Iván Serguéyevich, a distinguished older gentleman with a refined air and steely gray eyes, lightly clasped Anna’s hand.

Dressed in an elegant suit and walking with assured grace, he exuded the confidence of a man accustomed to having his way.

Anna’s parents radiated pride as they saw their daughter beside such a wealthy suitor. Their hopes for financial security had finally come to fruition. Following the formal vows, the reception commenced.

Anna forced a smile as she greeted guests, barely containing her tears. Her expressions betrayed a quiet sorrow, a muted rebellion. She felt like a painted figure on a shelf, handed over as part of a silent contract between her family and Iván Serguéyevich.

— You look stunning — he murmured, observing her carefully. — I do hope we’ll get along well.

Anna said nothing. Her eyes were distant, unfocused.

Her mind drifted to the dreams she once held… dreams that had been so easily dismissed. Her desires had been sacrificed at the altar of convenience and wealth.

Later that night, when the last of the guests had left, Anna found herself alone in the vast estate with her new husband. A heavy silence settled over the place. In the bedroom, he stared at her with unsettling intent and spoke in a tone that chilled her to the core:

— I want you to call me “Daddy.”

Anna froze, the words striking her like a physical blow. Her mouth opened, but no words came. He continued:

— This isn’t some strange fantasy… It’s how I’ve always pictured it. I’ve known your parents for a long time. I watched you grow up. I always knew you would be mine. I made the arrangements, helped your family. And now… you’re finally mine.

The floor seemed to drop away beneath her. The marriage wasn’t simply a transaction — it was the culmination of a long-standing, calculated design.

A tear slipped silently down her face. In that moment, she understood she hadn’t just lost her independence — she had lost her identity.

But something stirred inside her that night. A resolve. She would escape. She didn’t know when or how, but she knew she couldn’t remain in this gilded prison, tied to a man who treated her like an acquisition.

So at dawn, with quiet resolve, Anna stepped through the gates of the grand estate and didn’t look back. She had no idea what awaited her beyond those walls — but for the first time, her dreams belonged to her alone.