With trembling hands and a racing heartbeat, I slowly lifted my hands. Thankfully, Ian's reassuring grip was sturdy and unwavering as he delicately placed the ring on my finger. The garnet ring effortlessly shimmered, catching every glimmer of light with its enchanting sparkle.
The notions of protection, friendship, trust, commitment, and love were sadly nothing more than symbols of his possessiveness over me. They served as a constant reminder of the confinement I would endure for the rest of my days. I was bound to him until the very end.
In hindsight, I can't help but think that I should have chosen a different path while I still had the opportunity. Now, with a multitude of gazes from others fixed upon us, fleeing is no longer a feasible choice. Divorce also does not seem like a viable option. It appears that only death has the power to part ways with us now. No matter how hard I try to elude Ian's watchful gaze, I know deep down that he would eventually uncover my secrets. It has become a routine for me to navigate through such challenges, and as a result, my heart has grown numb to the pain. With a wry smile, I acknowledge the unfortunate hand destiny has dealt me.
It's disheartening to realize that my emotions were never valued, and this has been the case throughout my entire upbringing. I've experienced a world where opportunities and choices have been severely limited, particularly for women.
A wedding is often regarded as the ultimate symbol of eternal love, a beautiful promise and commitment to remain loyal and cherish each other for a lifetime. It serves as a joyful celebration of your profound love and unwavering devotion, while also serving as a reminder of the love shared by those around you. However, it's important to acknowledge that not all weddings are driven solely by love from the very beginning. Power has always been at the core of it all. Throughout history, the pursuit of power has played a pivotal role in shaping our world. However, amidst this quest for dominance, there is an underlying desire for peace. It is through establishing strong bonds and cultivating relationships that we can hope to achieve lasting harmony in a world driven by power dynamics.
I wasn't naive. I understood the underlying factors at play here: money and power. Sadly, these elements were slowly dwindling due to the encroachment of various criminal organizations such as the Japanese Gang 'Yakuzas,' "the Jopoks," and others, who were attempting to expand their influence into our territories. The Indiana Saltanat, spread across Asia, faced a critical need to set aside their conflicts and unite against common adversaries. As fate would have it, I found myself in the "privileged position" of being betrothed to Ian, the eldest son of the esteemed Royal Bangtan Empire. This realization came as no surprise, as my father and every male relative had eagerly shared their wisdom with me about the great honour that awaited me through this alliance. Despite my awareness of the situation and ample time to prepare for this precise moment, an overwhelming sense of fear consumed me, gripping my body with relentless force.
The moment arrived when the priest declared, "You may now seal your love with a kiss."
I lifted my gaze, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes upon me within the Dome. It seemed as though they were eagerly anticipating a provocative action from my end. It was crucial for me to remain composed and conceal any sign of fear, as it would surely anger my father. Furthermore, I knew that Ian's family would seize this opportunity to exploit our vulnerability. However, I was raised in a society that expected women to wear a flawless facade as their only shield. With utmost ease, I skillfully concealed my genuine emotions behind a tranquil façade. Little did anyone else know the intensity of my desire to break free from these confines. Yet, there was one person who could see through the façade: Ian. No matter how hard I tried to conceal myself, he saw right through me and understood my true nature. My body trembled uncontrollably as I locked eyes with Ian, his piercing brown gaze revealing that he was aware of my vulnerability. It seemed that instilling fear in others came effortlessly to him, making it only natural for him to recognize it in me.
He bent down to bridge the ten inches he towered over me. There was no sign of hesitation, fear, or doubt on his face. My lips trembled against his mouth as his eyes bored into me. Their message was clear: You can't escape.
~ 3 Years prior ~
I was curled up on the armchair in our library, reading when a knock sounded. Brian's head rested in my lap, and she didn't even stir when the dark wooden door opened, and our mom stepped in, her dark blond hair pulled back tightly and fastened in a bun at the back of her head. Mom was pale, her face drawn with worry.
"Did something happen?" I asked.
She smiled, but it was her fake smile. "Your father wants to talk to you in his office."
I carefully moved out from under Bri's head and put it down on the chaise. She drew her legs up against her body. She was small for an eleven-year-old, but I wasn't exactly tall either with five feet. None of the women in our family were. Mom avoided my eyes as I walked toward her.
"Am I in trouble?" I didn't know what I could have done wrong. Usually, Brian and I were the obedient ones; Lia was the one who always broke the rules and got punished.
"Hurry. Don't let your father wait," Mom said simply.
My stomach was in knots when I arrived in front of Father's office. After a moment to stifle my nerves, I knocked.
"Come in."
I entered, forcing my face to be carefully guarded. He sat behind his mahogany desk in a wide black leather armchair; behind him rose the mahogany shelves filled with books that Father had never read, but they hid a secret entrance to the basement and a corridor leading off the premises.
He looked up from a pile of sheets, grey hair slicked back. "Sit."
I sank down on one of the chairs across from his desk and folded my hands in my lap, trying not to chew on my lower lip. Dad hated that. I waited for him to start talking. He had a strange expression on his face as he scrutinized me. "The Yakuzas and the Jopoks are trying to claim our territories. They are getting bolder by the day. We can't ignore the threat they pose any longer."
Confusion filled me. Dad never talked about business to us. Girls didn't need to know about the finer details of the mob business. I knew better than to interrupt him.
"We have to lay our feud with the Bangtan to rest and combine forces if we want to fight back our enemies" Peace with the Bangtan? Father and every other member of the Ian's empire , They had been killing each other for decades and only recently decided on ignoring each other in favor of killing off the members of other crime organizations,
"There is no stronger bond than blood. At least the Bangtan got that right."