Chapter Seven: Wedding Vows and Warnings

Sophia's POV

One Week Later

“I can’t believe I’m getting married to Leonard,”

I whispered to myself, my voice barely audible as I sat in front of the wide dressing mirror in my bridal suite. Three maids moved around me like clockwork, adorning me like I was some kind of porcelain princess. Layers of silk, gold-threaded lace, and pearls clung to my frame. My makeup was flawless. My hair pinned into soft waves with diamond-studded clips. To the world, I must have looked like a dream.

But inside, I was wilting.

I had signed the contract one week ago, the morning I woke up in this house. It wasn’t a romantic proposal. It was business—a silent transaction sealed with guilt. For my mum’s sake, for her surgery and a life without medical debts, I had sealed my fate. Leonard had promised to take care of everything. In return, I would become his wife.

But I wasn’t happy. Why would I be? I was about to marry a man nearly twice my age. A man who is my father's friend.

The door creaked open, and a scent of rosewater and sandalwood followed the woman who entered. Grace, the head maid, walked in carrying a silver tray with a small glass bottle of oil shimmering under the warm lights. She looked like she belonged to another era—stoic, strict, and someone who’d seen too much of life. Her hair was tied in a neat bun, her expression unreadable.

“Move out of the way,” she ordered the three younger maids, who immediately stepped aside, bowing their heads.

She adjusted my chair and set the tray down. “It’s your day, miss. You should try removing that gloomy look from your face.”

I tried to smile, but my lips barely moved. It felt foreign.

“I’m Grace, the head maid, at your service.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m… Sophia,” I replied weakly, trying not to sound like I was crumbling from within.

She picked up the bottle and uncorked it. A rich, intoxicating aroma filled the room.

“This is an ancient oil,” Grace began as she poured some into her palm, “a special blend passed down from women of power. Its scent is said to drive a man mad with desire.”

I blinked. “What?”

The younger maids giggled. Grace hissed, and they instantly fell silent.

“I will apply it on your skin now,” she said matter-of-factly.

“No, I… I don’t want that. I just want to get dressed and go downstairs,” I objected, pushing her hand away gently.

“You have to. You're about to become part of the Morano family. Stop acting like a peasant girl from the countryside,” she snapped.

Before I could protest further, her hands were already gliding the oil over my arms, collarbone, and neck. The scent clung to my skin—rich, warm, unsettling.

“You’re lucky, you know,” she continued. “Getting married to Sir Leonard? Women have dreamed of the opportunity.”

“He should have gone for one of them,” I muttered.

Grace chuckled darkly. “Sir Leo has everything—power, wealth, charm. He doesn’t need to settle. If he chose you, you must be useful to him.”

A sharp pang stabbed my chest. Was it bitterness? Anger? Fear? I couldn’t tell anymore. I only knew one thing—I was being dressed for a marriage I didn’t want.

**********

WEDDING HALL

The mirror reflected a stranger. The woman staring back at me was regal, elegant, divine. A diamond tiara glinted beneath the chandeliers. My off-shoulder gown hugged my body like it was made from liquid stars. I looked... perfect. But inside, I was numb.

I descended the grand staircase slowly. The hall came into view—vast and stunning. The crystal chandeliers cast golden light in every direction, creating an almost heavenly ambiance. Ivory flowers wound around tall golden pillars. Velvet drapes in wine-red and cream billowed gently from the ceiling. A classical quartet played softly in the corner. The entire space was filled with people dressed in luxury, their perfumes blending into an expensive cloud of musk and champagne.

Wine glasses clinked. Laughter and conversation floated through the air like bubbles.

And there he was—Leonard Morano. Clad in a jet-black tailored suit, his salt-and-pepper hair slicked back, his steel gaze roaming over the guests with practiced ease. The moment he saw me, his expression changed. His eyes locked onto me like a hawk spotting prey.

“The bride is here,” someone announced.

The crowd went silent, all heads turning in unison. I felt their eyes crawling over my skin, full of admiration, curiosity… and something else I couldn’t quite place.

As I reached the bottom of the staircase, a woman in a blood-red dress stepped out of the crowd and approached me. She looked elegant, dangerous, like a serpent wearing silk.

“Enjoy it while it lasts,” she whispered close to my ear. “You’re about to experience a lifetime of pain.”

She chuckled and disappeared before I could even react.

I froze. What was that supposed to mean?

“Princess,” my father’s familiar voice pulled me back. He took my hand gently. “It’s your big day. I will always be here for you.”

I nodded. Wordless.

He walked me down the aisle as people clapped. But I barely noticed them. My heart was pounding in my chest like a warning drum.

Then I was face to face with Leonard.

“Welcome, friends and family,” the pastor began, smiling wide. “Today, we are gathered here to witness the union of Leonard Morano and Sophia Jenkins in holy matrimony.”

The crowd cheered, but I couldn’t feel the joy.

“Please face each other, hold hands, and look into each other's eyes,” the pastor instructed.

I turned to face Leonard, my hands slipping into his. His grip was firm, like iron shackles.

“Sophia, your vow,” the pastor prompted.

My mind went blank. What could I possibly say?

“Leonard… I promise to stand by your side through all of life’s joys and challenges. I vow to love you, honor you, and cherish you… now and forevermore,” I said, barely believing the words that came out of my mouth.

The crowd clapped politely.

Leonard smiled—coldly.

“Sophia,” he said, voice deep and rich, “I promise to stay with you until death do us part. And if you're lucky… I might even remember your name.”

A few nervous chuckles rose.

He leaned in slightly. “Don’t even think about leaving me. Or cheating. I’ll make sure you regret it. You’ll be mine. And mine alone.”

Gasps filled the hall. Someone whispered, “That was a threat…”

But the pastor cleared his throat and quickly continued. “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may seal your vows with a kiss.”

I was frozen again.

I couldn’t move.

Couldn’t think.

Then Leonard grabbed me by the chin, pulling me close. His lips crushed mine with no warning. His tongue forced its way into my mouth. It wasn’t a kiss. It was domination. It was a claim.

People clapped and cheered, oblivious to the violence behind it.

He didn’t stop.

It wasn’t until the pastor awkwardly tapped him on the shoulder that Leonard finally pulled away, slowly, smugly.

He leaned in close to my ear one last time and whispered—

“I have completely claimed you… my puppet.”