Isabel swallowed hard, holding her breath, trying not to cry. "Andrey… please… don't do this…" Her voice cracked, fragile.
"Please?" Andrey chuckled softly. "I'm teaching you something. If you want to be my wife, you need to know what awaits you. There's no mercy here, Isabel. Only reality."
The woman Alain smiled slyly, brushing Andrey's hand. "Look, Isabel. You need to remember this. Tonight, you will learn to accept your fate."
Isabel lowered her gaze even further, holding back tears.
"Why must it be in front of me? Am I even worthy of being treated like this?" she whispered, barely audible.
Andrey rose, stepping slowly toward her, his face frozen in cold determination.
"Because I can. Because my family can. And because you have no one to defend you. So watch closely. Remember this night."
