orm she could not escape. Cameras flashed relentlessly. Phones lifted, capturing her every expression. The bride gla

loser. Each movement measured. Delib

ice low but carrying through the hall. "It takes s

She hesitated. Her mouth felt dry. Every possible excuse sounded hollow.

ting her. "Intent does not matter here,

form words. "I... I was

voice sharper now. "Pr

ike a knife cutting through her th

look away. "I think you do. And that is why you ar

pping across the white carpet, petals scattered in the chaos. The bride's veil was wet, clinging to

ed. Her voice sounded f

choice that will save

d done. The spilled champagne. The toppled cake. The chaos she had caused with her own hands. She had acted

of his presence even across the distance. "You made a mi

he whispered, al

ghtly, enough to make her lean forward without realizing it

ked rapidl

s, the shaking hands of the bride, the rigid posture of the groom. Then he fixed his gaze back on her.

way, disappear from the stares, from the whispers, from the weight pressing down

me to do?" she asked. He

urve that did not reac

k, almost losing her balance. Her hands lifted insti

ow, the crowd fading from her awarenes

saw the bride staring, pale, as though she could not believe her ears. The gr

ly. Her voice rose slightly, trembling with disb

. Calm, controlled, commanding. "

. The man whose family she despised for their arrogance, their control, their lies. And yet he

r voice almost breaking

o notice the subtle shift. "Because you are the one w

? By agreeing to marry the man she barely knew? By

louder now. She could feel the rising panic in the hall, t

"Nothing that matters is easy. Nothin

The shame. And now, Dante Cross, calm, composed, holding the weight of th

. And yet she knew the truth in his words. Some mistakes dema

lief lacing every syllable. "To..

e. "Yes. To fix it. To save them. And perhaps, to

d no escape. No easy way out. The whispers of the crowd, the flashing cameras, the gaze of the

roposal. This was a test. A trap. A storm. And she was st

need... I need a moment,"

u have until the end of tonight," he said, voice calm, p

n, to fight. But she could not move. She could only stand and stare, her mind spi

os from her actions earlier threatening to swallow her whole. And yet, Dant

. Whatever she decided, nothin