I blinked, and just like that, the day had arrived—the day Muk’s family would officially come to ask for my hand in marriage.
The past few weeks had been a slow descent into something I could only describe as torture. Each passing day felt like another chain tightening around me, locking me into a future I didn’t want. I had stopped playing my online game entirely, knowing that once this marriage was finalized, I’d never have the chance again. Quitting now felt like sparing myself from a more painful withdrawal later.
It had been a full month since I last logged in. No late-night matches. No teasing banter with Nev. No whispered strategies over the mic. I hadn't even checked in with my team. It was as if I had already disappeared, fading into the life that was being forced upon me.
I
