Page 44 of His Forced Bride

But there isn't a single second where I'm not searching for an exit route or looking for a way out of this.

But for what purpose?

Yuri would only hunt me down if I ran.

Cars line the street—expensive sedans and SUVs that belong to the same people who attended my engagement party to Dominic just weeks ago.

They're here to witness the continuation of an alliance, the smooth transition from one Gravitch male to another.

To them, this makes perfect business sense.

To all of them, this is a celebration and a happy event, and even if I ran up to one, pleaded with them to help me and get me out of this, they wouldn’t understand.

They'd see me as the problem.

The guards escort me into the church through a side door where Oleg stands guard, and the other two disappear off to announce my presence, I'm sure.

I find the only chair in the room and sit, but my ass is planted only a second before the door swings open and Rosa appears, decked out in a beautiful blue dress suit made of satin.

It's not one of my designs, but it's stunning on her.

"Oh, good, Mrs. Gravitch. Come, come…"

She gestures with her hand as she walks toward me carrying a veil. "Mr. Gravitch is waiting."

Why do they keep calling me that?

I hate that name.

It's not my name.

I am Inessa Mirova and that's who I will always be.

"Stop calling me that," I say numbly as she tries to fix the veil to my head.

I swat it away, and when she tries again, I wrench it from her hands and throw it to the floor in a huff, glaring at her.

"I'm just trying to follow my orders, ma'am?—"

"Keep your filthy hands off me!" I hiss, and I bolt to my feet, ready to push the woman back, when Oleg's fingers curl around my bicep and I feel the cold press of steel at my ribs.

"Let's go get married, shall we?" he growls in a gravelly tone.

His grip is so tight it hurts, and my arm is bent at an odd angle, but I don't fight him.

For all I know, Yuri has already had my businesses signed over to his name illegally and a tragic murder on his wedding day would look like another attempt to harm his family.

His poor wife…

Rosa scurries ahead, and I am dragged by the hulking monster to the sanctuary doors where he opens them and shoves me through.

The room is full, though I recognize only a few faces as they stand and turn toward me.

The guests murmur appreciation as I walk down the aisle.

Their voices blend into meaningless noise, but I catch fragments.

"Beautiful ceremony," "Perfect match," "So romantic…"