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"Almost there," I whisper, willing myself to stay strong. This wedding may not be my choice, but my love for my family is stronger than my fear of Alejandro.
"Keep going," I urge myself, taking one shaky step after another. The music swells around me, amplifying the surreal atmosphere. I feel as though I'm walking through a nightmare, but I know that backing down now would be impossible.
"Focus on your family," I think, my heart pounding in my chest. "You're doing this for them." With each step, the altar looms larger. I swallow hard, my resolve wavering for a moment before steeling myself once more.
"Almost there," I repeat, taking the final steps towards my fate, my eyes glistening with unshed tears. "For my family."
My gaze remains fixed ahead, unwilling to let the sea of El Lobo men see how their leers affect me. As I approach the altar, Alejandro comes into view. He stands tall and commanding in a fitted navy suit that accentuates his muscular build. His dark hair is slicked back, and his sharp jawline is clean-shaven. It would be easy to mistake him for a handsome, successful businessman if not for the cold cruelty lurking in his eyes.
"Ah, here she is," Alejandro says, grinning wickedly as he eyes me up and down like a predator assessing its prey. I try to maintain my distance, but he grabs my waist, pulling me forcefully against him. I gasp, almost losing my footing.
"From now on, you're my wife. Learn to act like it," he declares loudly, his voice dripping with malice.
The audience roars with laughter, and I feel my cheeks burning with humiliation. I focus all my energy on keeping my head held high, refusing to give Alejandro the satisfaction of seeing me crumble.
The priest clears his throat and begins the ceremony. His words wash over me, but I can barely hear them as my thoughts drift back to Giovanni. The memory of his confession haunts me – the way his eyes had softened when he told me he loved me, the vulnerability in his voice. I had dismissed him, fearing the consequences of acknowledging our feelings for each other.
"Should anyone present know of any reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace," the priest continues, oblivious to my internal turmoil.
All I had wanted was to be with Giovanni, to admit that I loved him too. But the weight of my family's safety had silenced me. My love for them forced me into this nightmarish union with Alejandro, a sacrifice I had to make to protect them.
"Will you, Lucia Manuel, take Alejandro Ramirez as your lawfully wedded husband?" the priest asks me, his voice cutting through my thoughts.
I swallow hard, forcing myself to face reality. My desire for Giovanni and my love for my family have led me to this moment – standing before an altar, about to marry a man who terrifies me.
"Lucia?" the priest prompts, concern flickering in his eyes.
"I... I do," I reply, my voice barely audible, but resolute.
I barely have time to register my decision when a rough hand clamps around my throat. I startle, gasping for air as Alejandro's furious gaze bores into mine.
"What are you thinking about?" he demands, his grip tightening.
"Nothing," I choke out, panic rising in my chest.
"Liars don't make good wives, Lucia," he snarls, his dark eyes narrowing. "I won't be disrespected like this." A sinister smile crosses his lips as he turns to the priest. "You better leave, Father. You won't approve of what's about to happen."
My heart races as fear grips me. The priest hesitates for a moment before reluctantly departing, leaving me alone with Alejandro and his men.
"Please," I whisper, the word barely audible. But Alejandro's grip only tightens around my throat.
"Time for a lesson, Lucia," he growls, dragging me by my neck to face the crowd – a sea of El Lobo's men, not a single woman among them. Their hungry gazes send shivers down my spine, and I know I'm trapped.
"Is this what you want?" I ask, desperation creeping into my voice. Tears sting my eyes as I stare up at Alejandro, trying to find some shred of humanity left in him. "To hurt and humiliate me in front of your men?"
"Your place is at my side, Lucia," he murmurs, his voice cold and unyielding. "And if that means teaching you a lesson, so be it."
As his grip on my throat intensifies, I struggle to breathe, my vision blurring at the edges. I can't believe the priest would just abandon me like this. He must just be another of Alejandro's paid men. I glance around the room, searching for any sign of help, but only find smirking faces and hungry eyes.
"Stop!" I manage to gasp, my voice hoarse and broken. "Please, don't do this."
"Too late for begging now, sweetheart," Alejandro whispers in my ear, his breath hot against my skin.
I close my eyes, fighting the urge to scream as I try to make sense of the situation. My mind races – can I really endure whatever humiliation Alejandro has planned? Is protecting my family worth this degradation?
"Enough!" I shout suddenly, opening my eyes and glaring defiantly at Alejandro. "If you want a wife who respects you, earn it. Don't just demand it through fear and violence."
For a moment, Alejandro seems taken aback, and his grip on my throat falters slightly. In that instant, I realize I have a choice – submit to him and his twisted desires, or stand up for myself and risk everything for the sake of my dignity and self-worth.
