inside the room—
The women finished their work.
"Ma'am, it's time."
Elena stood slowly.
Her legs felt weak.
But she forced herself to move.
Step by step.
Toward the door.
It opened.
And she stepped out.
—
The hallway felt longer than usual.
Colder.
Heavier.
Guards stood on both sides.
Watching.
Protecting.
Or maybe—
Containing.
Elena walked forward.
Her eyes lowered.
Her heartbeat loud in her ears.
Each step felt like she was walking toward something inevitable.
Something she couldn't escape.
At the end of the hallway—
He stood.
Adrian.
Waiting.
His gaze lifted the moment he saw her.
And for a second—
Just a second—
He went still.
Because she looked…
Beautiful.
Dangerously so.
Like something fragile.
Something pure.
Something that didn't belong in his world.
But still—
Was his.
His eyes darkened slightly.
Possessively.
"You're late."
His voice broke the silence.
Elena didn't answer.
Didn't even look at him.
And that—
Didn't go unnoticed.
Adrian stepped forward.
Closing the distance.
His hand lifted instantly —
Grabbed her waist tightly.
And pulled her closer until there is no inch left between them.
He spoke.
"Stay close."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
But she nodded.
Not because she agreed.
But because she had no choice.
—
The ceremony was set inside the mansion.
Private.
Controlled.
No outsiders.
Only trusted men.
Only power.
Only danger.
Elena stood beside him.
Silent.
Still.
Her heart pounding.
Her mind screaming.
But her body—
Refusing to move.
The officiant began speaking.
Words.
Vows.
Promises.
None of them meant anything to her.
They sounded distant.
Unreal.
Until—
A sound cut through everything.
A sharp beep.
Then—
Another.
And another.
Adrian's head snapped up instantly.
His eyes narrowed.
"Alex."
His voice dropped.
"Check it."
Alex moved immediately.
But before he could take another step—
All the lights went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Complete.
Sudden.
Total.
A few seconds of silence.
Then—
Chaos.
Guards shouting.
Footsteps.
Weapons being drawn.
"Stay alert!"
"Secure the exits!"
Elena's breath hitched.
Her heart raced wildly.
Her vision blurred in the darkness.
She couldn't see anything.
Couldn't understand anything.
Until—
A hand wrapped around her wrist.
Cold.
Familiar.
Her breath stopped.
Her body froze.
Because she knew—
This wasn't Adrian.
A voice came close to her ear.
Low.
Smooth.
Dangerously calm.
"Miss me, little bird?"
Her chest rose sharply.
Her voice stuck in her throat.
Because he was here.
Again.
But this time—
Not hiding.
Not waiting.
He pulled her closer.
Fast.
Effortless.
Her body collided with his chest.
"Don't scream…"
he whispered.
"Or I'll take you right now."
Her breath trembled.
Her mind spiraling.
Adrian's voice roared somewhere in the darkness—
"Elena!"
But it was too far.
Too late.
The masked man chuckled softly.
Right against her ear.
"Too slow…"
His grip tightened slightly.
"Today…"
A pause.
His voice dropped lower.
More dangerous.
"You are coming with me."
Elena's eyes widened.
Her body went cold.
And before anyone could reach her—
Before Adrian could find her—
A loud explosion echoed outside.
The entire mansion shook.
Glass shattered.
Screams filled the air.
And in that chaos—
She disappeared.