Chapter 46

Nathaniel

I walk towards the front of the wedding aisle, my legs heavy with dread. Every step feels like I'm pulling myself through thick mud, each one more difficult than the last. My heart pounds in my chest, a wild, erratic beat that threatens to drown out all other sounds. The fear and anxiety coil together in my stomach—a relentless, twisting knot of tension. The hate I feel towards myself and Anna bubbles just below the surface, threatening to spill over at any moment.

I glance around the garden, which is beautifully decorated. Flowers of every colour line the aisle; their sweet fragrance is almost sickening. The guests look amazing, dressed in their finest clothes, and their faces bright with anticipation and joy. But inside, I feel nothing but emptiness. I want to break down, to scream, to run. This isn’t my choice. I’m being forced into this marriage, and every part of me rebels against it.

My eyes scan the crowd, and I see the satisfaction in my family’s eyes. They think thi