Lia’s POV

Morning came faster than I expected. I had slept off after crying my eyes out. It is now obvious that my fate is sealed.

I climbed down from the bed and raised my gaze to check the wall clock. It was 5:45 am.

I headed to the bathroom to take a bath. I spent more time in the bathroom as I tried to get over all this, but everything just seemed to happen too fast.

Today, I am going to be forever bound to a man I barely know, a man I was supposed to stay miles away from.

I snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of approaching footsteps. I turned off the shower before wrapping the towel around my chest.

I returned to the room, where Dante was pacing around. It made me curious about what he was looking for.

"I thought you ran away," he muttered calmly.

I swallowed the lump in my throat before asking, my voice barely audible. "Why would I run away?"

He smiled darkly at my question before walking up to me. "The makeup artists are here to dress you," he informed me.

I nodded, my gaze lowered.

He didn't say another word before leaving the room. Shortly after he left, two ladies in their mid-twenties walked in.

"Good morning, ma," they both greeted.

I didn't bother replying. I walked up to the bed and sat down, ready to get dolled up for a wedding that I never consented to.

The makeup artist handed me a white wedding gown, urging me to wear it.

I stood up and changed into the gown, which perfectly fitted my body frame, making me wonder how he knew my size.

"Ma, would you please sit down?" One of the ladies urged me to sit.

I did just that.

Before I could realize what the ladies were up to, I felt the tender touch of a brush against my cheeks. Slowly, I closed my eyes, giving the ladies a chance to apply makeup to my face.

After they were done, one of the ladies began to style my hair. The other handed me the mirror to see how I looked.

I tried my best not to cry as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Even my pretty face couldn't hide the sad look.

I moved the mirror a bit before staring at my styled hair. My hair was styled into a free run, my favorite hairstyle.

"Aren't you done?" Dante's voice echoed, the sound of his approaching footsteps following.

Before I could talk, one of the ladies replied, "We're done, sir."

He had an unreadable facial expression as he walked in. The ladies assisted me with the ankle strap heels before leaving us in the room.

"Let's go, Elena."

My heart skipped a beat at his words. Even though everyone had been calling me that name since last night, I still hadn't gotten used to it.

I nodded before standing up. He stretched his hand for support, but I didn't take it.

He only smiled at my actions before leaving the room. I followed behind him until we arrived at the parking lot.

He opened the car door for me before getting in. After I got in, he drove off to the wedding hall.

The wedding hall wasn't far from his mansion. However, it was obvious that we were late when we arrived because there were many cars parked in the garage, the guests waiting for us inside.

Again, he opened the door for me, treating me like a queen. Though I knew I was nothing but an asset to him.

I got out of the car before taking his hand in mine. We walked through the hallway into the hall.

The moment we arrived, I felt my heart beating hard against my chest. I held my gown tightly, trying my best not to reveal my nervousness.

Today was supposed to be the most exciting day in any lady's life, but it was a sad day in my life, a day I was going to forever be bound to Dante Moretti.

"Elena," Dante's voice snapped me out of my trance.

I smiled faintly at him before walking up to the altar, my knuckles almost turning white from the grip around my gown.

Just when we arrived, the official began. He took the microphone before beginning, "Today, Dante Moretti and Elena Romano would finally become one."

I could feel the weight of the guests' gazes on me, but I pretended to be fine by only smiling, a facade of my fear.

"With the grace of the Lord, join together what no man could separate, Dante Moretti, do you take Elena Romano as your lawful wedded wife?" The official asked, his gaze on Dante, who stood out in his perfectly tailored suit.

"I do," his words were concise, yet dark.

The official turned to face me before asking, "With the grace of the Lord, join together what no man could separate, Elena Romano, do you take Dante Moretti as your lawful wedded husband?"

My chest tightened upon hearing his question. I tried to talk, but I felt my tongue-tied. I couldn't bring myself to say 'yes,' but I knew I had to accept him.

My fate was already sealed, and there was nothing I could do about it because ruining this wedding today meant dying right in front of everyone and the Romano family getting destroyed. Of course, it wouldn't take Dante more than a minute to kill me and ruin my family!

Not after what I heard last night!

"No..." the single word rolled off my tongue while deeply lost in my thoughts.

The gasps from the crowd made me realize what I just did.