His expression is cold, as if this was nothing more than a transaction to be completed. He didn't even glance at me when I arrived at the altar, as if I held no value to him-just an object exchanged between two families.
I am a prisoner of a promise I never made.
Around me, I can feel the weight of the guests' stares-powerful people, businessmen, families long allied with the Villafuertes. They were all watching, waiting, perhaps anticipating a scandal.
"She's beautiful, but she doesn't look happy."
"Isn't she the daughter of the Ramirez family? The one whose business went bankrupt?"
"What a waste, marrying someone like Sebastian."
"What do you mean, a waste? He's handsome and rich," another gossiping woman chimed in, completely oblivious to what I truly felt.
I clenched my fists beneath the bouquet of roses. If only they knew... If only they knew how I was forced into this marriage with a man I never imagined would become a part of my life.
"Sebastian Villafuerte, do you take Isabella to be your wife?"
The priest's question broke through my thoughts.
A brief silence followed.
I turned to look at Sebastian, hoping to see even the slightest hesitation in his face. But there was none. No flicker of emotion crossed his cold eyes.
"Yes."
One word. No doubt. No emotion.
Everything stopped. My breathing, my heartbeat.
Then, my mother's voice echoed in my mind.
"Isabella, my child... you have to do this for our family."
"Don't worry, sweetheart. After a year, you'll be free to leave."
One year.
But how could I endure a year with a man who had done nothing but play with women at his fingertips?
"And you, Isabella Ramirez, do you take Sebastian to be your husband?"
Everything froze.
The tightness in my chest grew unbearable.
Run, Isabella.
But how?
How could I run from this agreement when the price was my family's downfall? When my refusal would push my father into even greater debt?
I swallowed hard, forcing down the bitterness in my throat.
I looked at Sebastian once more. He still wasn't looking at me. As if he didn't care whether I said yes or no.
I had no choice but to lift my chin, close my eyes, and in a soft yet firm voice, speak the words that would bind me to a man I did not love.
"...Yes."
No applause. No joyful cheers.
Instead, silence wrapped around the entire church.
In the next instant, I felt Sebastian move closer.
Without warning, his cold lips pressed against mine.
A kiss without emotion. A kiss that felt like a prison.
I couldn't hide the trembling of my body, but I didn't move. I didn't return the kiss. I didn't even try to pull away.
It was as if I knew-I had no right to refuse.
There was no warmth in that kiss-just a seal to an agreement I never chose.
And at that moment, I realized...
There was no escape.
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