The Wedding Date is Set Youll be my wife in a week, Rafael whispers, pressing a possessive kiss to Elenas collarbone, his lips lingering on her skin.
Elena freezes at the words, her body tensing, heart racing.
Every part of her wants to push him away, but she knows she cantnot yet.
Not when shes so close to finding a way out.
The sound of Rafaels steady breath against her neck makes her shiver.
The possessiveness in his voice makes her skin crawl, but she knows its only a matter of time before hell expect more than just kisses like these.
He wants all of her.
And thats a part of her she isnt willing to give.
I… I know, Elena replies softly, her voice shaking, her eyes locked on the window.
She avoids looking at him.
She cant let him see the fear in her eyes, or the desperation.
Its getting harder and harder to hide it.
Youre not nervous, are you? Rafael asks, pulling away slightly to gaze down at her, his hand sliding from her collarbone to her waist.
His touch is firm, like hes marking her, staking his claim.
You should be excited.
Were getting married soon.
Just think of whats waiting for us, Elena.
She swallows hard, the knot in her throat growing.
She cant afford to show him how much shes dreading this.
How much shes planning to get away before the wedding.
She has to hold it together, to keep him from realizing shes already made her mind up.
Im just… thinking, she murmurs, trying to sound calm.
Rafael smiles, his fingers brushing against her arm.
Its normal to be nervous before the big day.
But Im here, Elena.
Ill make sure everything is perfect.
Inside, Elena feels a storm building up.

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His words should comfort her, but all they do is feed her growing sense of dread.
She doesnt want perfection.
She wants freedom.
She wants to escape this prison hes built around her, brick by brick.
But how? Her thoughts spiral, focusing on the one thing she can still controlthe one thing that might still help her escape.
The plan with Alexander.
Her heart skips a beat as she thinks of him.
Hes her last hope.
Hours later, Elena sneaks out of the room and makes her way down the long, dimly lit hall.
Shes careful to avoid the servants, making sure no one notices her slip through the doors of the study.
The study has always been off-limits, but she knows Rafael keeps things in herethings that might help her.
Things that might give her the answers she needs.
Her hand shakes as she touches the cold brass doorknob.
She breathes out slowly and pushes it open.
The study is dark, with only a sliver of moonlight seeping through the curtains.
Bookshelves line the walls, and a desk is piled with papers.
Theres an old leather chair by the window, its back turned toward her.
She quietly moves toward the desk, her eyes scanning the cluttered surface.
She knows exactly what shes looking for.
A drawer.
A drawer shes never been able to open.
With a deep breath, Elena reaches for it.
Her fingers graze the cold metal.
She knows its locked.
Shes tried before, but Rafaels been careful with his keys.
Shes going to have to get creative.
The sound of a soft click echoes in the room, and she freezes.
Her heart races as the drawer slides open.
Inside, her fingers brush over papers, photographs, and… a small black box.
She pulls it out, her stomach flipping.
She doesnt know what shes expecting, but her gut tells her this isnt just any ordinary box.
She hesitates, then opens it.
Her breath catches in her throat as she sees whats inside.
A series of old photographs.
But its not just any photos.
Its a collection of imagesimages of her.
From when she was younger.
From years ago.
Photos shes never seen before.
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