-Six Months And Counting-

Verena's heart sank as she mustered the courage to speak her truth to Louis. "I don't want to marry you," she said softly, her voice trembling with apprehension.

Louis's expression darkened, disbelief flickering in his eyes. "You don't mean that," he insisted, shaking his head adamantly. "You know you want this as much as I do."

Verena felt a surge of frustration welling up inside her. "No, Louis," she countered, her voice growing firmer. "I've made up my mind. I can't go through with this marriage."

Louis's features hardened, his resolve unyielding. "You don't have a choice in the matter," he declared coldly. "I've made arrangements, and you will marry me."

Verena's breath caught in her throat as she realized the extent of his control over her fate. Panic clawed at her insides, but she refused to back down, determined to assert her autonomy.

"I will not be forced into a marriage against my will," she declared, her voice ringing with defiance.

Louis's jaw tightened, his frustration palpable. Without another word, he turned on his heel and gestured to his driver, a silent command to proceed to the courthouse.

As the car pulled away from the curb, Verena braced herself for the battle ahead. She knew that she would have to fight tooth and nail to resist Louis's relentless pursuit, but she refused to surrender her agency without a fight. With every fiber of her being, she vowed to stand her ground and reclaim control over her own destiny, no matter the cost. 

Verena's heart raced as Louis tightened his grip on her hand, pulling her forcefully towards the imposing courthouse doors. She resisted the urge to pull away, knowing that any sign of defiance would only provoke him further.

Inside the bustling halls of the courthouse, Verena felt a knot form in her stomach as Louis led her towards the marriage registry office. Her mind raced with fear and uncertainty, but she knew that she had to steel herself for the confrontation ahead.

As they entered the office, Louis's grip on her hand tightened even more, his voice a menacing whisper in her ear. "Remember what's at stake here," he hissed, his threat hanging in the air like a dark cloud.

Verena's pulse quickened as she glanced around the room, her eyes searching desperately for a way out. But there was no escape, no reprieve from the suffocating weight of Louis's control.

With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, Verena watched as Louis approached the registrar, his expression smug with self-assurance. She knew that she had no choice but to play along, to submit to his demands in order to protect herself from further harm.

Minutes felt like hours as Verena stood by silently, her heart heavy with resignation. And then, finally, it was done. Louis emerged from the registrar's desk, a triumphant gleam in his eyes as he brandished the marriage certificate for all to see.

Verena's hands trembled with suppressed rage as she forced herself to accept the damning evidence of her captivity. She knew that she had been backed into a corner, forced to sacrifice her autonomy in exchange for her freedom.

As Louis led her away from the courthouse, a sense of defeat washed over Verena, but deep within her, a flicker of defiance remained. She vowed to herself that one day, she would find a way to break free from Louis's suffocating grasp, to reclaim her independence and chart her own path forward, no matter the obstacles that lay in her way.

"Six months later, I would naturally divorce you, then divide a sum with you." Louis said it coldly, his voice dripping with condescension.

Verena's eyes widened in disbelief as she processed his words. It was clear that her plan to deceive him had backfired, and now she was trapped in a marriage with a man she despised.

She knew she had no choice but to comply with his demands, but deep down, she vowed to find a way to turn the tables on him and regain her freedom.

"When that time comes, if you wished to stay beside me for even one more second, it would not be possible!" Once he finished his sentence, he closed the door and left.