1

Regina let out a sigh as her hands fumbled with the embroidered lace of her wedding dress, her eyes fixed on her reflection in the oval mirror. She attempted a smile, but it faltered, giving way to a wave of pain and recollection. Her father, Maximus Green, was the President of the Green Foundation, a conglomerate comprising several factories, schools, and businesses worldwide. It had been the largest corporation in the United States until a crisis erupted when factory workers protested in front of the Green Foundation headquarters. They were protesting the hazardous working conditions and, primarily, the decrease in their pay. The protest escalated, drawing daily police interventions and resulting in a tragic loss of lives, injuries, and layoffs.

As a child, Regina recalled seeing eggs and oranges hurled at the car windows, an unsettling reminder of what had happened. She had been shielded from the ugliness, being the only child, but it persisted. Each day seemed to bring a new crisis for the company, casting a shadow over its former glory. Her father's decision to arrange her a marriage without her consent or input felt like the final blow. He insisted that she marry a billionaire who could restore their family's prestige and power. Despite her pleas and attempts to reason with him, he remained resolute. Her mother, too, offered no support, leaving Regina feeling trapped.

Regina's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the stylist's soft humming as she meticulously pinned the dress into place. Regina couldn't help but feel tense, her patience wearing thin by the second.

"What is she doing?" Regina thought, her eyes meeting the stylist's in the mirror. The stylist's smile faltered, replaced by a furrowed brow as she sensed Regina's gaze upon her.

Regina was about to speak when a sharp prick from a needle pierced her skin. She winced, biting down on her tongue before snapping, "Why are you being so careless? Do you have any idea what's at stake if you injure me? If you can't perform your duties competently, I suggest you pack your things and leave, immediately. There are plenty of others waiting to take your place."

With tears streaming down her face, the young stylist stammered an apology and hastily exited the dressing room, leaving Regina momentarily stunned.

"Pathetic," Regina muttered with a scornful scoff, shaking her head.

Returning her attention to her reflection, Regina smiled, the one thing that never failed to bolster her pride: her beauty. She admired herself, turning left and right, perfecting her pout. Just as she reached for her lipstick, the door swung open with a loud bang.

Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Regina spun around, prepared to unleash her frustration on the intruder, only to be met with the sight of her mother, Rachel Green, standing in the doorway, her face twisted in a displeased scowl.

"Why did you scare that young lady off? This is supposed to be the most perfect day of your life, and you're ruining it. Imagine if she ran to the press and dragged your father's name through the mud because of your sheer stupidity."

"Hello, Mother." Regina forced a smile as she turned around, rolling her eyes.

"I don't know what you're doing, but this wedding will happen whether you like it or not, so you better behave," Regina heard her mother say as she clicked her heels against the polished floor.

"A wedding? Is this what people call a wedding or a trade? You're selling me off to a billionaire for power. Your only daughter. Do you even wish for my happiness?" Regina yelled.

"You'll be happy as long as you marry him," Her mother implored.

"But I don't even know him. I don't love him, and I'm sure I would hate him," Regina spat back.

Regina let out a shaky breath as she felt her mother's arm encircle her shoulders, her nails digging into her skin, and she let out a groan of resistance, her eyes watering with tears.

"There are no buts. You're going to marry him, love him, and bear his..."

Regina had had enough. Her hands reached for a brush and hurled it at the mirror, shattering the glass. Her chest heaved with fury as she turned to look her mother in the eye.

"I don't want to marry him or bear him children. Why should I marry someone I don't love? Someone I don't even know? I've done absolutely everything that you and Father have wanted. I went to the schools you wanted, picked friends that you wanted. I shopped for clothes, bags, and shoes where you wanted, and the one thing that I beg of you to let me choose in my life, you take it away. What's the point?"

"Regina, you selfish..." Her mother started to speak, taking small steps towards her. Regina took a step backward and let out a painful moan when her mother wrapped her hands around her neck. "You do not question me or your father's decisions, do you understand me? You will marry him, just as I said. You will bear his children, just as I have told you multiple times, and if you dare to make a charade out of it, you should know that your father will cut you out of his will."

"What on earth..." Regina managed to ask when her mother's grip left her neck.

"And why would I do that to my daughter? I'm merely teasing you," her mother let out a ravenous chuckle.

Regina bit down on her bottom lip as her mother drew her shoulders closer, tucking a small strand of hair behind her ear and whispering, "You, my daughter, are the only one who can change our fate. Don't disappoint your dear parents, and you'll see how well your life will turn out by marrying that man."

When her mother withdrew and she saw a smile on her mother's face, her stoic expression almost wavered, and she nearly broke down into tears.

"Now, get ready," her mother urged with a clap of her hands, "I'll send someone else in to get you ready, and please, be gentle."

She watched as her mother kissed her on the cheek and began to make her way out of the dressing room. When she heard the soft click of the door, Regina placed a hand against her throbbing chest and slammed her body against a chair as a solitary tear slipped from her eye. Her hands balled into a fist as she banged her knuckles heavily against the wall.

"Why won't anyone listen to me?" she thought.

***

Regina walked down the aisle, taking in the church's warm, floral-scented atmosphere. She glided past the pews adorned with flowers, her eyes fixed on her groom from afar, dressed in his white suit. She had heard little of him, and this was the first time she was seeing him.

Strange and unheard of, wasn't it?

Her parents, Maximus and Rachel Green, sat in the front row. Her father wore a tailored Givenchy suit, exuding power and authority. Her mother was elegant in a flowing Dior gown, her demeanor poised.

A smile tugged at Regina's lips, but her thoughts were far from joyful. "I will make his life hell," she vowed silently, her gaze piercing. "I will frustrate him so much that he will abscond from me. After all, I'm Regina Green. I will not cower to my father's game. I will not be a pawn."

As she neared the altar, her determination grew. She would not allow herself to be trapped in a useless marriage in a tussle for power.

Just as she was about to approach the altar, a bucket of red paint crashed down on her with a sickening splatter. The viscous liquid splashed across her pristine white dress, creating an ugly pattern of red streaks and droplets. Some paint splattered onto her skin, sending a cold, sticky sensation through her body.

Regina's initial reaction was one of shock and disbelief. She staggered backward, her hands flying to her face as she let out a piercing scream. Chaos erupted in the church as guests gasped and murmured in shock.

Guards rushed forward, surrounding Regina protectively, unsure of what had just happened. Regina stood there, a mix of fury and humiliation burning in her eyes. She felt exposed, vulnerable, and utterly embarrassed.

What the hell had just happened?