ter, no celebration. Instead, there was an oppressive silence that hung in the air of the grand mansion Killian called home. The vast, opule

ld gleam of his suit more enthralling to him than the woman he was meant to marry. Elena's heart twisted as sh

fference. To Killian, this was a transaction a mere formality to seal his control over her life and her father's company.Now, as she sat in the cold, vast bedroom, the heavy weight of the rea

decorations it all felt like a gilded c

that were far out of her reach. She couldn't bring herself to look at Killian, who was silently undressing acro

what she hadn't expected was the heavy, silent weight of hatred that seemed to hang over every moment. He despised her. She could

h, Elena," Killian's voice sliced through th

of you."Her breath caught in her throat. Her mind screamed at her to say something, to defend herself, but she knew it was futile. She had no power here. He

ly turned to face her. "But know this you will never be more than a trophy wife to me. I will never pretend to

he contract that she would never be more than a pawn. But hearing him say it out lou

nt of him. She refused to show weakness."What do you want from me?" she whispered, her voice shaking with a mixt

control and coldness returned."I want you to understand your place," he said softly, almost dangerously. "You are noth

and yet they rang with

ard her, his every step deliberate and steady, as though the distance between them was a simple formality. He reached her without hesitation, the space between them growing impossibly

You'll be obedient, quiet, and, above all else, you will *know* that you are beneath me."She recoiled at his touch as his hand brushed against her arm, his f

tioning, the soft rustling of the sheets beneath her, but none of it mattered. The silence between them was a wall, thicker and more suffocating than anything she had ever known.Killian had d

d expected him to demand things from her, perhaps

ating off him, even as he pretended to ignore her existence.Her chest tightened as she glanced a

to a future that had been decided

eve. She was to be a silent, obedient wife a trophy to be displayed on his arm, but never truly seen.The minutes stretched into hours as she lay in the bed, staring at

man who had everything power, wealth, control

sharp, chiselled features framed by the dim light. He hadn't even looked at her as he

r herself, to say something, anything. B

to be her husband could not have cared less."Goodnight, Elena," he said without turning ba

he was left alone in the cold silence,

ke to the cold, unyielding

of the room, every corner of the mansion, screamed of a life that was no longer her own.She didn't dare move. She didn't dare break the silence. Every m

lost everything, even before the marriage had truly begun.She had hoped for a glimmer of kindness, some small threa

would never let he

ce was the only thing that mattered. She was trapped, not by chains, but by his hatred, by