CHAPTER 7

In the dimly lighted room, Sarah sat by herself, thinking only about Derrick. His picture lingered in her memory, his piercing eyes and endearing smile haunting her every waking moment, even with all of the chaos and uncertainty swirling around her.

She let out a deep breath, the events of the last few days replaying in her memory, her heart heavy with regret. If only she hadn't agreed to marry Bobby, if only she hadn't been in such a desperate attempt to keep her sister alive. She was forced into a marriage she never wanted, though, and was caught between her increasing love for Derrick and her family's loyalty..

Sarah was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't even notice her phone buzzing gently on the table next to her. She lifted it up and sighed, heart beating fast as she saw Derrick's name flash on the screen.

"Hey," she said in a tone that was slightly excited.

"Hey, Sarah," Derrick's friendly and reassuring voice rang out over the phone. "How are you holding up?"

The sound of his voice made Sarah's heart skip a beat, and the comfort of their talk temporarily overshadowed her fears. "I'm... okay," she answered, a hint of doubt in her voice. "Just trying to make sense of everything, you know?"

Sarah felt thrills down her spine as Derrick laughed quietly. "Yes, I understand what you're saying," he said in a soft voice. "But hey, we'll get through this together, okay? I promise."

With a slight smile on her face, Sarah felt a wave of warmth go through her body. She mumbled, "Thanks, Derrick," her voice full of appreciation. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Sarah could feel the contagious excitement of Derrick's laughing vibrating through the phone. He said, "Hey, anytime, Sarah," with genuineness in his voice. "I'm here for you, no matter what."

As they spoke, Sarah began to feel more at ease with Derrick, his words acting as a comforting remedy for her troubled spirit. It was the first time in days that she had felt a flicker of hope ignite inside her, a flicker of light in the shadows all around her.

She was enjoying Derrick's warmth, but there was a persistent question in the back of her mind. Because she was forced into a marriage she didn't want, how could she ever be truly happy? Her heart belonged to someone else; how could she ever find peace in that?

Sarah couldn't get rid of the uneasy sensation that was eating away at her insides as their conversation came to an end and Derrick said goodbye. She was aware that she had to do whatever it took to get out of her marriage to Bobby. But as time went on, her decision began to weigh more and more, threatening to crush her beneath its heavy grasp..

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One day, when Sarah sat brooding over her uncertain future, someone knocked on the door. She sprang up startled, her heart thumping in her chest, and stepped hesitantly toward the door. As she opened it, she saw Tiger and Scar, Bobby's loyal guards, standing before her.

Tiger gave her a sharp nod and said, "Miss Sarah," his face indecipherable.

Sarah said a trembling "Um, hi," her thoughts full of questions. "What can I do for you?"

Sarah felt a chill go down her spine as Tiger's lips curled into a sinister smirk. His voice was stern and commanding as he told her, "Mr. Bobby has requested your presence. He requires your assistance with some... matters."

Fear began to gather in the pit of Sarah's stomach as her heart fell at Tiger's words. Though it was obvious she shouldn't follow Bobby's instructions, she felt uncomfortable at the idea of confronting him. Yet her destiny was bound to his will, so she could do nothing but submit.

She uttered, hardly raising her voice above a whisper, "Of course." "Lead the way."

She couldn't help but feel like a prisoner being led to her execution as Sarah followed Tiger and Scar out of the room. The burden of her situation seemed to be crushing her under its oppressive grasp with every step she took.

There was intense tension throughout the silent trip to Bobby's room, enough to cut with a knife. Sarah refused to meet Tiger and Scar's stare, not wanting to see what may be mirrored there. Instead, she kept her eyes firmly placed on the ground.

When they finally arrived at Bobby's room, Sarah became ready for whatever was about to happen. Entering, she saw Bobby comfortably reclining in a luxurious armchair, a self-satisfied smile spreading across his lips.

"Ah, there you are, my dear," Bobby gave her a mocking smile and mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "I trust you're ready for our little outing?"

Bobby's remarks made Sarah's heart sink, and she felt fear knot in the pit of her stomach. With a sickening feeling, she realized that whatever Bobby had in store for her, it wouldn't be pleasant.

"Um, sure," she replied hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. "What did you have in mind?"

Bobby's grin widened at her question, his eyes glittering with amusement. "Why, we're going shopping, my dear," he announced cheerfully, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "For your wedding gown, of course."

At Bobby's comments, Sarah felt a surge of dread sweep over her like a tsunami, or and her blood ran cold. She never would have imagined herself being married, much less to Bobby. She felt sick to her stomach at the idea of being tied to him for 18months of her life.

But Sarah realized she had no choice but to comply as Bobby got up from his chair and motioned for her to follow. She followed him out of the room with a sad heart, her mind buzzing with ideas of getting away.

Sarah's sense of dread lingered over her like a black cloud as they made their way to the waiting car. She was aware that whatever awaited her, it would only serve to deepen her entanglement with Bobby, trapping her further in a web of lies and deceit.

But Sarah promised herself that she would find a way out of this nightmare at any cost as she got into the car next to him. She knew deep down that real freedom was something to fight for, even if it meant going against the same powers that tried to oppress her.

During the stressful ride to the bridal shop, Sarah sat silently next to Bobby, her mind running with a million possible ideas. The sensation of being trapped, similar to a bird in a golden cage, and compelled to assume the character of a devoted wife against her will lingered in her thoughts.

Sarah's heart fell when she saw the shop's elegant exterior and its sparkling display windows, which were filled with extravagant bridal gowns that seemed to be mocking her. She was aware that, in this world of silk and white lace, she was an imposter and didn't belong here.

As Sarah entered, she was met with a flurry of activity from the employees at stores who were excited to help their esteemed customer. Bobby took over right away, yelling commands at the employees as though he owned the place.

His voice overflowing with arrogance, he ordered, "Fetch the finest gowns you have. My bride deserves nothing but the best."

Fists locked at her sides, Sarah resisted the impulse to lash out at him, biting back her response. She hated the way he used her like a property, as a showpiece to be flaunted for everyone to see.

But Sarah saw that her mood was getting worse as the store employees started pulling out gown after gown. With beautiful lace work and dazzling crystal embellishments that seemed to mock her beauty, each outfit was more beautiful than the last.

But Bobby didn't appear to notice her unease; instead, his eyes were glowing with anticipation as he examined the options in front of him. He turned to Sarah and smirked, "What do you think, my dear? Which one catches your eye?"

The idea of having to pick a dress and pretend to be a blushing bride on her wedding day made Sarah's stomach turn. All she wanted to do was scream, run from this horror as fast as she could, and never turn around.

But Sarah realized she had to go along with it as she looked into Bobby's expectant eyes. Feeling sad inside, she forced a smile and pointed to the closest gown, hoping that would be enough to win him over.

Sarah felt like a puppet on strings as the shop employees hovered about her, obsessing over every single detail and assisting her into the gown. She was made to dance to Bobby's tune. However, she secretly understood that she was stronger than he could have ever imagined and that no amount of finesse could mask the reality of her circumstances.

Because Sarah was a fighter and a survivor, she would do whatever it took to get out of the bonds that held her captive in Bobby's devious scheme. And she made a promise to herself as she stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a white satin and lace gown, that she would do whatever it took to get back her freedom and her sister.