Chapter 3 — The Wedding Cage
Vierrah
The sound of the violin echoes through the cathedral—soft, slow, haunting.
Parang bawat tunog ng bow sa strings ay paalala na wala akong choice.
I'm walking down the aisle… but my heart isn't walking with me.
Everyone's eyes are on me—my gown shimmering under the chandeliers, my trembling hands clutching the bouquet too tightly. The white roses look pure, pero ako, parang nabubulok sa loob.
Dad smiles at me with tears in his eyes. Mom's holding his arm, whispering prayers under her breath. I know what they're thinking—that this is salvation. That marrying Lucas Alvarez will save us.
But at what cost?
And then I see him.
Standing at the altar in his black suit—perfectly tailored, tall, composed. His expression unreadable, except for his eyes.
Those eyes.
There's something dangerous in the way he looks at me.
Not like a groom waiting for his bride.
But like a predator finally claiming what he's been hunting.
When I reach him, his hand meets mine. His skin is warm—too warm—and his thumb brushes my pulse like he's memorizing it.
"Breathe," he whispers, barely audible.
My lips part slightly, but I can't find words.
All I hear is the priest starting to speak, words blurring into static.
I repeat the vows because I have to.
Because our family name depends on this.
Because Lucas Alvarez—this stranger who looks at me like I'm his salvation and his sin—is the man who now owns my future.
And when the priest finally says, "You may now kiss the bride," the world seems to stop.
Lucas doesn't move for a second. His gaze locks on mine—steady, hungry, quiet.
Then he leans in, his hand sliding to the back of my neck, possessive but gentle enough to make me shiver.
His lips barely touch mine—just a ghost of a kiss. But it feels like a seal. A mark. A silent vow that I don't understand yet.
When he pulls away, his voice is low.
"You're mine now, Vierrah. Finally."
I blink, my heartbeat wild.
There's something in the way he said finally.
Like he's been waiting for this longer than I could ever imagine.
---
Lucas
She's trembling.
But even in her fear, she's the most breathtaking thing I've ever seen.
The dress hugs her delicately, the lace brushing against her skin like something sacred. Every step she took toward me felt unreal—five years of waiting condensed into that one walk.
Five years of watching her from afar, memorizing her laughter, her tears, the way she tucks her hair when she's nervous.
Now she's here.
In front of me.
Mine.
When she reached for my hand, I almost lost control. My pulse hammered so hard I thought everyone could hear it.
I told myself to stay calm. To play the perfect groom, the gentleman she believes she's marrying. But inside me, there's chaos—an animal pacing behind my ribs, whispering finally.
When I said those words—"You're mine now, Vierrah. Finally."—it wasn't a threat. It was a confession.
Because I've loved her in silence for too long.
Loved her in ways I don't even know how to explain.
She flinched at my words. I saw it—the tiny movement, the slight pull of her breath.
I didn't mean to scare her. But I can't help it. Every fiber of me wants to protect her, hold her, hide her from every man who might look at her the way I do.
When we stepped out of the church, cameras flashed. People cheered.
"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Alvarez!"
She smiled politely. But I saw her eyes—blank, distant.
She's here, but her heart is somewhere else.
I told myself I'd change that.
One day, she'll look at me and see more than the man who bought her freedom.
She'll see the man who would destroy the world just to make her smile.
---
Vierrah
The reception feels like a dream I can't wake up from.
Gold lights, champagne towers, laughter echoing everywhere.
Lucas holds me close for the first dance—his hand firm on my waist, his gaze never leaving mine.
Everyone sees a perfect couple.
They don't see the fear twisting in my stomach.
"You look beautiful tonight," he murmurs, voice low near my ear.
"Thank you," I whisper, keeping my eyes down.
"You don't have to be afraid of me," he says softly, as if reading my thoughts.
I lift my eyes, meeting his. There's sincerity there—real, raw—but also something darker underneath. Something that wants to possess.
"I'm not afraid," I lie.
He smiles faintly. "You should be."
My breath catches. He says it like a joke, but his tone isn't playful.
He twirls me, his hand tightening slightly on mine. I can feel his control in every motion—how he leads, how he never lets go.
The music fades, applause follows, and I can finally breathe again.
But when we sit down, he leans closer.
"After tonight, everything changes," he whispers.
I turn to him, confused. "What do you mean?"
He only smiles, tracing my knuckles with his thumb. "You'll see, Mrs. Alvarez."
---
Lucas
Every second, I fight the urge to touch her more than I should.
Every time she looks away, I want to tilt her chin up, make her see me.
I've waited too long for this.
When she said her vows, I saw it in her eyes—hesitation. Pain. Fear.
But also something else. Curiosity.
Like a small part of her wonders who I really am.
I'll show her.
Not today, not violently, not cruelly.
But slowly. Carefully.
Until she realizes that no one will ever love her the way I do.
When the guests finally leave, I escort her to the car.
Her hand trembles as it rests in mine, but she doesn't pull away.
At least she's not running anymore.
The night air wraps around us as I open the door.
"Home?" I ask.
She nods quietly.
As the car drives away, I look out the window—city lights fading into darkness.
The world thinks this was a marriage of convenience.
But for me, it's destiny.
She just doesn't know it yet.
---
Vierrah
As we drive away from the glittering city, I stare out the window.
The wedding ring feels heavy on my finger—like a chain I can't remove.
Lucas sits beside me, calm, silent, unreadable.
And though I don't dare look at him, I can feel it—his gaze tracing my every move.
Like I've been caught in a web spun years before I even noticed.
When the car turns into a long private road surrounded by trees, I finally whisper,
"Where are we going?"
"Our home," he says softly.
There's warmth in his tone—but underneath it, a promise.
A quiet, dangerous promise that makes my heart race.
I swallow hard and face the window again.
Because I know that from this night on…
my life will never be mine again.
---