♥Prologue♥
Good morning, readers! I want to apologize for the mistakes in the story. The problem is that I don't speak English. I'm from Brazil, and I'm trying to learn English, but it's challenging.
I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but I hope you will give the story a chance.
Yara Voss.
I was standing in front of the mirror, adjusting the folds of my wedding dress. The soft fabric against my skin was an unsettling contrast to the coldness I felt inside. The dress, which was supposed to symbolize happiness and promise, felt more like armor—an inescapable prison.
Ever since I was little, my parents had decided my fate. The groom, the son of their friends, was chosen before I even understood the meaning of “marriage”. I never had the chance to decide or dream of true love; everything was decided for me. Now, I was about to do as I was told.
My mother entered the room, her face illuminated by a forced smile. Although she was radiant, her eyes carried a disguised concern.
''Darling, you look beautiful. I'm so proud of you,'' she said in a soft, encouraging voice. ''Everything's going to be fine. Don't worry now. It may seem difficult at first, but in time, you'll learn to love your husband, just as I learned to love my father.
I looked at her, trying to find comfort in her words, but fear and uncertainty still dominated my heart. She came closer and gently smoothed a lock of my hair.
''Everything will be fine. Remember, it's just a phase. '' she continued, trying to convey confidence.
I forced a smile, trying to convince myself that, with time, everything would get better. Perhaps I would come to feel something for him, perhaps I would be able to find some form of happiness on this path that had been mapped out for me.
As my mother gave me one last look of approval and left the room, I continued to look at my reflection. The dress was beautiful, but it was only part of the role I was about to play. I closed my eyes and wondered if I would ever really feel the joy and love that were expected of me.
I walked slowly down the stairs, each step echoing in my mind. In the entrance hall, I met my father, who was wearing a dark suit and had a proud smile on his face.
''You look stunning. '' he said, his voice full of emotion. His eyes were shining, and I felt a wave of sadness mixed with a sense of accomplishment. ''I'm so happy to see you starting this new stage.
I forced a smile, trying to hide the anguish I felt. He offered me his arm, and together we walked to the ceremony site, a hall adorned with white flowers and soft lights. Every detail seemed to be in place, meticulously prepared for this moment. The chairs were lined up in two rows, and a white carpet stretched to the altar.
As I reached the altar, I spotted Ronan Blake. He was standing at the front, dressed in a dark suit that emphasized his tall, slender figure. At twenty-two, Ronan exuded an aura of confidence and authority. His eyes, deep-set and intense, watched the bride's entrance with a neutral, almost distant expression. The lack of emotion on his face was a sharp contrast to the warmth of the flowers and the solemnity of the ceremony.
The priest, with a solemn and reverent tone, began the ceremony. His voice echoed through the hall, filling the atmosphere with a weight of tradition and formality.
'' Dear brothers and sisters, we are gathered here to celebrate the union of Yara Voss and Ronan Blake. May this moment be blessed, and may love and fidelity guide your steps from now on.
He continued with the words of the marriage rite, talking about commitment, loyalty, and the sacred purpose of marriage. The ritual was a bastion of tradition, and each word seemed to resonate with a deep and irrevocable meaning.
Ronan and I exchanged vows in the middle of the ceremony, and as he spoke, I noticed the lack of emotion in his words. His commitment seemed more like a formality than an expression of deep feelings. But at the same time, my father looked at me with pride and hope, as if this union was the realization of a dream for him.
After the vows, the priest declared us married, and the applause that followed was a mixture of relief and restrained enthusiasm. Ronan turned to me with a slight smile, still as distant as before, but now accompanied by a new weight of responsibility.
The ceremony ended, and the hall was transformed into a space for celebration. Guests approached to congratulate, but the joy seemed superficial, as if everyone was just playing their part.
As we walked through the hall, still holding hands, the weight of what had just happened began to settle on me. The wedding was complete, and I was now Ronan Blake's wife, with all its implications and consequences. The life that awaited me was unknown, shrouded in traditions and expectations that seemed too heavy to carry.
The evening progressed, and I continued to fulfill my role as a bride, trying to find some comfort in the midst of formality and expectation. The new life that was beginning was still an unknown path, and I wondered if I would ever find the happiness or fulfillment that everyone expected of me.