The golden sunlight that filtered through the curtains did little to warm Elena’s heart. The palatial room, adorned in luxury, felt like a prison now. The engagement ring on her finger glinted mockingly—proof of her entrapment.

She stood in front of the floor-length mirror, staring at her reflection as maids bustled around her, adjusting the fitted crimson gown she’d been forced to wear for the announcement ball. Her beauty was undeniable, but her eyes told another story—tired, cold, resigned.

“Leave,” she said sharply, and the maids immediately obeyed, disappearing without a word.

She gripped the edges of the vanity, trying to steady her breath. “This isn’t real,” she whispered. “It...