CHAPTER ONE

Sophia sat on the edge of the plush king-size bed, her eyes scanning the lavish interior with a mix of awe and sadness. The room was elegantly decorated with gold accents and intricate patterns on the walls, and a crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow across the room. The floors were made of polished marble, and the windows were draped in heavy silk curtains that swayed gently in the breeze.

As Sophia looked around, she couldn't help but feel a pang of longing in her chest. This was the kind of room she had always dreamed of staying in, with its extravagant design and luxurious furnishings. But now, as she sat there, she couldn't find any joy in it.

The room was silent, except for the gentle hum of the air conditioning and the distant sound of traffic outside. Sophia's mind was racing, filled with doubts and fears about the future. 

Despite the opulence of the hotel room, Sophia couldn't shake off the feeling of loneliness and helplessness that had taken hold of her. She longed to be with someone who truly loved her, who would hold her tight in their arms and tell her everything would be alright. But that kind of love seemed so far away now, lost in the chaos of her life.

As she sat there, staring at the white dress on the hanger. The intricate lace details and flowing train were stunning, but they only made her feel more uneasy. This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, the day she would marry the man of her dreams, but instead, she was marrying a man she barely knew.

This was not the life her parents wanted for her, God she misses them. They were her everything; she had lost them in a tragic accident when she was 14. After their death, her Uncle Matt didn’t hesitate to move into their house taking charge and being in full control and now he has just a marriage to Alexander, a wealthy businessman who he owes a million dollars.

She remembered that day vividly. As she stepped into the house, the scent of stale cigarette smoke mixed with the musty odor of old furniture assaulted her senses. Sophia wrinkled her nose in disgust, but she wasn't surprised, this was just like every regular evening. This was Uncle Matt's house, after all.

In the dimly lit living room, she could see her uncle seated in his favorite armchair, surrounded by empty beer bottles and a thick cloud of smoke. He looked up as she entered, his bloodshot eyes squinting in the low light.

Sophia couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment as she looked at him. Uncle Matt was her only family, but he had never really cared about her. He had taken her in after her parents died in a car crash, but he was never responsible, he spent all her college funds on his vices.

Her parents had wanted her to go to college and become a fashion designer, but all those dreams were crushed the moment Uncle Matt came into the picture.

She remembers the numerous times she had to drag him out of different bars where he would drink and cause trouble. 

He was her father's younger brother, the black sheep of the Richardson brothers. While her dad worked hard and went to college, Uncle Matt had been left behind and had joined a gang. His life had spiraled out of control since then, and his wife had left him for his friend years ago.

She was all alone in this world, not like uncle Matt has ever made her feel like she had a family, she is angry at Uncle Matt for ruining her chance at a better life. She struggled to put food on their table and this is what she got after all these years.

She couldn't help feeling like a pawn in this game. She had always dreamed of falling in love and marrying for love, not for convenience. As she looked at the dress, she knew this was not what her parents would have wanted for her. They had always encouraged her to follow her heart and pursue her passions.

Her mind was racing with all kinds of thoughts of what her future could be. The thought of being a wife and starting a family with a man she barely knew left a bitter taste in her mouth. She wondered what kind of life she would have with Alexander Giovannucci.

Her gaze lingered on the wedding gown as she paced, she thought about how this marriage would change her life completely including her passion for fashion. She had always loved the art of designing and creating beautiful clothing. As a young girl, she and her mother would spend countless hours together, working on the sewing machine or sketching out new designs during the weekend.

Sophia knew that marrying Alexander would mean leaving her dreams of becoming a fashion designer behind. She couldn't bear the thought of giving up something that had always brought her so much joy. Her heart sank at the thought of living such a life. A life where she couldn’t pursue her dream. 

Her eyes landed on her sketchbook, which was lying on the bedside table. She walked over to it and flipped through the pages, admiring the designs she had created. Her heart filled with longing and sadness as she realized that this might be the last time she would ever create something so beautiful.

No no! she shakes her head, she can’t let this happen she needs to do something, she can’t let this happen 

Sophia knew that she had to make a decision. She could either give up her dreams and marry a man she barely knew, or she could take a chance and follow her heart. The decision weighed heavily on her mind as she stared at the wedding gown once more. At this point there is only one thing that can be done: she had to escape this marriage, no matter what the cost.

She knew she couldn't just sit there and let this happen. She had to take control of her life and make a decision and not just let Uncle Matt or Alexander decide her future. But how could she do that when everything had already been decided?

As she continue to pace frantically, she needed to think, to figure out a way to get out of this mess. She couldn't let her dreams die just because her family had decided to force her into this marriage.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts that she has to do something. 

Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. Her heart leaped into her throat and she paused and wondered who it could be. She knew she couldn't let anyone see her like this still in her favorite jeans and tshirt and not dressed for the wedding, especially not Alexander.

Sophia's heart pounded in her chest as she looked around the room for any possible escape route. She couldn't go through with this wedding when her heart wasn't in it. Her eyes fell on the open window and she knew what she had to do.

Taking a deep breath, Sophia grabbed the wedding gown and made her way to the window. She tried to ignore the feeling of guilt that was creeping up on her uncle Matt will be fine, after all he did this to her. 

With trembling hands, Sophia hoisted herself up onto the window sill and began to make her way down the side of the building. The wind was whipping her brunette hair around her face, and she could feel her heart racing. She was so close to freedom, but one false move could spell disaster, suddenly she heard a shout from behind her.