Chapter 1 HER WEDDING DAY

Natalie stared at her reflection in the mirror and barely recognized the girl looking back.

Her hair was curled and pinned like a porcelain doll's. Her makeup, subtle and expensive, masked the growing storm in her eyes. The gown-a soft champagne gold with crystal embroidery-clung to her body like a silk cage. Expensive. Delicate. Uncomfortable.

Just like the day ahead.

"You look beautiful, Miss," the maid said gently, finishing the clasp at the back.She gave a tight smile as she looked at her white satin dress. It was her day. Her wedding day. Bile rose at the back of her throat as she thought of it.

Her uncle had only told her about it last night. She had had no time to prepare. To plan. To escape. Not like she had gotten that much chance either. Her uncle had locked her up immediately he told her, knowing full well that she would plan to escape.

Natalie's smile didn't reach her eyes as she made her way to the entrance where the car that would take her to the venue was waiting for her. She was already planning her escape.

As the black town car pulled up in front of the towering event hall,( It wasn't even a chapel), Natalie's heart raced-not from nerves, but from adrenaline.

Inside, the hall was drenched in wealth and pretension.

Crystal chandeliers bathed the room in golden light. Velvet-draped tables sparkled with champagne flutes and silver cutlery. The guests-politicians, businessmen, socialites-floated around in designer tuxedos and gowns like the world belonged to them.

And at the center of it all, Viktor Roman, her supposed fiancé.

He stood tall and imposing, dressed in a custom black suit. His graying hair was slicked back, jaw sharp and eyes like polished stone. People whispered about how powerful he was. How feared. How could her uncle be this cruel. He had always been though. Ever since her parents died and left her in his care. All he cared for was her inheritance. An inheritance she wasn't sure still existed. If it wasn't already lost to her uncle's growing debt.

Viktor Roman looked every inch the business mogul and billionaire. Old. Bald, with a tight smile and hungry, lewd eyes .But Natalie didn't care. To her, he was just another man trying to buy her.

Her chance came sooner than expected. While Gideon turned to speak with one of the Roman family lawyers, To seal her fate as he deemed fit, Natalie slipped away, clutching her clutch bag tight as she moved through the side corridor.

She found the exit, pushed the door open-and ran straight into two men in black suits.

"Going somewhere, Miss Grimaldi ?" One of the men had on a smug look. He was obviously enjoying this.

Her heart sank. Gideon had planned for this.He had guessed her every move right from the beginning.

Well, good thing she had plan B.

They grabbed her arms before she could twist away. "Let me go!" she shouted, but the hallway was too quiet, too isolated for anyone to hear-or care.Not that they ever did.

Minutes later, she was dragged back into the hall through the same door she'd slipped out of, shoes scraping against the floor, hair falling from its neat updo.

The music faltered. Heads turned. Murmurs began to rise.

She didn't care.

"Let her go," Gideon snapped, appearing beside them with a clenched jaw. "She's just overwhelmed."

Natalie shoved their arms off and stepped forward. "Overwhelmed? Is that what we're calling kidnapping now?"

Gideon's fake smile was stretched tight. "Natalie -"

"No," she snapped, voice rising. "Let's not pretend anymore. You're selling me off like cattle. To this-this wrinkled fraud of a man."

Gasps rippled across the room.The ceremony was about to start. Things were getting set. The best thing would be to keep quiet now and apologize then carry on with the ceremony and later when everyone was relaxed, she would find a way to escape. But anger eroded common sense and words were flying out of her mouth sooner than she could think.

Oops!

Viktor Roman turned slowly, his expression unreadable.

"Excuse me?" Her uncle was at Viktor's side in a flash trying to appease his anger.

It's okay Natalie . Apologize now and everything would be fine. Play along for a while.

She ignored the tiny voice in her ears and did what her heart told her. Not her head.

Natalie strode up to the center of the room and grabbed a glass of wine off a tray. "You think just because you have money, power, and the morals of a toad, you can buy anyone you want? What is it, Viktor-midlife crisis? Couldn't find someone your age to tolerate your creepy stare?"

He didn't blink.That should have scared her but it didn't. It only hardened her mind.

But Gideon was furious now, his voice barely restrained. "Natalie!!, enough!"

"No, not enough," she said, tossing the contents of her wine glass into Viktor's face.

Crimson splashed against his white collar and glistened on his jaw.

The room erupted.Well plan B seemed to be working. Even though it wasn't what she had planned.

Natalie turned, grabbed a handful of soft cheese from the hors d'oeuvres table, and smeared it down the front of his designer suit for good measure. Then she overturned the fruit bowl onto his shoes.

"You want a wife?" she shouted. "Find someone who doesn't gag at the idea of kissing a man older than her father!"

The crowd was frozen-shocked, appalled, delighted. cameras flashed discreetly.

Natalie didn't wait for their judgment. She tossed her heels across the marble floor and walked barefoot out of the hall, chin high, fire in her blood.

Viktor would probably call off the wedding . he had been humiliated. his pride was at stake. Her uncle would do nothing else. Her plan had worked.

Outside, the air was cool and sharp, biting into her flushed cheeks. She made it to the parking lot before the nausea hit her. Not from fear-but from the sheer weight of it all.She had done it. Stood up to her uncle but she wasn't free yet. She knew that.

And sure enough, as she turned the corner of the lot, two black SUVs pulled up. The doors opened. The same men stepped out, this time less polite.

She backed up instinctively, but there was nowhere to run.

"Mr Grimaldi wants you back inside," one said Icily.

Natalie lifted her chin. "Tell Mr. Grimaldi that he can go to hell."

One of them grabbed her arm again. "Didn't ask for your opinion, sweetheart."

She didn't fight this time, expecting them to take her back to the house. How great was her shock when they walked towards the hall they just left.

"where are you taking me?" . She panicked. Wasn't Viktor calling off the wedding?

They entered the hall and Natalie was surprised to see Viktor in another suit, clean and devoid of her earlier mess. The minister who was to celebrate the wedding was already there smiling like nothing abnormal had happened moments ago.

"what's going on?". She whispered furiously to her uncle.

"You have found favor in Viktor's eyes. You are lucky he chose to overlook those antics of yours. The wedding goes on". He gave her a cold smug look.

No! Natalie looked at Viktor looking prim in his tailored suit. Another pair of shoes was given to her.

Her uncle grabbed her arms and linked it with his. The popular aisle walk music played. Her head burned. Her plan hadn't worked after all. Her Fate was finally sealed.

They started the walk down the hall. Natalie squirmed. "you are smart, you know when to give up right?" her uncle's voice came whispering silently beside her.

They reached the altar. The minister started the proceedings. Natalie's skin crawled underneath her with every word the minister spoke with finality. Then came the exchange of vows.

"Do you Viktor Roman take Natalie Grimaldi to be your wife to love in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer till death do you both part? " The minister asked.

"I do" came Viktor's sleazy answer.

The minister turned to her.

"Do you Natalie Grimaldi take this man Viktor Roman to be husband, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, till death do you both part?"

Natalie stared at the man she was about to sign out her future too. Her hope. Whatever happened to dream cars and dream cities, Stary nights and all of it. Hell she hadn't even gotten the chance to live as a teenager. All because of her uncle. The minister coughed slightly jerking her out of her reverie.

"miss? "

She looked at her uncle. He gave her a thumbs up. Natalie sighed .

"I do" The word came out like a death sentence. Her sentence.

The minister's smile widened. He turned to the crowd.

"Is there anyone seated here who has a reason as to why this people should not be joined together in holy matrimony? Speak now or forever remain silent! "

It was routine talk. No one would actually stand out. Natalie readied herself mentally for the upcoming hell she was about to enter.

"I Do". A masculine voice rang out clear.