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Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Anna woke up with a sense of purpose, her mind clear and resolute. She took a refreshing bath, then slipped into a comfy dress, feeling a sense of comfort and strength. As she came downstairs, her father approached her, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and desperation.

"Anna, have you thought about our conversation last night?" he asked, his voice laced with urgency.

"Yes, I have," Anna replied, her tone firm but polite. "And my answer is still no. I won't change my mind and marry that man."

Her father's face fell, his eyes clouding with disappointment. "Anna, please reconsider. This is the only way to save us," he pleaded.

But Anna stood firm, her resolve unshaken. "I understand that, Dad," she said, her voice softening slightly. "But I can't sacrifice my own happiness and future for your mistakes. I deserve better, and I won't settle for anything less."

Mr. Anderson, Anna's father became angry and he looked towards Anna's mother and left. Anna couldn't understand the gesture between them but she saw many ladies coming in with large boxes in their hand.

She looked toward her mother and asked her, "Mom, who are they?"

Mrs. Anderson looked at the people and replied, "They are here to get you ready for your marriage."

Anna's eyes widened in shock and disbelief as her mother's words hung in the air. "Marriage?" she repeated, her voice laced with horror. "You can't be serious!"

Her mother's expression was resolute, her eyes cold and detached. "Yes, Anna, we are serious. You will marry this man, and you will do it with a smile on your face."

Anna's gaze darted around the room, taking in the sight of the women unpacking boxes and setting up what looked like a makeshift beauty salon. Her heart raced with panic as she realized the extent of her parents' betrayal.

"No," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I won't do it. I won't marry him."

Her mother's face hardened, her voice stern. "You have no choice, Anna. You will do as we say, or you will suffer the consequences."

Anna's eyes met her mother's, a fierce determination burning within her. "I won't do it," she repeated, her voice firm. "I won't be a pawn in your game. I won't be sold off like a piece of property."

Anna struggled and kicked, but the women were too strong. They dragged her into her room, their grip unyielding. They forced her into the bathroom, where they stripped her of her clothes and began to bathe her. Anna felt like a prisoner, her body trembling with fear and anger.

As they bathed her, they chattered and giggled, their voices grating on her nerves. They dressed her in a elaborate white wedding gown, the fabric heavy and suffocating. The dress was adorned with intricate lace and sparkling diamonds, but to Anna, it felt like a shroud.

They styled her hair in an elaborate updo, weaving in delicate flowers and pearls. They painted her face with heavy makeup, the scent of foundation and lipstick choking her. Anna felt like a doll, a mere object to be dressed up and displayed.

The women then led her to her bedroom, where they forced her to sit on the bed. They slid onto her feet a pair of high-heeled shoes, the straps digging into her skin. They fastened around her neck a heavy gold necklace, the pendant pressing against her throat.

Anna's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She saw a stranger, a mere shell of her former self. She felt like a prisoner in her own body, trapped in a nightmare from which she couldn't awaken.

As they covered her face with a veil, Anna felt a sense of suffocation, like she was being erased. She was trapped in a prison of silk and satin, her identity hidden behind a mask of opulence.

As they led her to the car, a sleek and ominous black ghost, Anna's heart raced with fear. She felt like a captive, a pawn in a game she didn't want to play. The soft leather seats enveloped her, a luxurious trap that seemed to swallow her whole.

As the car glided through the streets, Anna's mind raced with thoughts of escape. She felt like a runaway bride, but with no escape route in sight. The veil obscured her vision, but her imagination ran wild with scenarios of rebellion and freedom.

The silence in the car was oppressive, the only sound the soft hum of the engine and the rustle of her dress. Anna's breath came in short gasps, her chest tight with anxiety. She felt like a sacrificial lamb, being led to the altar of matrimony against her will.

The car seemed to be moving in slow motion, the minutes ticking by like hours. Anna's thoughts were a jumbled mix of fear, anger, and desperation. She was a prisoner in her own life, and she didn't know how to escape.

As the car door opened, Anna's heart sank. She was led out of the car and onto the beach, the sound of waves crashing in her ears. The wedding arch loomed before her, adorned with flowers and ribbons. She saw her groom, equally dressed in a sleek tuxedo, his face obscured by the shadows.

The priest began to speak, his words a blur as Anna's mind raced with dread. She repeated her vows mechanically, her voice barely audible. As the priest pronounced them husband and wife, her groom reached up to lift her veil.

Anna's heart stopped as their eyes met. The emerald eyes she had never forgotten, the eyes that haunted her memories, stared back at her. She felt like she was living a nightmare, trapped in a horror movie from which she couldn't wake up.

The man she had given her virginity to, the man who had used her and discarded her, now stood before her, a smug smirk on his face. Anna's mind reeled in shock, her body numb with disbelief. She felt like she was living in a surreal dream, a dream from which she couldn't escape.

The man leaned in to kiss her, his lips cold and calculating. Anna's heart was frozen in her chest, her soul screaming in protest. She was trapped, married to the one man she had sworn to never see again. The irony was not lost on her, the cruel fate that had brought her full circle, back to the man who had ruined her life.

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