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“I will when I have something to smile about.” I swallowed the acid that rose in my throat as I took my final steps toward Lorenzo Ricci.

I wouldn’t run. I wouldn’t show any signs of weakness to that prick. I would be the woman my grandfather taught me to be. A woman who would never be ruled and dominated by a man, especially not one like Lorenzo.

“Hello, wife.” The smug bastard smiled.

“Get fucked, you psychotic asshole.” I scoffed, my head snapping towards a man with hair brighter than the sun. It was redder than red. He sucked in a sharp breath, clearly not used to people disrespecting their boss.

“I can tell we’re going to be very happy together.” His smile fell, and I knew the prince wasn’t happy.

He gripped my wrist, tighter than I’d have liked—actually, scratch that—I didn’t want him to touch me at all. My face remained stoic and unreadable. I never once let my mask slip. He yanked me into him, our bodies almost colliding. I couldn’t hide my scowl as my father stepped away to join my mother.

That woman seemed more into this marriage than anyone else. Hell, maybe she was the one who pushed for it, but she’d never admit that to my face. I doubted my father would either.Lorenzo might have thought I belonged to him now, but the sooner he realised I belonged to nobody, the better it would be.

“I’d rather die a thousand deaths than be with someone like you,” I snarled, snatching my arm away, wanting to keep my distance but it was short-lived.

He leaned into me. I couldn’t disguise the fact my body had tensed ever so slightly. It was clear he thought he had the upper hand, but in reality, that’d never happen. “It looks like your Daddy didn’t give you a choice, though, did he?” he whispered so only I was able to hear. “He practically sold you to me for an alliance.”

My words sliced through the tense air, "Fuck you," I seethed, my voice trembling with fury. My heart pounded like a drum in my chest as I glared at the man standing before me. His face remained unreadable, I couldn’t work out if he was pissed off or shocked. The room felt small and suffocating, filled with the weight of my resentment and my unwillingness to accept a future I didn’t want.

“You’re mine. You belong to me now, Anastacia.”

“Over my dead body.” I leaned in closer than he did, resting my hands on his chest and gaining the upper hand. I gently grazed his earlobe with my lips, sensing the quickening of his heartbeat under my touch. “If you plan on using the outdated line of‘that can be arranged’just know it doesn’t work on me, Ricci.” I smirked as I distanced myself, knowing I’d gotten under his skin.

I’d unnerved him. It was written all over his face. He looked more like one of those cartoon characters where steam was coming out of his ears. Like he was about to combust at any second.

It looked like Ricci had met his match, and all I had to say to him was good luck.

I tuned everything out as the registrar recited what he was supposed to up until it was time for us to say ‘Ido.’I was dreading it. I never wanted to say ‘I do’ to anyone, let alone to this jumped-up prick. It was obvious that he basically thought the sun shone out of his ass.

“Anastacia Katerina Fedorov, do you solemnly promise to love, honour, and respect Lorenzo Franco Ricci for as long as you both shall live?” The registrar asked as Lorenzo trained his gaze on me, as if he expected me to refuse, but no matter how much I wanted to say it, I wouldn’t.

My family might have thrown me into the lion’s den, but I knew what was expected of me, and I wouldn’t fail. I had never failed at anything, and I didn’t plan on starting now. I glanced at my future husband for a second, taking in all his features. He was annoyingly handsome, I’d give him that. Fire danced within his caramel eyes as they narrowed the longer I looked at him, trying to work out what I was doing. A couple of jet-black strands fell down onto his forehead as the rest was tousled and pushed back in a minimal way. My eyes snagged on the deep scar that ran in a perfect line across his sculpted cheekbone.

“Miss Fedorov?” The registrar prompted, interrupting my thoughts.

“It’s a simple yes, Ana.” Lorenzo scoffed, my nickname rolling off his tongue like acid. “Or if you want to be traditional, it’s three letters, two words. You choose.” He smiled, cocking his head to the side.

“If I have to.” I smirked.

“Lorenzo Franco Ricci, do you solemnly promise to love, honour, and respect Anastacia Katerina Fedorov for as long as you both shall live?”

“Yes.” Short and to the point. What more could I expect, really?

“As a symbol of your promise, please place your ring on Anastacia’s finger.” The registrar smiled, thinking he was joining two people in marriage who loved each other.

Lorenzo took the ring from the red-headed man before bringing it to my finger.

“I don’t wear jewellery, so you can keep that.” I practically heard my father sigh with disappointment.

“Either you let me put this ring on your finger voluntarily, or I’ll glue it on. It’s your choice.” Lorenzo grabbed my hand, bringing it to where he needed it before forcefully thrusting the thin diamond band over my knuckle.

It felt like he had just placed a noose around my neck as my skin burned slightly.Asshole.

“As a symbol of your promise, please place your ring on Lorenzo’s finger.”My turn.

I took the ring from Lorenzo as he produced a solid black band, no doubt to match his heart. I placed it on his finger, sliding it down past his knuckle until it couldn’t go any farther. He didn’t flinch, nor did he look at what I was doing. He just continued to watch me.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss!” The registrar cheered from in front of us, stepping back to allow us our space.