Chapter 5 THE TRAP TIGHTENS: A PUBLIC SPECTACLE

Elena's POV

The air in the mansion was heavy with the scent of fresh roses and expensive perfume. It was meant to be a celebration, but to me, it felt like a funeral. Victor's wedding party was in full swing, and the opulence of the event only highlighted the stark contrast to my own feelings of entrapment and despair.

Victor's plan to invite Gad to the party was nothing short of a calculated insult. I had always known that Victor enjoyed making others suffer, but this was a level of cruelty I hadn't anticipated. By flaunting his impending marriage to me, he was not only celebrating his dominance but also taunting Gad, the man who had been my silent love for so long.

I was trapped in this gilded cage, my life now inextricably linked to Victor's. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. No matter how much I wanted to escape, the chains of this marriage were binding me to Victor for life. The thought of it made my stomach churn with a mixture of hatred and despair.

A few days after the wedding, I learned that Gad had made a desperate attempt to rescue me. His men were supposed to infiltrate the mansion and get me out of Victor's clutches. I hoped, prayed that they would succeed. But the mansion's security was as tight as a fortress, and Victor's men quickly caught the intruders.

The next morning, I was horrified to see the bodies of Gad's men displayed publicly as a gruesome message. Victor had made it clear that there would be no more attempts to disrupt his plans. The sight of the lifeless bodies was a brutal reminder of the price people were paying for my freedom.

Victor, ever the manipulator, decided to move the wedding ceremony forward by two days. The invitations went out again, a cruel twist to his already taunting game. It was as if he was determined to squeeze every ounce of agony from this situation.

I felt numb as I prepared for the rescheduled ceremony. The once grand occasion now felt like a mockery of my shattered hopes. My heart ached with every step, every glance at the elaborate decorations that seemed to mock my fate. The walls of the mansion, adorned with glittering lights and elegant fabrics, felt more like a prison than a place of celebration.

Victor found me in the midst of the preparations, his face a mask of smug satisfaction. "Looking forward to the big day, Elena?" he asked, his voice dripping with insincerity.

I forced a smile, my voice hollow. "I suppose I have no choice but to endure it."

He chuckled, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "That's the spirit. Just remember, this is the beginning of a new chapter for us."

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle heavily upon me. As the final touches were made and the guests began to arrive, I knew that the wedding was more than just a personal humiliation; it was a statement of Victor's control over me and his victory over Gad.

As I stood among the guests, playing my role in this elaborate farce, I felt a surge of helplessness. My life was now a stage for Victor's triumph, and I was a puppet forced to dance to his tune. I could only hope that someday, somehow, I might find a way out of this nightmare. For now, all I could do was endure and try to hold on to whatever fragments of hope remained.

The church was filled with an array of unfamiliar faces, each more surprising than the last. I couldn't help but feel a wave of discomfort wash over me. Why were there so many people I didn't know? My gaze fell upon the crowd, and my heart sank when I spotted my brother among them. *I wouldn't be here if he hadn't sold me out to this cruel man,* I thought bitterly to myself.

As the ceremony began, the pastor's voice echoed through the hall, "If anyone is not in support of this marriage, let them speak now or forever hold their peace." My breath caught in my throat. This was the moment I had been hoping for. Suddenly, a few of Gad's men stood up, and my heart raced as I saw Gad walking towards me and Victor.

Joy surged through me. Here was a glimmer of hope, a chance that the marriage might not go through. I felt a surge of relief as Gad approached, but the joy was short-lived. Victor's men sprang into action, drawing their guns and creating a barrier between Gad and the altar. The crowd gasped, their fear palpable.

The pastor's voice cut through the tension, "Why are you not in support of this marriage between Miss Elena and Mr. Victor?"

Gad's voice was firm and unwavering. "I am not in support because Elena's only family is not in support of this marriage. Victor manipulated him to get her."

Victor's smile widened at Gad's words. "Is that true, Marcus?" the pastor asked, turning to my brother.

Marcus looked around nervously before replying, "That is a lie. I am in support."

The words struck me like a physical blow. I felt a deep disappointment and betrayal. I could see Gad's shock, his face a mix of anger and disbelief. It was clear he hadn't expected Marcus to side with Victor.

Victor, with a triumphant glint in his eye, signaled to his men. They moved swiftly to escort Gad and his men out of the church, their guns still drawn. The church fell into an uneasy silence, leaving me feeling more trapped than ever.

I stood there, surrounded by strangers and under the control of a man who had taken everything from me. The hope I had felt moments ago faded, replaced by a sinking sense of despair.