The grand hall was so quiet it felt suffocating. All you could hear in that huge place was Sera's dress rustling softly as she walked. She shuffled along, not just because of the heavy dress, but 'cause she felt so helpless. She looked around, searching for a way out, for even one kind face, but all she saw were strangers with cold, emotionless expressions.

Dimitri had made sure this wedding was nothing more than a show of a power play. Those marble floors gleamed under the bright chandeliers, and the air reeked of those fake roses the whole thing felt so fake.

Sera's heart pounded as she got closer to the altar. She hadn't said a word since Dimitri yanked her out of her lonely, hidden life and shoved her into this. It was not a choice. It was a command. Marry him, or watch her grandmother suffer in ways she could not even imagine.

The image of her frail grandmother flashed in her mind. Elena, lying weak in a hospital bed, completely under Dimitri's control. He had made sure Sera understood that her grandmother's safety depended entirely on her saying "yes" today. This was not love. This was fear.

Dimitri was at the end of the aisle, his face a blank slate. He was in a killer black suit, all sharp lines and just his presence filled the room. His jaw was tight, his dark eyes locked on her as she approached, but he showed no emotion.

To everyone watching, he seemed like the powerful, untouchable man they all knew. But Sera noticed something a slight clenching of his fists, a stiffness in his posture. It was small, almost invisible, but it was there. A sign that maybe, just maybe, he was not as free as he seemed.

Her chest tightened thinking about it. Nope. She couldn't let herself think like that. She couldn't afford to see him as human. Not when he had trapped her in this nightmare. He was the enemy. The one who held her life and her grandmother like a weapon.

The priest began the ceremony, his voice dull and empty as he spoke the vows. Sera stood frozen, her hands shaking as she held the bouquet of white roses Dimitri had chosen for her. The flowers felt like chains in her hands, their thorns pressing against her fingers.

Dimitri kept staring at her, intensely. She could feel it, pressing down on her, making it harder to breathe. She refused to meet his eyes for too long, afraid of what she might see or what he might see in her.

"Do you, Sera, take Dimitri as your lawful husband?" the priest's voice broke the silence.

Her throat tightened. Every part of her screamed to say no, to run, to fight. But she could not. Not with Elena's life at risk.

"I..." Her voice cracked. She swallowed hard, her lips trembling. "I do," she whispered. The words tasted bitter, like poison.

Silence fell over the little group. Some mans looked bored, others intrigued, but nobody dared say a word. Dimitri's power kept them all silent.

When it was Dimitri's turn, his voice was steady, strong. "I do," he said, He said it and that's that.

Sera breath hitched as he took her hand. His grip was firm, possessive, sending a shiver through her. She wanted to pull away, but the priest had already declared them husband and wife.

"You may kiss the bride," the priest announced, his tone empty, without warmth.

Sera froze, her heart pounding. Dimitri moved closer, his hand still gripping hers tight. He leaned down, and instead of kissing her lips, his lips brushed her cheek. It was not soft. It was a possessive message.

The room filled with applause, but it was weak, as if even the guests felt the coldness of the moment. Sera felt numb as Dimitri led her down the aisle. The crowd parted for them, their faces were all blurry and she was gasping for air.

The reception was just as empty as the wedding. Everyone was whispering, their giggles sounded fake and Dimitri stuck close to her, his hand resting on her lower back as if to remind her that she was his now.

Sera kept her eyes down, avoiding the stares, the whispers. She felt like a prisoner being put on display, every move watched.

"You are doing well," Dimitri murmured in her ear, his voice low and smooth.

She flinched at how close he was, her body stiffening. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?" she whispered back, her voice sharp with anger.

Dimitri lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes stayed cold. "It's a reminder," he said. "You belong to me now, Sera. Don't forget that."

○●○

Night went on forever and Sera got more and more tired. She wanted nothing more than to disappear, to slip away into the shadows and never come back. But every time she thought about escaping, Dimitri being around reminded her she was stuck.

When the last of the guests finally left, she felt a little relieved. It was almost over. Then Dimitri grabbed her hand and walked her toward the big staircase. Her stomach twisted. She knew what came next.

Their footsteps echoed in the empty halls as they climbed the stairs. Dimitri held her arm tight, not hurting her, but firm, like he was keeping her from running away. The silence between them felt heavier than all that fake chatting earlier.

When they got to their new room, Sera paused for a sec. But Dimitri did not. He opened the door and guided her inside. The soft click of the door closing sent a chill down her spine.

The room was beautiful, decorated in deep, rich colors, with gold accents that made it look fit for royalty. But to Sera, it felt more like a cage. She saw the huge bed, balled her fists and fought back the helpless feeling.

Dimitri turned to her, his face a blank look. "This is your home now," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Sera choked up. Home? Nope, never gonna be home. She looked around, searching for something, anything that felt like hers. But everything in the room screamed him.

She swallowed hard and finally found her voice. "Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dimitri's gaze darkened and he stepped closer. "Because I can," he said simply. "Because I need you to understand that you are mine and nothing will change that."

Sera's heart pounded as she took a step back. "You can't force me to love you," She said, her voice kinda shaky, but still rebellious.

For a split second, something in Dimitri's expression changed. A flicker of something softer, almost like regret. But just as quickly, it disappeared. "Love isn't part of this," he said. "This isn't about love, Sera. It's about control. It's about power."

Those words stung, but Sera wouldn't let him see how much it hurt. She straightened up, chin high, eyes blazing. "You might have forced me into this, but you will never break me," she said, her voice strong.

Dimitri's smirk returned, but this time it was darker. "We'll see about that," he said, his voice low, almost like a challenge.

Then, he just turned and walked into the bathroom next door. The door closed behind him, leaving Sera standing alone in the large, empty room.

Her body felt heavy as she sat down on the edge of the bed, her hands trembling. That day was really tough on her and she felt like crying.

But she refused to cry.

Because even though she felt trapped and hopeless, Sera knew she wouldn't give up. Not now.