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“How do you know? If my so-called father would have sat down and explained everything to me, I might have listened. I know your loyalty to Victor is stronger than to me but to be kept in the dark is messed up! Why should I be the one to give up my life? Why should I suffer while you three sit in your ivory tower?!” I shouted.

I could feel my chest heaving, feel the heat rising under my skin like I was about to explode. “I didn’t ask for this! I didn’t ask to be lied to, manipulated, thrown into something I didn’t even know existed!” My voice rose, sharp and raw, cutting through the air. “You should’ve told me. Youallshould’ve told me. But I was just easier to sacrifice, wasn’t I?”

“Sis—” Miles started again, not knowing what to say, or if he did, it was too late.

“No, you lost the right to call me that the moment you went against me.” I narrowed my eyes, shooting daggers at him and causing him to back off if only just a little. “I don’t have a family anymore.” I stormed past him, marching to the beat of my own drum when a burly figure stepped in the way.

“Your husband-to-be is that way, princess.” A man dressed in a three-piece suit smiled, a gold tooth catching my eye, as did the scar that ran down the middle of his face.

“You can tell that prick to get fucked. I’m leaving,” I said on an eye roll.

He cocked his head to the side, the bones in his neck cracking as he grasped my wrist tightly and dragged me back towards the venue.

“Get off of me!” I screamed, but it was no use. He had one job and one job only, and that was to get me to that altar.

“Anastacia, stop fighting. You’re making this harder.” My father sighed, running his hand through his hair with irritation.

“Don’t say another word!” I snapped at my father. “You three are dead to me, do you hear me?” I couldn’t control the words that left my mouth. My hands were balled into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms until I felt the sting of skin breaking. “I’m going to marry that psychotic bastard inside for your alliance, but I don’t want to hear a word from you again.” I snatched my arm away from the guy who had loosened his grip on me. Did he feel sorry for me? Was that it?

I didn’t need anyone’s pity.

I didn’t need anyone anymore, period.

“Anastacia, sweetheart, there is a white dress for you inside. Lorenzo’s choice, apparently.” My mother smiled, and call me mistaken, but she actually looked happy that I was marrying someone.

“No thanks. I’ll walk to my death sentence in this. Seems quite fitting, doesn’t it?” I shot her a glance, as she gasped.

My father joined me at my side, his eyes darting between my mother and I. “Anastacia, would you believe me if I said I was sorry?”

“No, I wouldn’t. If you were sorry, you wouldn’t have done it. You sold me to what I guessed was the highest bidder. Sold me for an alliance that clearly means more to you than I do.” I started my walk up the few steps to the entrance.

“That’s not true,” he shouted after me.

I didn’t give him the respect of turning around. He didn’t deserve it.

“If that’s what you need to tell yourself to sleep at night, carry on.” I breathed, taking a moment to truly internalise what I was about to do.

My father appeared at my side, holding out his arm to walk me down the aisle like you saw in movies. I paused, not taking it now or even a minute later. He could get fucked.

“Anastacia, we need to be seen as united. What will it look like if you can barely look at me?” He touched my elbow, trying to find some sort of common ground.

“We were united until about ten minutes ago, but now you three are on your own, just as I am. I don’t want to hold your arm,Victor. I don’t want to look you in the eye, and I most certainly don’t care what anyone inside thinks.” I blinked back the tears, not wanting to come across as weak or bothered. “I can’t even imagine whatdedushkawould think of you now. He’d be turning over in his grave at what you’re doing.”

“Don’t,” he admonished.

“Why? Does hearing little home truths hurt?” I scoffed. “Isbabushkainside?”

“No, she doesn’t know.” He hung his head. He had to know just how fucked up all this sounded.

“Of course she doesn’t, because she feels the same waydedushkawould have, and as I do.”

The faint sound of music came from the other side of the door, and I knew it was time.

Time to walk away from my family and into something unknown.

I kept my distance from my father as I walked towards a man I had only ever heard of. One I didn’t know and didn’t wish to know. I kept my eyes fixed on the registrar waiting for me at the front. I didn’t look at Lorenzo, not even to see what he looked like. What was the point? The deal was done. Appearances meant nothing.

“Ulybka, Anastacia,” my father coaxed from beside me.