Iván Serguéyevich, an older man with an aristocratic demeanor and cold gray eyes, gently held Anna’s hand. His expensive suit and confident stride revealed a man used to getting everything he wanted.
Anna’s parents beamed with joy as they saw their daughter next to a wealthy man. Their dream of financial stability had finally come true. After the official ceremony, the wedding banquet began.
Anna could barely hold back her tears and smiled mechanically at the guests. Each of her glances was filled with sadness and silent protest. She felt like a doll on display, an object exchanged in an agreement between her parents and Iván Serguéyevich.
— You are beautiful — Iván Serguéyevich said softly, noticing her expression. — I hope we can get along.
Anna remained silent, her gaze lost in the distance.
She thought about her dreams… how little they mattered to others. Her wishes had been completely ignored in favor of economic gain.
Late at night, after all the guests had gone, Anna was left alone with her new husband in the massive villa. The silence was heavy. In the bedroom, he looked at her with intensity and, in a deep voice, made a request that froze her blood:
— I want you to call me “Daddy.”
Anna froze. The words echoed like a punch to her chest. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. He continued:
— Not because of some strange game… but because that’s how I’ve always imagined you. I met your parents long ago. I’ve watched you grow from afar. I always knew you would be mine. I made deals, supported your family. And now… you belong to me.
Anna felt the ground vanish beneath her feet. The marriage wasn’t just a transaction — it was part of a dark, long-planned scheme. A silent tear rolled down her cheek. For the first time, she realized she hadn’t just lost her freedom — she had lost herself.
That night, Anna made a decision. She would escape. She didn’t know how or when, but she knew her life couldn’t end there. She refused to be a prisoner of a man who saw her as property.
And with that strength, at dawn, Anna walked through the gates of the mansion without looking back. She had no idea what the world outside held for her, but for the first time, she was free to dream — for herself.
