Adrian Hudel sat curled in the corner of the basement, his knees drawn up to his chest. His long, black hair fell like a curtain around his face, obscuring his delicate features.
His skin, pale and smooth as porcelain, almost seemed to glow in the faint light that seeped through the cracks in the old stone walls. It was a stark contrast to the cold, hard surfaces that surrounded him, as if he were a delicate flower struggling to survive in barren soil. The tear tracks that marred his cheeks only enhanced the fragility of his appearance, making him look like a tragic figure in a painting.
His silver eyes, usually so striking and filled with the quiet intensity of a passionate artist, were dull with melancholy. Those eyes, which had often captivated others with their unusual color, now stared vacantly at nothing, reflecting the darkness around him.
Adrian's body, slim and fragile from years of neglect and lack of physical exertion, trembled slightly as he tried to hold back his tears. He had always been slight, his frame too delicate for the harsh world around him, and now, that frailty seemed to be the very thing that trapped him in this nightmare. His lack of strength, both physical and emotional.
His body ached with hunger and exhaustion, yet his spirit remained unyielding. The pain was nothing compared to the anguish in his heart, a torment that gnawed at his soul with every passing second.
Three days had passed, though to Adrian, it felt like an eternity. His body, already frail from years of neglect, had grown weaker.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the stairs, a familiar rhythm that sent a shiver down Adrian's spine. The door creaked open, and Wuner Hudel, his father, stepped into the dim light.
Wuner's gaze swept over Adrian's fragile form, taking in the pale skin, the delicate features that had always set his son apart from others. But there was no pity in Wuner's eyes, only contempt.
"You're still alive," Wuner said coldly, his voice devoid of any warmth. He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied Adrian's expression. "I thought you'd have learned your lesson by now."
Adrian didn't respond. He met his father's gaze with those dull silver eyes, eyes that once held so much life but now reflected only the coldness of the world around him.
Wuner frowned, displeased by the lack of reaction. "Have you finally decided to do as you're told?" he asked, his voice laced with impatience. "Will you marry Ethan Levidis and stop this childish rebellion?"
Adrian's voice, when he finally spoke, was barely above a whisper. "I will never marry a man," he said, his tone flat but resolute. "And I will never give up my passion for painting. I'd rather die than live a life that isn't mine."
The defiance in his words was like a slap in the face to Wuner. The older man's eyes darkened, and without warning, he lunged forward, grabbing a fistful of Adrian's long hair. He yanked hard, forcing Adrian's head back, exposing the delicate line of his throat.
"Do you think you have a choice?" Wuner hissed, his face inches from Adrian's. "What are you worth without the Hudel name? Nothing. You are nothing, Adrian. If you don't marry Ethan Levidis, I will sell you to someone else—someone far less kind. Do you understand?"
Adrian winced in pain, but he refused to cry out. Instead, he glared at his father, his heart filled with a hatred he had never allowed himself to feel before. "I will never forgive you for this," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.
Wuner sneered, releasing Adrian's hair with a shove that sent him sprawling onto the cold floor. "Forgiveness?" Wuner scoffed. "I don't need your forgiveness, Adrian. I need your obedience. Now, stop being such a nuisance and do as you're told. Marry Ethan Levidis, and don't embarrass the Hudel name any further."
With those final, cutting words, Wuner turned and strode out of the basement, slamming the door shut behind him. The sound echoed in the darkness, a final punctuation to the confrontation that had left Adrian trembling with anger and despair.
Adrian remained on the floor, his body curled up in a protective ball, tears finally spilling from his eyes. He cried for the life he had lost, for the dreams that were being ripped away from him, and for the father who had never shown him an ounce of love. He cried until his body gave out, and darkness claimed him once more.
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When Adrian awoke, the cold stone floor had been replaced by the soft leather seat of a car. The world outside the window was a blur of motion, and the sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the city. His head throbbed with a dull pain, and his body felt weak, but there was no mistaking the situation he was in.
A man sat beside him, a bodyguard by the look of him, with a stern face and a demeanor that brooked no nonsense. Adrian's heart sank as the reality of his situation began to set in.
"Where am I?" Adrian asked, his voice hoarse from disuse.
The bodyguard glanced at him but did not soften. "You're on your way to get your marriage certificate," the man replied curtly. "With Mr. Ethan Levidis."
Adrian's heart skipped a beat. Marriage? So soon? He hadn't even had time to process the horror of it all, and now it was happening, just like that. "But… Ethan's in a coma," Adrian said, his voice trembling with fear and confusion. "How…?"
"All the documents will be handled by his mother," the bodyguard interrupted, leaving no room for further questions. "Just do as you're told, and this will all be over quickly."
Adrian fell silent, his heart heavy with dread. He turned his gaze to the window, watching the cityscape pass by as they made their way to the Marriage Registration Bureau. The streets, once filled with life and color, now seemed gray and lifeless to him, a reflection of his own desolate heart.
In that moment, Adrian felt like a canary in a gilded cage—beautiful but trapped, with no wings to fly. His dreams of painting, of creating a world filled with color and emotion, were slipping away from him, leaving behind only a cold, empty reality.
When the car finally came to a stop, Adrian was ushered out by the bodyguard. They stood before a grand building, the Marriage Registration Bureau, its imposing structure adding to the weight of the moment. Adrian's legs felt like lead as he was led inside, each step bringing him closer to a fate he could not escape.
Inside, the atmosphere was cold and formal, the sterile environment a stark contrast to the vibrant life Adrian had once known. Waiting for him in the lobby was a woman who exuded an air of authority and detachment. Her beauty was sharp, almost severe, with a face that could have been carved from stone.
Lady Sachel, Ethan's mother, regarded Adrian with a critical eye as he approached. Beside her stood a man dressed impeccably in a tailored suit—Ethan's assistant, Mathew, who carried himself with a quiet efficiency that spoke of his professionalism.
For a moment, there was silence as Lady Sachel and Mathew took in Adrian's appearance. Despite the turmoil he had endured, Adrian's beauty was undeniable. His long black hair, still somewhat disheveled from his time in the basement, framed his delicate features like a dark halo. His pale skin, so smooth and unblemished, seemed almost luminescent under the harsh fluorescent lights, and his silver eyes, though dulled by sadness, still held a mysterious allure.
Lady Sachel's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something unspoken passing through her gaze. But whatever thoughts she had were quickly masked by her usual air of cold indifference.
"So, this is the one," Lady Sachel said, her voice as chilly as her demeanor. She stepped closer, her sharp eyes scanning Adrian from head to toe. "Not bad. At least you're not completely useless."
Adrian flinched at the harshness of her tone, but he remained silent, his eyes fixed on the floor. He could feel the weight of her disdain pressing down on him, a reminder that he was nothing more than a pawn in this cruel game.
"Let's get this over with," Lady Sachel continued, her voice clipped. "I don't have all day to waste on this farce."
Mathew stepped forward, producing the necessary documents with practiced efficiency. He placed them on the table before Adrian, his expression impassive. "Sign here, Mr. Hudel," Mathew instructed, pointing to the designated spot on the marriage certificate. "And here."
Adrian hesitated, his hand trembling as he reached for the pen. This was it—the moment that would seal his fate. He could feel Lady Sachel's eyes on him, her impatience growing with every passing second.
With a deep breath, Adrian signed the papers, each stroke of the pen feeling like a nail in the coffin of his old life. When he was done, he set the pen down with a sense of finality, his heart sinking as the reality of his new life began to set in.
Lady Sachel snatched up the documents, her eyes scanning the signatures with a critical eye. "Good," she said curtly, handing the papers to Mathew. "It's done. You are now married to my son, Ethan Levidis."
Adrian said nothing. He felt as though he were floating outside of himself, detached from the events unfolding around him. He was now married to a man he had never met, a man who was lying in a coma, and there was nothing he could do to change it.
Lady Sachel's cold voice cut through his thoughts, dragging him back to the harsh reality. "Remember, Adrian," she said, her tone dripping with condescension, "My Son is someone you only serve as a personal servent and not as his equal. Don't dream big."
What dream can he have now?