Chapter 4

JANICE

The wedding day felt like a funeral for my freedom. I sat in the dressing room, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The makeup artists and hair stylists fluttered around me like buzzing bees, perfecting every strand of hair, smoothing every wrinkle in my gown. But no amount of beauty could mask the sadness in my eyes or the sinking weight in my chest.

I was about to marry a man I barely knew, one whose cold eyes and controlling nature scared me more than I’d admit aloud.

A knock on the door made me flinch. Before I could answer, Jason walked in, shutting the door behind him.

“Jason?” I said, startled and confused. “What are you doing here?”

He looked almost desperate, his usually confident expression softened. “I had to see you, Janice. Before you… go through with this.”

“Go through with this?” I scoffed, standing up and smoothing my gown. “You mean the marriage I’m being forced into because you betrayed me?”

“Listen to me,” he said, stepping closer. “I made a mistake, okay? Maddison means nothing to me. The only reason I’m with her is because of her trust fund. Once I have it, we can run away together, Janice. Just you and me, like it should’ve been.”

I stared at him, disbelief washing over me like ice water. “You’re unbelievable,” I whispered.

He reached for my hand, but I snatched it away. “Think about it, Janice. Do you really want to spend your life with a man like Diego Rodrigues? He’s a monster! You don’t deserve that—you deserve to be with someone who loves you.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Someone who loves me? Like you? The same person who cheated on me with my stepsister and got her pregnant?”

Jason flinched at my words but quickly recovered. “I didn’t have a choice, okay? Your father, Maddison—everyone was pushing us together. But you’re the one I love, Janice. I swear.”

His audacity made my blood boil. “Do you even hear yourself?” I hissed. “You want me to cheat on my soon-to-be husband so you can milk my stepsister for her money? You’re disgusting.”

“Janice—”

“No!” I snapped, and before I could stop myself, my palm connected with his cheek in a sharp slap. “You’re a coward, Jason. A selfish, pathetic coward.”

The door burst open, and Maddison walked in, followed closely by Anne. Maddison’s eyes narrowed as she took in the scene. “What the hell is going on here?”

Jason’s demeanor changed instantly. His desperate expression vanished, replaced by a smug smirk. “Nothing,” he said, turning to Maddison. “Just your sister being her usual pathetic self. She won’t stop begging me to leave you for her.”

“What?” I gasped, my fists clenching.

“You heard me,” he sneered, his tone dripping with venom. “Janice, stop embarrassing yourself. It’s over. You’re nothing but a plain, basic Jane, and I don’t want you.”

Maddison’s face twisted in anger. “You still want Jason?” she snapped, stepping toward me. “You’re unbelievable, Janice! Always trying to ruin my happiness!”

“I don’t want him!” I yelled, but Maddison wasn’t listening.

She raised her hand to slap me, but Anne grabbed her wrist, a mocking smile playing on her lips. “Maddison, dear,” she said sweetly, “don’t ruin her makeup. Today is Janice’s big day, after all.”

Maddison glared at me, but she lowered her hand. Jason, still smirking, wrapped an arm around her waist. “Let’s go,” he said. “We’ve wasted enough time here.”

As they left, Maddison shot me a look of pure hatred, and Jason didn’t even glance back. Anne lingered for a moment, her smile turning colder. “You deserve this, Janice,” she said softly, her voice full of malice. “Every bit of it.”

*************

The ceremony felt like a dream—or more accurately, a nightmare. The church was grand and opulent, filled with flowers, chandeliers, and dozens of strangers who smiled as though this was a joyous occasion. My father walked beside me, his grip firm on my arm as he led me down the aisle.

“Smile,” he muttered through clenched teeth.

I couldn’t. My face felt frozen, my body numb. I couldn’t even cry. The weight of my situation bore down on me like a suffocating blanket, leaving no room for anything but emptiness.

At the end of the aisle stood Diego, tall and imposing in a perfectly tailored black suit. His dark eyes bore into me with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

When we reached the altar, my father handed me off to him without hesitation. Diego’s hand closed around mine, firm and unyielding, and I had to fight the urge to pull away.

The priest began the ceremony, his voice a distant hum in the background. I barely registered the words, my mind too clouded by dread.

“Do you, Diego Rodrigues, take Janice to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do,” he said without hesitation, his voice calm and authoritative.

“And do you, Janice Benson, take Diego Rodrigues to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

My throat tightened. I wanted to scream, to run, to say no—but my father’s cold gaze bore into me, and the weight of everything crushed any defiance I had left.

“I… do,” I whispered.

“You may now kiss the bride.”

Before I could prepare myself, Diego’s hands gripped my waist, pulling me close as his lips descended on mine. The kiss wasn’t gentle or loving. It was demanding, possessive, and full of authority. My heart raced as I struggled to keep my balance.

When he finally pulled away, his lips brushed against my ear, his voice low and dripping with menace. “I can’t wait to have you tonight, Janice. Rip off this beautiful gown from your body and have you scream my name all night long,” he murmured. “And you’d better be ready, because you’re mine now.”

The way he said it made me feel like an object, a toy he couldn’t wait to unwrap. My stomach churned with a mix of fear and disgust, but I didn’t dare respond.

He straightened, his expression unreadable as he turned to face the crowd. They cheered and clapped, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.

As Diego led me down the aisle, his grip on my hand firm and unyielding, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just stepped into a cage—and the door had been locked tight behind me.