THIRD-PERSON POV:

The day of the wedding had arrived, which Rosalia never wanted, but Kevin could not wait to get over with.

The wedding was arranged in one of the luxury hotels owned by Kevin. The venue was heavily guarded. Any kind of media coverage, even taking pictures by the guests, was strictly prohibited. Kevin's men made sure of that.

Rosalia was sitting in the bridal suite where the makeup artists and stylists sent by Kevin were busy preparing her for the big day.

She was already dressed in the backless wedding gown.

The make-up artist gave a teasing smile to Rosalia while covering the hickey on her neck which Kevin gave her last night. She felt embarrassed.

Even though Rosalia never expected her wedding to be this extravagant, she was not happy at all. She would have been the happiest bride if she could marry someone she loved.

She always had this fantasy to marry out of love which was crashing down with each passing minute. She was feeling extremely worried for her best friend, Kristen. She just wanted to meet her at that time and apologize for whatever happened to her.

Kate came in all prepared in a beautiful wine coloured floor-length gown. She smiled alluringly looking at Rosalia.

"You are looking stunning Rose. Kevin will not be able to look away"

"I don't want this, Kate; I'm feeling suffocated in all these," She was almost sobbing.

Kate dragged Rosalia to the corner of that room where the other people would not be able to hear them.

"Why are you making this difficult for you, Rose? Don't you know the consequences if Kevin comes to know what you are saying in front of the outsiders? There's nothing you can do now. So, it's better if you comply willingly."

Rosalia did not know what to say at this point. She wanted Kate to at least understand her. But she understood by that time that Kate could not do anything against her brother in this matter, even if she wanted to. Surely, No one could.

"Look, Rose, I didn't want to be harsh with you. I am just telling the truth for your own good" Kate held Rosalia's hands and tried to console her.

"It's okay, I understand," Rosalia said softly.

"Get ready soon and come down to the ceremony place. I'll be outside. Also, I want you to meet someone after the ceremony," Kate informed.

Rosalia noticed Kate blushing lightly. With that, Kate left her for finishing the final touches.

Rosalia was completely ready with the veil attached to her bun. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. She was definitely looking very pretty but only she knew how broken from inside she was.

She heard about 150 people were invited from Kevin's side. Emilia, Matt and Kristen were the only people to attend the wedding from her side. She also wanted to invite Jacob but Kevin didn't let her.

He was not even letting her invite Matt, but she convinced him, saying Matt was like her brother and she had no one else to walk her down the aisle.

It was absurd even though she had a father she had no one to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. Her father did not even care to know if his daughters were alive.

Drops of tears escaped from her eyes. She was lost in her thoughts when she heard a very familiar voice calling her name.

Looking at the entrance she noticed Kristen coming towards her. She practically ran in her heavy wedding gown to give Kristen the tightest hug.

"I'm so sorry, Krisy. You had to go through all of this pain because of me. I can never forgive myself for this," guilt was visible all over her pretty face.

"Rose, why are you blaming yourself for someone else's fault? Kevin used me to make you do whatever he wanted. It's me who should feel guilty for your misery"

"No, Krisy, you should not. Did they hurt you? Are you alright?" Concern was palpable in Rose's voice.

"I'm fine Rose. They released me last night. But there is still some time Rose. You don't have to go through this against your will. I'll not let you do this because of me."

"Trust me Krisy, I have accepted this marriage willingly. I've decided to give him a chance. You don't need to worry about me," she lied because she did not want Kristen to feel guilty for being her weak point. She wanted Kristen to never be involved anywhere near Kevin again.

By then, she knew what he could do.

"You are lying on my face, Rose. I can see it. Why were you crying then? You don't need to sacrifi -"

"I was crying because I was missing my mom nothing else. Besides, Kevin is not that bad." She tried her best to convince Kristen with a fake smile.

Kristen was anything but convinced. She was about to say something when a lady came to escort Rosalia towards the aisle.

Rose immediately nodded to that lady and turned to Kristen saying, "Come quickly. You are my maid of honour bestie."

"But y-" Kristen was about to say something, but Rosalia hurriedly followed the lady, leaving Kristen behind.

After some time, the music started, and Matt held her hand. They started walking down the aisle. Kristen, being the maid of honour, was following her with an icky face.

With each step forward, Rosalia's anxiety was growing rapidly. She wanted someone to magically appear to stop the wedding and save her from this devil.

She saw Kevin standing in a black wedding suit shining in victory. He looked very handsome.

'Any girl would die for his looks. Why did he have to force me into this?' was the only thing going on her mind looking at him.

Ultimately, Matt gave her hand into Kevin's calloused hand as they walked towards the altar.

Everything was happening too fast for her. The sacred vows and things the priest was saying went in a blur to Rosalia.

It was time for her to say 'I do.'

No words were coming out of her mouth. Her mind went blank.

She suddenly felt Kevin's hands crushing hers as she looked up into his eyes only to find Kevin looking in the direction where Emilia and Kristen were sitting with a vicious smile plastered on his face. It was well known to her what Kevin meant by that.

Kevin knew how to use her weak points to make her do anything he wanted.

Her heart started beating haphazardly. With great difficulty, she finally forced the words...

"I... I do"

Kevin took a heavy diamond ring and slid it on her finger.

"Never dare to take this off, wifey," he whisper warned in her ear.

For Rosalia, the ring felt nothing but a leash around her neck which sealed her fate with the devil. With shaking hands, she slid Kevin's ring on his finger.

"I now pronounce you as husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The priest gave them a warm smile.

Rosalia took a step backwards as Kevin pulled her towards him by her waist. There was no space left between them.

He came closer to her, and she could feel his minty breath fanning on her quivering lips.

He crashed his lips into hers. He invaded her mouth with his tongue. He was tasting each and every corner of her mouth while grabbing her waist tightly onto him. He was enjoying the feeling of her soft skin when it was brushing against him.

He was kissing her so passionately that even though it was not her first kiss it definitely felt like one. She was not kissing him back. She felt bad for liking the kiss for a moment.

Rosalia was almost breathless when he finally pulled apart and pecked her lips lightly.

Everyone in the crowd was clapping and cheering for them.

It was now time for the reception. The reception hall was beautifully decorated. Rosalia was spellbound by the beauty of the place.

Emilia came dancing towards her sister with a huge smile on her face and pecked her cheeks many times.

"I can't believe you are married, Rose. I never imagined your wedding to be this beautiful. Mommy would have been so happy if she could see that you are married to someone like Kevin. I'm so happy for you Rose. May God bless this marriage." Emilia hugged her sister.

Rosalia never wanted to harm her Sister with her brutal reality. She played along with Emilia and asked her to eat as much as she wanted.

For the first dance, Rosalia followed Kevin's lead. Soon other couples joined them.

The cake-cutting ceremony was also done nicely as they cut a beautifully designed flower-themed cake.

Kevin kept dragging Rosalia with him all the time. It was becoming extremely painful for her to keep walking in those high heels.

While He was introducing her to his guests he kept brushing his fingers in an up and down manner on her bareback under the veil. She was getting goosebumps due to his sudden touches but couldn't do anything about it.

She saw many girls eyeing her with absolute disgust.

She heard some of them saying how much money-sucking whore she must be for marrying Kevin and a cheap girl like her could see nothing but money and power.

She also heard some of them saying how Kevin only invited his family members and closest allies and also had not allowed any kind of media coverage because he does not take this marriage seriously as she is nothing but trash compared to him.

Some of them were also intentionally insulting her saying her mother must be a whore like her that's why her father abandoned them and did not even bother to attend his daughter's wedding.

Rosalia's heart clenched listening to these vile words but she could not do anything that made her even more vulnerable.

She just wanted to leave that place but also did not want to go back to Kevin's mansion.

During dinner time Rosalia had to sit beside Kevin. There were plenty of dishes but she was not eating much. She felt extremely uneasy as she saw Kevin was observing her every movement.

She was not able to eat under his gaze. "Do you want to taste?" She asked hoping Kevin would look away.

"The only thing I want to taste is you, kitten," he whispered.

Rosalia choked on her food and he patted her back while chuckling. "Oh, kitten am I making you nervous? Are you not excited about our first night?" He asked still patting her back.

"I need to use the washroom," Rosalia lied to excuse herself from that awkward situation. First, the taunts, now these were too overwhelming for her.

She went out of the hall and walked inside a balcony to get some alone time to freshen her mind.

She noticed a man smoking in the corner. She could only see his back. She did not mind his presence as the balcony was quite large.

She was letting the delicate cool breeze soothe her mind. From the corner of her eye, she felt the man turned around and was coming near her but she did not look around as she thought that he was leaving.

When she felt the man was still there and was not moving for quite a time she turned around and saw someone she definitely did not want to face and never in her worst nightmares thought to meet him under these circumstances.

"Hi, Rose or should I say, Mrs Knight!" The familiar voice echoed in her ears. She could not believe Eric, her ex-bf was standing right in front of her.

She wanted to pinch herself to clarify if it was true or if she was going insane due to stress. But again, he said, "You look ravishing, Rose."

Eric Jones was Rosalia's ex-bf whom she dated in her college days for more than a year.

"What... what are you doing here?" She spoke as she felt her throat dry.

"Well, I am one of the very important guests of Mr Kevin Knight. Did you just think I came here stalking you?" he asked, smirking.

"That's the last thing I would think," she replied.

"Shut up, you bitch. I know you very well now. You left me because you were waiting for a bigger opportunity to trade yourself, slut. Poor beggar sluts like you can see nothing but money." He barked.

"I left you because you cheated on me even though I was always loyal to you. Don't twist the truth now," Rose spoke preventing her urge to cry.

"What else could I have done? Anybody at my place would have done the same. You good for nothing bitch refused to get intimate with me even after a year of wasting my precious time on someone like you. What else did you expect me to do?"

"It's good that you are admitting your real intentions, Eric. And I am proud that I saved myself from a cheater like you who was only after me for my body"

Eric was laughing loudly listening to her.

"Really! Why do you think Kevin is after you? Obviously, because of your body. What else do you have? An abandoned child with not even a place to live. Let me tell you that there is nothing good about you except your body bitch. And you are just a perfect little toy for Kevin to play with. You have absolutely no power against him. It'll not take a second for him to throw you like shit after using you."

Rosalia never wanted to listen to any of these. The worst part was everything Eric said seemed true to her ears. Tears started flowing from her eyes.

"Here we go again starting with this innocent girl act of yours. Crying like you never knew any of these. You absolutely used your body to get all the shining luxuries you pathetic whore. Look what you have gotten yourself into. Turning into a pet for the mafia king for money. You know what? Soon, Kevin will get tired of you and eventually discard you, so enjoy it while it lasts, baby."

His venomous words were more than what Rosalia could take at that moment. Unable to think of anything else, she ran out of that place.

She kept running wherever her teary eyes led her to, but stopped when she hit someone's muscular chest.

"Going somewhere wifey?"