Iván Serguéyevich, an older gentleman with an air of quiet authority and sharp gray eyes, held Anna’s hand with practiced elegance. Everything about him—from his impeccably tailored suit to his poised, confident demeanor—spoke of a man used to having his way.
Anna’s parents, dressed in their finest attire, beamed with pride and contentment. Watching their daughter beside such a wealthy, distinguished man felt like the fulfillment of a long-held dream; the financial stability they had always hoped for now seemed within their grasp. As the ceremony ended and the opulent celebration unfolded, their delight only deepened.
Amid the clatter of champagne flutes and formal laughter, Anna remained still, her smile strained and hollow. Her joy was absent, replaced by a numb performance of grace. Each gesture was measured, each word carefully chosen, all meant to conceal the storm within.
Her gaze, though quiet, was filled with despair—a silent plea buried beneath layers of silk and ceremony. To Anna, this day wasn’t about love or commitment; it was a transaction. She was a bargaining chip, passed along in a deal struck by her parents and accepted by a man she barely knew.
“You look stunning,” Iván said softly, noticing the distant look in her eyes. “I hope we can learn to get along.”
Anna didn’t respond.
Her eyes were fixed on some distant point, far removed from the glittering hall or the man by her side.
She thought about all the hopes and dreams she once had—how none of them had been considered. Her future had been dictated by the pursuit of wealth and status, and her desires had been ignored entirely.
Later that night, after the final guest had departed and the house had quieted down, Anna found herself alone in the vast estate with her new husband. The silence inside the grand villa was suffocating. When they entered the bedroom, Iván looked at her with unsettling intensity. Then he spoke, his voice low and deliberate:
“I want you to call me ‘Daddy.’”
Anna stood frozen, stunned by the request. The words struck her like a blow to the chest, leaving her breathless. She stared at him, speechless. He continued:
“It’s not some twisted fantasy. I’ve always seen you this way. I knew your parents for years… I’ve watched you grow up. I always knew one day, you’d be mine. I helped your family when they needed it. I made sure everything led to this moment. Now, you’re mine.”
A chill ran through Anna’s body as she realized the depth of his obsession.
This wasn’t just an arranged marriage—it was the final step in a carefully crafted plan he had orchestrated long ago. She wasn’t simply his wife—she was the result of manipulation and control.
A tear slipped down her cheek as the weight of her reality settled in. She understood now that she hadn’t only lost her freedom—she had lost her very sense of self.
But that night, something shifted inside Anna. A quiet determination rose up through the fear. She couldn’t stay. She wouldn’t allow herself to be trapped in a life built on coercion.
As dawn broke, Anna slipped out through the mansion gates, her heart pounding but her steps steady. She didn’t have a plan. She didn’t know what waited beyond the estate’s high walls. But for the first time, her future was her own.
And with that, Anna began her journey—not just to escape, but to rediscover who she truly was.