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Annalisa 1
1AnnaliseIt’s today. I inhaled deeply and dragged my knees to my chest.It’s today. I looked around me, unconsciously wishing for one more day, even if it were in this cold dungeon.It’s today. My eyes settled on the charcoal markings on the stonewall opposite me for one last confirmation. Only one strike hadn’t been crossed out.I reluctantly stood up and dragged my feet towards the wall.“Stop making so much noise!” a voice bellowed from the other side of the bars that held me in.I froze and held my breath as I strained my ears, trying to make sure no footsteps were accompanying the voice. I let out a relieved sigh when I heard none.My eyes fell to my feet and I picked up the charcoal that lay there. I turned the markings on the wall and crossed out the last part.“It’s today,” I muttered as I stared at the wall. “Today is the day I die.”I took a step back and closed my eyes tightly. Maybe when I open my eyes, it’ll all be a dream. I will be laying in bed cuddling Spencer, then
Annalisa 2
2AnnaliseMy eyes abruptly snapped open and I was met with the sight of both my parents and sister looking down at me.“She’s awake!” a voice screamed, and the entire place erupted in cheers.A stabbing pain shot through my head and I closed my eyes tightly, trying to relieve it. Soon, the hall became quiet and so did the chaos in my head. My mum stretched her hand out to me and I took it. She and my dad pulled me up, before they both enveloped me in a hug.“I thought I had lost you for good,” my mum mumbled into the group hug.Lost me? What is she talking about? What happened? I had a lot of questions.We finally disentangled ourselves from the hug and my dad slowly turned me to face the podium.On the podium, Spencer stood talk with wide grin plastered on his face. Contrary to normal, butterflies didn’t begin to flutter in my stomach at the smile. Instead, I felt strangely disgusted.I looked around me, mentally noting how each seat in the fairly large hall was occupied by elegantl
Annalisa 3
3AnnaliseI inhaled deeply, then exhaled, all in an effort to catch my breath.What was that dream? I wondered although it hadn’t felt like a dream at all, but a memory, a flashback.I closed my eyes as I remembered the scene once again.“I will kill you just like I did to your parents,” I whispered into the empty room.I stared into the blank nothingness. I couldn’t ignore the fact that the voice had sounded exactly like Spencer.“What exactly is goimg on?” I wondered aloud.A knock sounded on my door, ending my flow of throats. I rolled my eyes in frustration as I answered. “Come in.”The door creaked open and a petite girl dressimg in a thigh length black dress covered with a white apron entered.“Hello, Alyssa. What’s the matter?” I asked. Alyssa was the maid permanently assigned to me for the rest of my life.“You have a visitor, Mrs,” Alyssa replied. I could see that she was trying hard to fight the blush off her face, and neither did i miss the emphasis on the last word she ut
Annalisa 4
4AnnaliseI clenched my fists tightly as I watched him say his vows.Lies, all lies, I mentally screamed.“I love you so much and I promise to continue to do so for the rest of our lives, while also supporting you. Cheers, to being my viscountess,” he had recited.“Lies,” I whispered.The guest on my right turned to look at me with a raised questioning eyebrow and I flashed her a smile I hoped appeared reassuring. I redirected my attention to the couple about to be wed.Spenver had just finished giving hid vows, and it was now Annalissa’s turn. Everyone was quiet and staring at her with expectant eyes.I watched her as she looked around. In her eyes, there were a lot of emotions that usually weren’t present on one’s wedding day. Fear, most especially. Her eyes could not hide the cluelessness I’m sure she must be feeling.Is everything okay? I wondered. She looked to hesitant for it to be a mere delay.I crossed my fingers. Is this where fate would change?She cleared her throat. “Wel
Annalisa 5
5ADRIANMy gaze darted around the cluttered consulate office, searching for a distraction, anything to tear my mind away from Amanda’s absence. A week. It had only been a week since her tear-stained face had disappeared out of my doorway, and the air still felt thick with the ghost of her jasmine perfume.Stupid, prideful Adrian. The words echoed in my head, a constant refrain. Why did I care so much about what the others thought? Amanda, with her laugh that could chase away the worst shadows and eyes that held galaxies within them, deserved to be shown off, not hidden away like a shameful secret.A sigh escaped my lips, a whoosh of hot air that did nothing to cool the embers of regret burning in my gut. The half-eaten sandwich on my desk mocked me. Food had lost its appeal, every bite a dull reminder of the life, the love, I’d let slip through my fingers.My fist clenched around the pen, the cheap plastic digging into my palm. A choked sob escaped me. I squeezed my eyes shut, the im
Annalisa 6
6ANNALISEMy head throbbed like a drum solo after a particularly raucous night. The smoky haze of the tavern clung to my clothes, and the memory of those hulking men loomed large. Yet, a sliver of amusement bubbled up through the fog. My mysterious savior, with his fancy clothes and misplaced bravado, had waltzed in and saved the day.“Who are you?” I repeated, the question echoing in the quiet night.He chuckled, a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine. “Someone who fancies himself a knight in not-so-shining armor.”“A knight?” I scoffed, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of my lips. “More like a gambler with a lucky charm.”“Perhaps,” he conceded, a glint in his eyes that made my stomach do a nervous flip. “But a gambler who won you a fair shake, wouldn’t you say?”Fair shake. The phrase hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. This stranger, whoever he was, had rewritten my future with a single, audacious move.“Thank you,” I mumbled, the words inadequate but since
Annalisa 7
7ANNEAnnalisa, that stubborn, headstrong chit, had defied me not once, but twice! First, that brooding bore Spencer, and now, this… this stranger who appeared out of thin air and whisked her away like a prize in some ridiculous game.The gilded cage of my drawing-room felt like it was shrinking in on me. I tapped a manicured finger against the delicate porcelain teacup, the rhythmic clatter a counterpoint to the storm brewing inside me. The Earl Grey, usually a source of solace, tasted like bitter ash on my tongue.“Spencer,” I hissed, the name dripping with venom.Spencer, ever the picture of stoic control, shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Yes, Your Grace?”“You look like a kicked puppy,” I snapped. “Is that truly the best you can do? Annalisa throws herself away on some charlatan, and you sit there like a lump?”He flinched, but his voice remained steady. “I respect Annalisa’s decision, Your Grace.”Respect? Respect be damned! This wasn’t about respect; it was about control. An
Annalisa 8
8ANNEFury vibrated through me like a poorly strummed lute. My perfectly manicured nails dug into the velvet of the armchair, leaving faint crescent moons of frustration. There he sat, my supposed father, the Duke of Wales, sipping his brandy with an air of nonchalance that would make a saint want to spit fire.“That’s it?” I hissed, barely containing the storm within. “You just hand over the Dukedom to Annalisa? No fight, no argument?”He chuckled, a dry rasp that grated on my nerves. “Fight with whom, Anne? Annalisa’s the one who actually cares about this crumbling pile of stones. You, on the other hand…”His voice trailed off, the implication clear – I only cared about the wealth and prestige the Dukedom brought. He wasn’t wrong, not entirely. But that didn’t mean I wouldn’t fight tooth and nail to keep it.“She’s reckless, impulsive!” I sputtered, leaping to my feet. “That so-called husband of hers appeared out of thin air, and she marries him within a day! Is that the kind of pe
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