The Wedding Dress

I stared at the torn pieces of the contract scattered across the floor.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Finally, Vittorio sighed.

"I was hoping you'd make this easier."

I laughed bitterly.

"You kidnapped me, locked me in a mansion, and expect me to marry your son. Which part of that sounds easy?"

His expression remained calm.

"You'll understand one day."

"I don't want to understand."

I turned toward the door.

"I'm leaving."

Before I could take another step, two guards appeared in the doorway.

I stopped.

"You can't keep me here forever."

Vittorio looked at Dante.

"Take her upstairs."

"I can walk myself," I snapped.

Dante stepped closer.

"I know."

"Then tell them to move."

"They won't."

For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

His eyes were impossible to read.

Cold.

Tired.

Almost... apologetic.

"Please," I whispered. "My parents don't even know if I'm alive."

A muscle in Dante's jaw tightened.

"They know."

My heart skipped.

"They're alive?"

He looked away.

"I didn't say that."

The guards escorted me back to my room.

As soon as the door closed, I ran to the window.

Nothing.

Just the endless forest beyond the gates.

No police.

No passing cars.

No hope.

Hours passed.

I searched every drawer.

Every shelf.

Every corner of the room.

Nothing useful.

No phone.

No keys.

No way out.

Just before sunset, someone knocked.

The older woman entered carrying a large white box.

She placed it carefully on the bed.

"What is that?" I asked.

She didn't answer.

Instead, she slowly lifted the lid.

Inside lay the most beautiful dress I had ever seen.

White satin.

Delicate lace.

Tiny pearls stitched across the bodice.

It looked like something from a fairy tale.

Except this wasn't one.

"No."

I stepped back.

"I'm not wearing that."

"It's been made to your measurements," the woman said quietly.

"I don't care."

She looked at me with sad eyes.

"I truly am sorry."

She left without another word.

I walked over to the bed.

My hands trembled as I picked up the small envelope resting on top of the dress.

My name was written across the front.

Inside was a single note.

Tomorrow.

10:00 a.m.

Don't make this harder than it already is.

I crushed the note in my hand.

"They'll never make me say 'I do.'"

A quiet knock echoed from the other side of the door.

Then Dante's voice.

"You should get some sleep."

I looked at the locked door.

"I'd rather die than marry you."

Silence.

When he finally answered, his voice was barely above a whisper.

"...I know."

His footsteps faded down the hallway, leaving me alone with the dress... and the morning that would change everything.