Isabella walked through the long corridor alone, her footsteps muffled by the thick velvet carpet. The lights were dim, warm, golden, stretching shadows across the walls. Everything in this mansion looked elegant and calm — but inside her, everything was chaos.
She closed the door to her room behind her and leaned back against it, breathing in slowly, trying to steady herself.
I'm the bride.The words hit her again.Harder than before.Clearer.
At dinner, she had acted composed — she had to. There were too many eyes. Too many expectations. Too many questions she couldn't answer.
But now, alone, her chest tightened.
She walked to the mirror and stared at herself — her eyes wide, her face pale, her breath shallow.
How could no one tell me? My father… Elijah… everyone knew but me.
She sat on the edge of the bed, gripping the sheets.
It wasn't just shock.It wasn't just confusion.It was fear.
Fear of what came next.Fear of being tied to someone she barely knew.Fear of losing control over her own life.
She remembered Elijah's voice from moments ago — calm, steady, certain.
"You don't have to understand everything yet.""I'll give you time."
Time.
But time didn't change reality.
She was going to marry Elijah Ashwell — heir to a powerful family, someone who seemed to know exactly what he wanted, someone who stepped into every room like it already belonged to him.
And she… had never even been asked.
She pulled her knees to her chest.
What if I can't do this? What if I don't want this?
Yet beneath the fear, something else whispered… something she didn't want to admit.
The way he had looked at her.The way his voice lowered when he said her name.The quiet certainty in his touch.
Something about him drew her in — and that scared her more than anything.
Because if she wasn't careful…She might not just lose her freedom.She might lose her heart.
She swallowed hard and buried her face in her hands.
Tomorrow would bring answers.Or more questions.She wasn't sure which would be worse.
But one thing was certain now —There was no turning back.
Not anymore.