chapter 1

The gentle breeze of the breaking day, the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, the aroma of freshly baked white cake, the clinking of countless wine glasses, the chattering of many people, and the dazzling bright sunlight enveloped Amaira as she lowered her net veil over her face. At that moment, someone entered to inform her that everything was ready and that they were expecting her.Amaira stood up abruptly, her eyes widening. Suddenly, a realization struck her, and she moved forward.She swept her long white gown along the red passage leading to the main hall, where white and pink roses lined either side, and there was no one else in sight.Amaira hadn’t used any of the makeup products provided to her. Instead, she had applied only a light pink gloss on her lips and a thin layer of eyeliner behind her long, natural eyelashes. A dimple formed—not from smiling, but from her effort to hide the nervousness she felt.Her hair was tied in a tight bun, with bangs falling naturally as the long veil draped over her face and touched the ground.She still couldn’t believe this was happening and thought that she might soon take on this dream, but it never did come to pass.Standing before the door, she tried to calm her racing heart and quell her nerves. Then, with a bright flash of light, the enormous golden door opened, revealing a huge crowd with their eyes fixed on her.For a moment, the sight of so many unknown faces staring at her with stern expressions made her want to run away. Most of them wore masks, and just looking at their eyes would frighten any ordinary person. She squeezed her eyes shut, wanting to flee, her legs trembling, and her hands sweating.But instead of turning back, she kept her eyes closed. If she had the chance, maybe she would run away, but she didn’t. After a while, she opened her eyes. Instead of looking around, she focused on walking down the aisle toward the center, where a tall, muscular man stood with his back to her.His commanding presence sent a chill through the air. As he turned slowly to face her, she stared at him in shock.He wore a perfectly fitted black blazer over a snowy white shirt, with a white rose pinned to his left chest, and a raven bow tie around his neck. His raven hair fell over his face, matching his imposing demeanor, and a black mask concealed a long scar.Her first reaction upon seeing him up close was sheer fear. Closing her eyes again, as if recalling something, she glanced aside, afraid to meet his gaze.She knew all eyes were now on her, but what unsettled her the most were his hazel eyes, constantly fixed on her.The priest began reciting his incantations as her gaze remained on the ground, waiting for the man’s eyes to wander elsewhere, but they never did.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the priest concluded his incantation."Will you honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?" he asked. "Will you accept children lovingly from God and raise them according to the law of Christ and his Church? And finally, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage, accepting the man standing before you as your husband?"Amaira remained silent. A sudden hush enveloped the entire room; even the clinking of glasses ceased. Her throat felt tight, as if someone were forcing her to scream.Gathering her courage, she looked up and uttered the two words that would change her life forever, “I do…”The priest blessed each ring before the newlyweds and continued, "And do you, Mr..."The priest looked at the man, awaiting his response. "Just proceed to the next," he said in a rough, cold voice."Do you accept Miss Amaira Patel to be your wholly and solely wife and love—" but before the priest could finish, he replied in the same cold tone, "I do.""Eh? Yes, well then. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I hereby declare you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."Amaira's eyes widened immediately. Kiss? What kiss? Nobody had told her about this, and how could she have forgotten such a crucial detail in the moment of haste?Everything happened so quickly that she didn’t have time to process what was happening. Now standing in this spot, she felt her head heat up. How could she kiss a man she didn’t even know?As everyone stared at them, Scar Boss, as he was known in society and to Amaira, looked at her.Chills ran down Amaira’s spine once again. His pink yet rough lips came into view, and for the first time, she found herself preferring death over kissing this person—a man feared not just by her but by the entire world. It wasn’t that he didn’t have perfectly kissable lips; it was just that, in light of what he was capable of, she genuinely preferred death.But the Scar Boss didn't share her reluctance. He stepped closer and grabbed her by the shoulder, as if to prevent her from escaping. Amaira found his lips just an inch away and had no choice but to close her eyes, wishing for the moment to pass quickly. But the kiss never came. Instead, he rested a hand on her head, tilting her face so that her back was turned to the onlookers.After the formalities were over, he finally let go of her, and Amaira felt a sense of peace wash over her. She was relieved that her first kiss hadn’t been taken, and she managed a quiet “thank you” to him. However, before she could celebrate her good fortune, he leaned in closer, directing his voice toward her ear, “No need to thank me just yet. This was the first and last time I could save you. But let me ask you this: who will save you from me now? From this point on, I will make your life a living hell…”