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The words burn at the back of my throat. But they never leave my mouth. I know better. I’ve known better since I was a little girl. Defying Lorenzo Moretti never ends well.

He finally glances up from his paperwork. His expression is one of mild annoyance.

“You’re still here.” He waves his hand. “You’re dismissed.”

Without another word, I turn around on numb legs and walk out of the study.

The moment the door clicks shut behind me, the tears come.

I run. Past the preparations for an engagement that no longer belongs to my sister.

I don’t stop until I reach my bedroom and I throw myself onto the bed. A broken sob tears from my chest.

Audrey rushes to my side almost immediately, wrapping her arms around me as I cry into the pillows.

I wipe at my tears furiously and sit up, looking at Audrey with wild desperation. “I need to leave. I have to get out of here. I can’t stay. I can’t marry Roman. I need to run away.”

Audrey’s face falls. “How, Aurora? Where would you even run to? They will find you. Whether it’s Father or Roman. Either way, you won’t get far.”

“I just have to. Audrey, please… give me your phone. I need to call Luca. Maybe we can run away together.”

She hesitates. “That’s a foolish idea.”

“Please.”

With a heavy sigh, Audrey hands me her phone. I dial Luca’s number with shaking fingers. He picks up after a few rings.

“Who is this?”

“It’s me,” I say, my voice breaking. “Luca… please. Come take me away from here. Roman wants to marry me. They’re forcing me to marry him. I want to be with you. Please, come get me. We can run away together. We can go far away—”

“Aurora…” His voice is terrified, barely above a whisper.

“Never call me again. If Roman finds out we spoke, he’ll kill me. Never contact me again.”

“What? Luca, what happened?” I cry. “What did Roman do to you? Whatever it is, we can get through it together. Please don’t leave me—”

The line goes dead. I stare at the phone in shock. “He cut the call.”

I try calling back immediately, but it doesn’t go through. “He blocked you too.”

Audrey takes my hand, her eyes full of sorrow. “I’m so sorry, Aurora. I wish there was something I could do. But as it stands now… you have to marry Roman.”

“No,” I whisper.

“Yes.” She squeezes my hand tighter. “Crying isn’t going to help. It’s so unfortunate. I wish we had better parents. Ones who would actually stand up for us instead of handing us over to the highest bidder. But this is our fate. We have to learn to live with it.”

She tries to wipe my tears. “Stop crying. We need to find you a dress for tonight. It’s your engagement party now.”

I shake my head, fresh tears falling. “I will just wear what I already planned.”

“You can’t wear that,” Audrey says gently. “You’re the bride-to-be now. You know how Father is about appearances. We need something else.”

Getting a dress is the least of my problems right now. I couldn't care less if I wore a sack.

A knock sounds on the door. “Get out!” I scream.

The knock comes again, softer this time. I snap, “What? Come in!”