Camila's POV
The happiest day of a woman's life is supposed to be the day she gets married, right? But for me, it felt more like the saddest.
I had never felt such despair before, not even in the five long years my father had fought against Daniil's mafia organization, we were sworn enemies like rival mobs, and now, I was supposed to marry him.
I was getting married today, but it wasn't a day of celebration for me, not even close.
The man I was marrying, Daniil Varkanin, the Mafia boss of the Russian mob, was nothing like I had imagined. I had heard his name tossed around in whispered conversations, his reputation preceded him. But I had never seen him, I had no idea what he looked like, no idea what kind of man he truly was.
But today, I would.
This marriage was not built on love. It was built on power, on the merging of two massive mafia families. Daniil, the powerful king of the Russian underworld, was about to become my husband. My father had orchestrated the entire thing to protect our family. Our organization, though large, was nothing compared to Daniil's. My father's hope was that this marriage would secure an alliance, the one that would allow him to overthrow Daniil eventually. But I couldn't shake the feeling that, in the end, I was just a pawn in my father's plan.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, adjusting the veil that covered my face. My wedding dress was white, the lace intricate, the satin sleek, but it felt like a costume. I wasn't the bride. I was just the means to an end.
I turned away from the mirror, the pit in my stomach growing heavier by the second. My father had arranged this marriage with one goal in mind is to build an alliance with Daniil. The rumors about him in his ruthlessness, his power, his ability to crush anyone who crossed him, only made me more fearful. They said he didn't forgive. That one mistake could cost you your life. He didn't value anything but loyalty and money.
I had begged my father not to do this. I had cried, but he didn't listen. The power he sought was more important than his only daughter's happiness.
"Camila," my father's voice broke through my thoughts. He stood at the door, his hand outstretched. "Shall we?"
I blinked, shocked by the calmness in his voice. How could he be so at ease? Just yesterday, I had begged him on my knees, telling him I didn't want to go through with this. But now he was smiling at me as if everything was fine. I felt my heart sink.
I took a deep breath and placed my hand in his, my fingers trembling. He didn't notice. His smile was warm, but I couldn't bring myself to return it. How could I? He was about to marry me off to a monster.
"I want the best for you, Camila," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "This marriage is for our future, you'll see, It'll be worth it in the end."
I wanted to scream at him, to tell him how wrong he was. "But Father, do I have to do this?" I asked, my voice shaking with anger and frustration.
Before he could answer, the doors to the chapel swung open. The room went silent. Every eye turned to me, and the weight of their gazes pressed down on me like a ton of bricks. My breath caught in my throat, my heart racing as I took my first step down the aisle. I gripped my father's arm tightly, trying to steady myself.
The aisle stretched before me, longer than I'd ever imagined. The floor was lined with white petals, but I couldn't bring myself to look at them. I didn't care about the flowers, the guests, or even the altar. My gaze was fixed ahead, and as I looked up for the briefest moment, I saw standing at the end of the aisle, His face was hidden by the light, but I could feel his presence. It was like a shadow, dark and suffocating. My stomach twisted in knots.
My father's grip on my hand tightened, as if grounding me. But nothing could steady my racing heart.
Each step I took felt heavier than the last. My heels clicked against the marble floor, echoing in the silence. Step after step, I could feel my heartbeat rise, thundering louder than the music.
And then we stopped right in front of him
My father released my hand, placing it gently into the groom's.
For a moment, I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. But finally, I dared to look up.
And there he was.
Daniil Varkanin.
He wasn't what I expected. The rumors about him was devilish demeanor, this had led me to believe I was marrying a monster. But standing before me was a man who smiled brightly, like he had finally gotten what he wanted. The man who was supposed to be my tormentor, my captor, was smiling as if this was the happiest day of his life.
I blinked, disoriented. This wasn't how I had imagined it. I had expected a man with a heart of ice, a killer who wouldn't care about anything but control. But here he was smiling, with a look in his eyes that softened everything I had heard about him.
My father was watching us, a proud, satisfied smile on his face. I glanced at my younger brother, Ivan, and saw the same look of relief on his face. At least someone was happy about this.
But my mother? She wasn't looking at us. She was scanning the room, searching for something, But I didn't have time to think about that. I was standing at the altar, face to face with Daniil, and I had to make it through this.
"You look gorgeous," he whispered in my ear, pulling me from my thoughts.
His words sent a flutter through me, despite my anger. I could feel my cheeks heating up as I stammered, "Thank you."
Hand in hand, we ascended the steps to the altar. The priest gave us a soft smile, and then the music stopped. The guests sat down, leaving us standing at the center of it all.
I turned to face Daniil. His expression was unreadable. There was something in his eyes that was intense. It made me nervous.
"Dearly beloved," the priest began, his voice steady and comforting. "We are gathered here today to witness the holy matrimony of Camila Bravona and Daniil Varkanin."
The priest's voice faded into the background as I stared at Daniil, his smile still plastered on his face. It didn't make sense. Why was he so happy? This was supposed to be a business transaction, not a romantic union.
The priest's voice jolted me back to reality. "Is there anyone here who objects to this union? Speak now, or forever hold your peace."
My eyes scanned the room, hoping someone would speak up, hoping someone would save me from this nightmare.
And then, to my surprise, Daniil raised his hand.
My mouth went dry, he was objecting to his own wedding?
I couldn't believe it. My heart skipped a beat. What was going on? Was he trying to get out of this?
The room was dead silent, and all eyes were on Daniil. His grin widened as he glanced at me. For a moment, I thought I saw a glint of mischief in his eyes.
To everyone's shock, the groom had just objected to his own wedding.
I smiled. This was my chance. The rebellion I'd been waiting for had arrived.
I caught a glimpse of the guests' shocked expressions, but I didn't care, this was it, the goal was clear, and no one could stop me now.