STRINGS OF FATE

WEDDING DAY

The Cathedral Bells Tolled Their Deep Echoes Rolling Across The Royal City Like A Reminder That Fate Could Not Be Outrun.

Inside The Cathedral, Every Seat Was Filled. Royal Courtiers Draped In Velvet, Noble women Shimmering With Jewels, And Men In Sharp Tailored Suits Filled The Pews. The Scent Of Incense And Roses Hung Heavy In The Air, Mingling With The Quiet Murmur Of Gossip.

This Is History," One Lady Whispered Behind Her Fan.

"A Royal Princess, Marrying Into The Mafia," Another Murmured.

They Call It An Alliance," Someone Scoffed Softly, "But We All Know This Is Power Sealing Power."

At The Front Pew, Ring Desmond Davies Sat With His Chin Raised High, His Robe Glittering With Gold Thread. Pride Hardened His Features—This Was His Triumph. By His Side, Queen Selina Davies Wore Her Crown With Elegance, Though Her Eyes Betrayed Unease As They Flicked Once Toward Her Empty Aisle.

On The Opposite Side, The Augustus Family Sat Like A Wall Of Shadows. Men In Dark Suits, Their Expressions Sharp, Eyes Watchful. They Carried The Aura Of Men Used To Violence, Men Who Didn’t Bow Even In Holy Places. At The Center Sat Don Rafael Augustus, Mehek’s Father, His Presence Commanding Silence. A Man Who Had Built His Empire Through Fire And Blood. His Lips Barely Moved, But When They Did, The Men Beside Him Bent Their Heads In Obedience.

And Then The Doors Opened.

The Crowd Rose To Their Feet

Jasmine Davies Stepped Into The Cathedral, Every Eye Fastening Onto Her.

Her Gown Shimmered Like Flowing Starlight, The Long Veil Trailing Behind Her As Maids Adjusted The Train. Her Bouquet Trembled Slightly In Her Grip, Though She Forced Her Chin Up In A Fragile Attempt At Composure. Her Steps Were Graceful, But Inside She Was Unraveling.

Every Whisper, Every Gaze Pressed Down On Her Like Chains. This Is Not My Choice, Her Heart Screamed. This Is Not The Life I Dreamed Of. She Knew That Her Marrying Into That Family Will Deprive Her Of The Life She Had Planned For Her Self.

Her Gaze Lifted—And Collided With His.

Mehek Augustus.

He Stood At The Altar, Tall And Unyielding, A Dark Prince Dressed In Black His Broad Shoulders Filled His Suit With Ease, His Stance Radiating Control. His Eyes, Sharp And Unreadable, Locked Onto Hers The Instant She Appeared. There Was No Flicker Of Nerves In Him. No Hesitation. He Looked Like A Man Claiming What Was Already His.

Jasmine's Breath Caught, Her Steps Faltering For Half A Second Before She Forced Herself Forward.

The Ceremony Began. The Priest's Voice Rose, Weaving Words Of Eternal Union. Jasmine Repeated Her Vows, Her Lips Trembling, Her Voice Soft And Breaking On The Edges. The Cathedral Strained To Hear Her.

Then Came Mehek.

His Voice Was Deep, Smooth, And Commanding, Echoing Through The Vaulted Arches With Frightening Confidence. He Spoke Each Vow As Though It Were Not Tradition, But Law. As Though The Words Bent To Him, Not The Other Way Around.

When It Came Time To Exchange Rings, Jasmines Hand Shook As She Slid The Band Onto His Finger. Her Palm Was Clammy, Her Breaths Shallow. Mehek's Hand, When It Caught Hers To Place The Ring, Was Hot And Steady—Firm Enough That She Nearly Gasped At The Contrast.

And Then—The Ritual.

The Golden Chalice Was Carried Forward, The Binding Ceremony Ready To Seal Their Fate. Gasps Rippled Through The Crowd, Nobles Leaning Closer, Mafiosos Narrowing Their Eyes.

Jasmines Fingers Curled Around The Cup, Trembling Under Its Weight. The Silence Was Suffocating, Every Gaze Fixed On Her Unsteady Hands.

Suddenly, A Strong Hand Covered Hers.

Mehek

The Cathedral Seemed To Fade. His Grip Steadied Hers, Warm And Unyielding. His Thumb Brushed Lightly Against Her Skin—Not In Tenderness. But In Control. She Froze, Eyes Darting Up To Meet

His Dark Gaze Never Wavered. His Lips Moved, Voice A Low Growl Meant For Her Alone.

"Do Not Fear," He Murmured, Every Word Deliberate. Will Not Let You Falter."

Her Breath Caught, Heat Rushing Unbidden Through Her Veins. Together, Their Hands Lifted The Chalice. The Wine Touched Her Lips, Then His, His Mouth Pressing Exactly Where Hers Had Been. The Act Was Sacred. Intimate. Final.

The Priests Voice Rang Out, Declaring Them Bound In Fate. Applause Thundered Through The Cathedral The Davies Side Clapped With Regal Triumph. The Augustus Men Nodded, Silent But Satisfied.

But Jasmine Heard None Of It.

Her Hand Was Still Caught In His, Firm, Possessive. His Presence Seemed To Swallow The Air Around Her. She Could Barely Breathe, And Yet... She Couldn't Look Away

And In That Moment—Beneath The Roar Of Celebration—Jasmine Davies Realized Something Terrifying.

Her Life Had Been Traded Like A Coin. Her Freedom Bound In Vows She Had Never Chosen.

Mehek Augustus, Hold And Unreadable, Was Now The Keeper Of Her Fate. So Many Thoughts Ran Through Her Mind, Firstly Was That Her Decisions Will No Longer Be Her’s To Make, Not That All Her Choices Had Always Been Hers But Now Is A Total New Authority Over Her.

Secondly, She Knew That The Life Of Mafia’s Members Is Totally Different From Normal People Way Of Living, Mafia’s And Their Member’s Are Always Bounded By One Oat Or Covenant, They Are Always In Fear Or Ready For War’s. This Wasn’t She Planned And Dreamed About Her Future, But It Seems Like She Doesn’t Have Any Choice Then To Follow What Fate Has Giving Her .