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“As a matter of fact,” he says, lips curving slightly, “they just arrived at the compound.”

I stare at him, stunned. “What?” My voice comes out hoarse. “You did what? What are my friends doing here?”

Andrei shrugs, like this is the most normal conversation in the world. “I figured you’d want your friends with you when you get married, so I sent them the invite.”

I must be hearing him wrong. My brain refuses to process the words. “I never agreed to marry you! Are you insane? You sick psycho! What is wrong with you? Is this your tactic to keep me chained to you? Because you have another thing coming if you think I’m actually going to marry you.”

He doesn’t even flinch. His eyes stay locked on mine. “You’re going to marry me. Quite alright.”

“No, I’m not!” I snap, voice rising. “I would never marry a sick, demented psycho like you!”

He steps closer, crowding me until my back hits the headboard. His presence is overwhelming, heat rolling off him in waves.

“But that wasn’t what you said last night,” he murmurs. “When you were moaning and whimpering underneath me… crying out that you’d do anything for me.”

Heat floods my face. I remember exactly what I said last night, while he edged me for what felt like hours. The humiliating way I begged.

I shake my head quickly. “Oh no. You would not dare use that against me. So now… what? That equates to marrying you?”

“You said you’d do anything for me,” he replies simply. “And now I want you to marry me.”

“Newsflash,” I bite out, “I lied. I would not do anything for you, and I am definitely not marrying you.”

He tilts his head, studying me with that dangerous calm. “Are you sure about that? Because our daughter is out there right now, practically vibrating with excitement that Mommy and Daddy are getting married today. Are you going to break her heart?”

My chest tightens.

“And what about your friends?” he continues, voice smooth as silk. “They’re already here, thinking they’ve been invited to your wedding. How are you going to explain that you dragged them all the way out here for nothing?”

“You bastard,” I whisper, fury and panic twisting together in my stomach. “That’s all on you.”

He leans in closer, his breath brushing my lips. “You’re getting married to me today, Rosie. I will drag you down the aisle if I have to.”

With that, he turns and walks out of the room.

I’m left sitting on the bed, heart pounding, the massive diamond glittering mockingly on my finger. This isn’t happening.

But the sound of excited voices drifting up from downstairs tells me it already is. The door barely clicks shut behind Andrei before it flies open again.

“Rosie!”

My three closest friends burst into the bedroom like a glitter bomb exploded, all squeals and bright smiles. Mabel is at the front, practically bouncing.

“Oh my God, you’re getting married!” she cries, throwing her arms around me.

I sit there frozen. They all start talking at once, hugging me, congratulating me, laughing. I can barely keep up.

Mabel pulls back, grinning.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon right now?” I ask.

“Oh, we were supposed to come back this evening anyway,” she says with a casual wave. “Then Andrei reached out yesterday, said you two were getting married today, and offered us his private jet so we could be here. How could we say no?”

I blink at her. “You cut your honeymoon short for this?”

“It was basically over,” she shrugs, then winks. “Plus, I couldn’t pass up the chance to fly private. That plane is insane.”

Angie and Lucy nod enthusiastically.