Chapter 9 – The Preparation

• The estate was alive with an unsettling kind of energy that Alina couldn’t escape. The sprawling grounds were overtaken by florists, their trucks packed with fresh flowers—roses, lilies, and orchids spilling from their crates. Musicians strummed soft melodies on their instruments, adding to the serene chaos that surrounded her. Staff bustled everywhere, setting up elaborate tables in the garden, lighting candles, and preparing for what was supposed to be the most sacred day of her life.
• Except, it wasn’t.
• It wasn’t sacred. It wasn’t a celebration. It was a prison.