CHAPTER 2: THE WEDDING
705 Words
The wedding felt like a funeral.
But unlike a funeral—
no one here was mourning her.
Aydana stood in the center of the grand hall, dressed in white, while inside… everything in her was already dead.
The gown was perfect.
Soft lace. Elegant design.
A bride’s dream.
But it clung to her like a cage.
The guests watched her.
Not with joy.
With curiosity.
With calculation.
— “So that’s the girl…”
— “He chose her himself…”
— “There must be a reason…”
Aydana’s fingers twitched slightly.
Chose?
That word didn’t sit right.
At the end of the aisle stood Damir.
Black suit.
Cold eyes.
Unreachable.
But tonight…
there was something different.
He wasn’t just watching her.
He was studying her.
Like she was more than just a contract.
The music started.
Slow.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
Her father stepped beside her.
Still avoiding her gaze.
Still a coward.
— “Walk,” he whispered.
Aydana didn’t move.
— “Please…”
Too late for that.
But she walked anyway.
Each step echoing like a countdown.
Not to a marriage—
to a point of no return.
When her eyes met Damir’s again…
something strange happened.
For a split second—
his expression shifted.
Barely noticeable.
But real.
Gone just as quickly.
By the time she reached him, her chest felt tight.
The ceremony began.
Words about love.
About devotion.
About forever.
Lies.
All lies.
— “Do you take this man—”
— “Yes.”
Too fast.
Too sharp.
Too empty.
A murmur spread across the hall.
Damir’s gaze darkened slightly.
Interesting.
Then—
— “Do you take this woman—”
— “I do.”
No hesitation.
No emotion.
Just certainty.
The ring slid onto her finger.
Cold.
Heavy.
Final.
— “You may kiss the bride.”
Aydana froze.
Her body tensed instantly.
No.
Damir stepped closer.
And this time—
she noticed it.
His hand paused for just a second before touching her.
Like he was… thinking.
Then—
his fingers rested against her jaw.
Firm.
Controlled.
But not rough.
— “Relax,” he murmured.
— “It’s just a kiss.”
It wasn’t.
It never would be.
His lips met hers.
Not soft.
Not cruel.
Measured.
Like he was testing something.
Aydana’s breath hitched.
And for one brief second—
she felt it.
Not warmth.
Not comfort.
But something unfamiliar.
Something she didn’t understand.
Then—
it was gone.
He pulled away.
Like nothing happened.
But his eyes…
lingered.
Too long.
🖤 Later that night…
The mansion was silent.
Too silent.
Aydana stood in the bedroom, still in her dress.
Waiting.
For what—she didn’t know.
The door opened.
Damir entered.
Same calm presence.
Same control.
But his gaze immediately found her.
Sharp.
Focused.
— “Don’t come closer.”
He didn’t listen.
Of course he didn’t.
— “We’re married now.”
— “That doesn’t mean anything.”
— “It means everything.”
Aydana shook her head.
— “This is just a contract.”
— “No,” he said quietly.
That made her pause.
— “It’s more than that.”
Her eyes narrowed.
— “Then what is it?”
A beat of silence.
Then—
— “You’ll understand later.”
That wasn’t an answer.
That was a warning.
— “What do you want from me?” she whispered.
— “Obedience.”
— “You’ll never get it.”
A pause.
Then—
that same dangerous hint of a smile.
— “We’ll see.”
He reached out.
She flinched.
He stopped.
This time—
he actually stopped.
His eyes flickered.
Something unreadable.
Then he stepped back.
— “I won’t touch you.”
Aydana blinked.
Surprised.
— “Why?”
A pause.
A long one.
Then—
— “Because I don’t want fear.”
That…
she didn’t expect.
At all.
— “Then what do you want?”
His gaze locked onto hers.
Deeper now.
More intense.
— “I want you to choose it.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Confusing.
Dangerous.
Aydana’s heart skipped.
That made no sense.
Nothing about him made sense.
And that scared her more than anything.
- Writer
