Lily hadn't moved from her seat at Gate 47 for hours. Her phone was dead. Her fingers curled around the lifeless device like it was the only thing anchoring her to reality. Her once-glossy curls were a frizzed halo of chaos. Her veil was gone. Her makeup had wept down her cheeks, streaks of mascara and pain. Her beautiful, stolen moment—her one shot at freedom—had withered into a hollow nightmare.

She didn’t cry anymore. She didn’t even blink much.

Her chest was quiet, too quiet. Not calm—empty.

Daou had lied. Or maybe he’d changed his mind. Or maybe… he never meant it. She didn’t know which hurt more.

“Found her,” a voice said in her periphery. A man's voice. Sharp, triumphant.

Boots tapped the marble floors of the terminal, heavy and fast.

A shadow loomed.

Lily turned her head slowly, barely lifting her gaze. It was Raf—Leo’s chief bodyguard—and behind him, two more men in black. Her heart didn't even race. It just… sighed.

“There she is,” Raf said with a sigh of relief, then gave a nod to the others. “Get her up. Don't make this hard for yourself ma'am.”

Before she could protest—before she could even decide if she wanted to—two strong arms lifted her to her feet. She staggered. Her heels clacked unevenly. She felt like a rag doll in a designer gown.

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” she whispered hoarsely.

“You already are,” Raf said, softer than she expected. Not unkind. But not merciful, either.

She didn’t fight them.

She didn’t have the energy to.

They didn’t take her through the front. They brought her in through the garden entrance, like something shameful.

Leo stood at the edge of the marble foyer, his white wedding suit exchanged for something darker. His shirt open at the throat, but otherwise pristine. His hair slicked back. A picture of order.

And fury.

“Well,” he said, stepping forward. “She finally decided to show up.”

She didn’t answer.

“Where is he?” he asked. Not gently.

Silence.

Leo clicked his tongue. “Gone, I suppose. Just like your plan.”

Her lips parted. But still, no sound came.

“You made a mockery of me. In front of the press, the politicians… my investors. But don’t worry, Lily. I found you. And your family?” He turned his head, voice rising. “They owe me.”

Emilio appeared in the hall behind him. His tie was loosened. His expression unreadable.

“She’ll make it right,” Emilio said quietly.

Leo’s lips twitched into a cold, satisfied smile.

They took her to her old bedroom.

Her mother was waiting inside.

Celeste hadn’t slept. Her face was pale beneath perfectly set hair. Her hands, once elegant and adorned with rings, trembled as she closed the door behind her.

Lily stood like a shadow against the bedpost, her arms wrapped around herself.

Her mother walked to her slowly, heels clicking on the wooden floor. Then, without warning, she slapped her.

It wasn’t violent.

It was a sob with fingers.

“You stupid, selfish child,” Celeste choked, her voice cracking. “Do you think this is a game?”

Lily didn’t flinch.

“I tried to protect you,” Celeste continued, her hands balled into fists. “I fought for you when your father gave you away. I argued. I begged. And then you humiliate him—humiliate all of us—on national television?”

“I couldn’t do it,” Lily croaked. “I couldn’t marry him, Mom. You know what he is.”

“And what are we, Lily?” Celeste snapped. “What do you think happens when a Cruz girl runs away from a wedding to the most dangerous man in the Western Hemisphere? You think it ends in heartbreak? No. It ends in bullets. In blood.”

Tears spilled from her eyes now, thick and relentless. “I have another daughter. She’s only eighteen. Do you think Leo won’t use her to punish us if you humiliate him again?”

Lily’s knees weakened. Her sister was her greatest weakness.

Titi-her younger sister walked in

“Mom… don't use me to tie Lily down. Sis you don’t have to marry him if you don't want to.”

“Titi…” Lily said slowly as tears rolled down her eyes.

“To your room now!” Her mother turned to her.

“ Before I ground you completely.”

Titi left with her head down.

Her mother stepped closer, hands now gentle, brushing tangled hair from her daughter’s cheeks.

“I am begging you,” Celeste whispered, her voice breaking entirely. “Don’t do this again. Not for me. For your sister. For yourself. Because next time, they won’t let you walk away.”

And Lily—drenched in the ruins of her love, her freedom, her dignity—just nodded.

The second wedding was planned in silence.

Leo made sure she was never alone. He didn’t speak to her often—just watched. Studied her. Like a sculpture in a museum, on loan to him, eventually to be owned.

The second dress was simpler.

A high neckline. Fewer diamonds. And a less classy veil.

Security was doubled. No one was allowed near her unless approved. She was not trusted, not even in her own home. Not even her best friend was allowed near her.

The day came again.

This time. No best friend. No chance.

Raf waited outside her bedroom door as she dressed.

Her mother fastened the last clasp on her gown.

“You don’t have to love him,” Celeste whispered. “Just survive him.”

The Cathedral was booked again. This time with tighter security and only a press that would give out good info on the wedding and on the Cruz and Kavinsky family. Only fifty guests this time.

Lily walked down the aisle like a ghost. Her steps measured, her eyes vacant.

Leo stood at the altar, dressed in black this time, like a king at a funeral. His expression was unreadable. But his eyes burned.

When she reached him, he didn’t offer a hand.

She didn’t expect one.

The priest began.

Words washed over her—holy, binding, cruel in their civility.

“…to have and to hold…”

Her heart was stone.

“…in sickness and in health…”

She tasted ash.

“…until death do you part.”

Silence.

Everyone waited.

Lily looked at Leo.

She was lost in thought and when it was time to say yes.. she did not.

Her mother whispered her name severally and then ..softly, painfully, she whispered, “Yes.”

The kiss was dry. Perfunctory. A sealing of a deal.

There was an applause, not very loud. One that could barely be heard.

When she returned to her home her bags were packed and she was sent to the Kavinsky estate.

Her sister sobbed painfully and as she looked at her she knew the wedding wasn't the end but the beginning of a torture .