CHAPTER 10

After finishing our meal, the conversation gradually wound down. Despite the initial tension, Heinrich’s mother had made sure I felt welcome, even if Emma still glared at me every chance she got. As we stood up to leave, his mother pulled me into a gentle hug.

“Remember, Mariane,” she whispered so only I could hear. “If Heinrich ever hurts you in any way, don’t hesitate to tell me. I will deal with him.”

I pulled back, surprised by the seriousness in her voice.

Heinrich scoffed at her words. “Mom, stop filling her head with nonsense.”

She gave him a pointed look. “It’s not nonsense, Heinrich. I know how stubborn you are.”

He rolled his eyes and placed a hand on my lower back, guiding me toward the exit. I gave his parents a polite nod. “It was really nice meeting you.”

His father smiled, and his mother waved as she said, “You’ll be part of the family soon, dear.”

As we stepped outside, the cold night air hit me, making me shiver slightly. Heinrich didn’t say a word as he led me to the car. Once inside, he started the engine, and we drove off in silence.

I sat with my hands folded in my lap, playing with my fingers as my thoughts raced. His mother’s words kept repeating in my head. Maybe I do have a say in all of this. Maybe I’ve just been letting him make all the decisions without speaking up.

I took a deep breath, summoning my courage. “Uhm, Heinrich… I think we should move the wedding date.”

His grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, but he didn’t hesitate. “No.”

I blinked, caught off guard by how quickly he shut me down. “No?”

“No,” he repeated firmly.

I swallowed hard, my heartbeat quickening. “But… I think it’s too soon. There’s still so much to do, and your family was shocked when they found out. Shouldn’t we give everyone—including ourselves—more time to prepare?”

He exhaled sharply, as if my words irritated him. “Everything is already arranged, Mariane. There’s nothing to change.”

“But I wasn’t involved in any of those arrangements.” My voice was quieter now, more uncertain.

“You didn’t need to be.”

His words stung more than I wanted to admit. I turned to look at him, his face illuminated by the soft glow of the dashboard lights. His jaw was clenched, his green eyes focused on the road ahead. He looked so unaffected by all of this, like it didn’t even matter what I wanted.

I tried again. “Shouldn’t I have a say in my own wedding?”

“You’re marrying me, aren’t you?”

“That’s not the point, Heinrich!” My voice came out sharper than I intended.

He sighed, his grip tightening around the wheel. “I don’t see the point in delaying it. You agreed to this marriage, and the date has been set. That’s final.”

Frustration bubbled in my chest. “What if I don’t like the venue?”

“You’ll like it.”

“What if I don’t like the guest list?”

“The guest list is already finalized. Nothing is changing.”

“What about the dress?”

He shot me a brief look, his eyes cold. “I already chose the best designer for you. Your dress will be perfect.”

I gaped at him. “You chose my wedding dress designer without even asking me?”

“Yes. You don’t need to worry about it.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “You keep saying that like it’s supposed to make me feel better. Like I’m supposed to just sit back and accept everything you decide.”

“That’s exactly what you should do.”

I turned my body fully toward him, my fists clenching. “This is supposed to be our wedding, Heinrich. But it feels like it’s just yours.”

He finally glanced at me again, his expression unreadable. “You’re making this more difficult than it needs to be, Mariane.”

“Because I want a say in my own wedding?” I let out a frustrated breath. “Your mother said—”

“My mother has nothing to do with this,” he interrupted.

“She said I should have a say!” I snapped. “She said if I didn’t like something, I should speak up, and that’s what I’m doing now.”

He let out a slow, controlled breath, as if forcing himself to stay patient. “And I’m telling you, there is nothing to change.”

The finality in his tone made my stomach sink.

I turned away, crossing my arms over my chest as I stared out the window. The city lights blurred together as we passed by, but I barely saw them.

I felt trapped.

No matter what I said, no matter how much I tried to voice my feelings, Heinrich wouldn’t budge. He had already made every decision, and my opinions didn’t matter to him.

My fingers curled against my arms. “Why do you get to decide everything?”

“I’m not deciding everything.”

“Yes, you are.”

He sighed. “You’re overthinking this.”

“No, Heinrich, I’m not.” I turned to face him again, my voice trembling slightly. “I have let you dictate every part of this marriage so far. I didn’t fight it when my uncle told me I had to marry you. I didn’t fight it when I was brought to your house. I didn’t fight it when you planned the wedding without me.”

His jaw clenched, but he stayed silent.

I exhaled shakily. “But I should have fought it.”

He didn’t respond immediately. The only sound in the car was the soft hum of the engine and the distant honking of cars outside.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet but firm. “You agreed to marry me, Mariane. Whether you like it or not, this wedding is happening exactly as I planned.”

A lump formed in my throat. “So I don’t get a choice?”

“You already made your choice the moment you agreed to be my wife.”

Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating.

I turned my head back toward the window, blinking rapidly as my chest tightened.

It was in that moment I realized something painful.

Heinrich wasn’t just controlling.

He was completely unwilling to compromise.

And if I wasn’t careful, I was going to lose myself in this marriage before it even began.

The car pulled up in the driveway of Heinrich’s villa, its headlights casting a cold glow against the mansion’s stone walls. The second the engine stopped, I yanked the door open and stepped out. I didn’t wait for Heinrich. I didn’t wait for anyone.

I stormed up the steps, my heels clicking against the marble as I pushed through the grand double doors. The house was silent, the dim lighting casting long shadows against the walls. My anger boiled inside me, threatening to spill over.

Why is Heinrich such an asshole?

I hated him for it. Hated the way he dismissed my feelings, the way he made decisions without me as if I was just some object in his possession.

I reached the bedroom, shoving the door open and slamming it shut behind me. The sound echoed in the empty space, but it did nothing to release the frustration burning inside me. I sat down on the edge of the bed, my hands clenching into fists.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to break something.

I wanted to march back out there and slap that arrogant look off his face.

I didn’t ask for this marriage.

But now I was trapped in it. And I wasn’t even allowed to have a say in how it happened.

The door opened behind me, and I didn’t need to turn around to know it was him.

Heinrich stepped inside, his presence filling the room. The door clicked shut, sealing us in.

I stared at the floor, my body tense. “Do you even care what I want?”

He let out a slow exhale. “You’re upset.”

“No shit.” I snapped my head up, glaring at him. “What gave it away? The way I stormed out of the car or the fact that I’m sitting here trying not to throw something at you?”

He didn’t flinch at my words. He just stood there, his green eyes studying me. “You’re overreacting.”

My hands clenched the sheets. “No, Heinrich, I’m not. I’m angry because you refuse to listen to me. This is my wedding too, but you’ve made every decision without me.”

His jaw tightened. “Because there was no need for you to be involved.”

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “No need? You do realize that I’m the one actually getting married, right?”

“You’re marrying me,” he countered. “And I’ve handled everything perfectly.”

“Perfectly?” I shot up from the bed, stepping toward him. “You didn’t even tell your family the wedding was in three weeks! You picked the venue, the guest list, the dress without even asking me! How is that perfect?”

Heinrich took a step forward, closing the space between us. His presence was suffocating, his height and broad shoulders towering over me. “You agreed to this marriage. I don’t see the point in making things complicated.”

I let out a frustrated breath. “It’s complicated because you refuse to acknowledge my feelings. You act like I’m just some pawn in your perfect little plan.”

His expression didn’t change. “And what would you have done differently?”

“I don’t know, maybe actually be involved in my own wedding?” I spat. “Maybe get to decide who I invite, or where it happens, or what the hell I’m wearing?”

He scoffed. “You’re making this a bigger deal than it is.”

I felt something snap inside me.

“Because it’s not a big deal to you!” I yelled. “This marriage doesn’t mean anything to you, does it?”

His gaze darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line.

I shook my head, laughter bubbling up, but it wasn’t amused. It was bitter. “You don’t love me. You don’t even like me, Heinrich. So why are you pushing so hard for this wedding to happen exactly how you planned it?”

His eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unyielding. “Because it has to.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine.

I took a step back, my heart pounding. “Why?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he tilted his head slightly, watching me. Then, in a voice so calm it was almost chilling, he said, “If you don’t like the way I’m acting, then leave.”

I froze.

His words hung in the air, suffocating me.

“If you hate me so much, if you think I’m such a terrible person, then walk away,” he continued. “No one’s stopping you.”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

I couldn’t walk away.

He knew it. And I knew it too.

I had nowhere to go.

I had nothing.

The realization hit me like a punch to the stomach.

I had no home, no family that wanted me, no money to my name. I was completely dependent on Heinrich, and he knew it. That was why he could say those words so easily—because he knew I had no choice.

My hands trembled. My pride screamed at me to stand up to him, to tell him I would walk away. But where would I go? Back to the streets?

I swallowed hard, blinking rapidly to stop the tears from forming. I refused to let him see me break.

He watched me, waiting, his expression unreadable. When I didn’t respond, he smirked slightly. “That’s what I thought.”

Something in me burned.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “You’re a bastard.”

His smirk didn’t fade. “And yet, you’re still here.”

I wanted to hit him. I wanted to scream at him. But all I could do was stand there, trapped by my own helplessness.

I turned away, my back to him as I forced my breathing to steady. “I hate you.”

He chuckled darkly. “Hate me all you want, but you’ll still be my wife in three weeks.”

Tears pricked my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I refused to let him see me crumble.

I had to find a way to gain some control over my life.

Because if I didn’t…

I would lose myself completely.