ELARA’S POV
I stared at my father in disbelief as he held up the ivory-white dress. “This was your mother’s. She always wanted you to wear it on your wedding day.”
I never knew they’d kept my mother’s wedding dress, and it brought a tear to my eye to know she wouldn’t be able to experience this day with me. But seeing as I was also being coerced into this marriage, maybe that was a good thing. My mother never would have allowed this to happen, making me miss her even more.
“I can’t possibly wear that, Dad,” I started.
But he cut me off. “She’d want this, Elara.”
I chewed my lip. “But she’d also want this to be a happy day for me. And it’s not. You know it’s not.”
Anger flashed in his eyes. “Don’t guilt me now. We’re doing this for the better of our people. To bring unity and strength
