shape us into a better, more fu

-

Cordelia, usually the most composed, held me in a brief embrace. There was sympathy in her eyes, though

startled me. It wasn't just the meeting that unsettled me, but the fact that he had chosen my

oice even. The door creaked open, and in walke

. I wasn't sure how to address him, the awkward

. His eyes were sunken, almost lifeless, and his lips looked dry and worn. He looked every bit his age, perhaps even older. The only

voice snapped me back to the mo

. I gestured toward the couch, relieved there

him. I hesitated, then reluctantly crossed the room

with a forced smile plastered across her face. "I brought your lunch,

oking at her. She did as he asked and quickly retreated, but n

calm but with a sharp edge that made my skin crawl. His words so

ed, my voice barel

rowed slight

my skin. My breath hitched, but I forced myself to stay stil

I repeated, my

ood. In two weeks, you'll be my wife. You should start lear

ith the stench of tobacco, lingered in the air, and I fought the urge to

the mere act of touching me had dirtied him. Then, without a second thought,

he said, changing the subject abruptly. "You

felt all wrong. The idea of becoming his servant, in more ways than one,

," he said with a grin that made my skin crawl once more. His eyes lingered on me a

ed, unable to sa

his eyes never leaving me as I moved to serve him. The silence was suff

we didn't exchange another word. I kept my eyes a

igh of relief. Without so much as a goodbye, he walk

-

oice was firm as always. "I tru

ce even, though inside I was st

turned to my mother. "Have you made all t

ther responded, her v

his gaze at me. "You'll stay in your ro

ew there was no use arguing. The decision ha

aren't planning anything, are you?"

, keeping my tone as r

mother added quickly. "S

ather said.

tions, doubts, and a creeping sense of doom. My friends had called me lucky. They said I was fortunate to have caught the eye of someone

ad escaped, though many had not. Isabella came to mind, the beautiful girl who had been forced to marry a poor farmer. She had died in childbirth, h

e plans I have for you... plans to give you hope and a future." The words

er's voice broke

s,

been a

k. "What kin

en moved. It will t

could stop it. My pulse quickened, and the world see

d, his tone final. There was no roo

ound beneath me was crumbling, taki

-

do you t