The door slowly opened, and his eyes swept across the brightly lit room. Candles flickered in every corner, flowers decorated every surface, and the entire place looked like a dream carefully brought to life. Yet none of it managed to hold his attention. He had no interest in the decorations, the lights, or the celebration surrounding him. His gaze moved through the room like a hunter searching for his prey. Finally, his eyes stopped at the figure sitting silently in a corner. Taking slow steps forward, he came to a halt before her. She had wrapped herself completely beneath a veil, covering herself from head to toe. Only her feet remained exposed. Dark henna adorned them, its color having deepened into an almost black shade. For a moment, he found himself staring at the intricate patterns before his attention shifted upward. A few slender fingers peeked out from beneath the fabric, carrying the same dark henna. He could see every detail clearly. Everything except her face. Ironically, that was the only thing he refused to look at. His jaw tightened. After all, it was because of that face that he was standing here today, trapped in a marriage he had never wanted. "You can never be my choice," he said quietly, his gaze fixed on the floor near her feet. "No matter how many lies the world chooses to believe. To me, you will always remain nothing more than... Unwilling Bride."