Marked By Chains

Ivy’s POV

The applause still echoed in my ears, though it was nothing but a hollow and mocking sound. The ring sat heavy on my finger, cold metal biting into my skin like a damn chain.

I didn’t look at Cassian. I couldn’t stand to look him in the eyes, not when my eyes stayed locked on Adrian’s, even as Cassian’s hand claimed mine in front of everyone.

And then—

Without warning or permission. Cassian pulled me forward, his lips crushing mine before I had a chance to breathe.

I gasped against him, stiffening and pressing my palms against his chest in protest. Cameras flashed all around us.

The crowd thundered applause in approval but was blind to the truth of what was really going on. “No…” I whispered, but the words died against his mouth, swallowed whole.

“Mmm…..stop….” My protest broke into a muffled whimper as his lips crushed mine and dominated my voice so no one would hear.

My palms pressed against his chest, pushing him to let go but even with that his grip tightened like iron around my wrist.

“Mmh…..ahh….” The sounds came out broken, trapped between his tongue and my teeth as I twisted my head, trying to break free.

But he caught my jaw mid-way, forcing me back into the kiss as his tongue pushed past my lips, tasting, claiming, and humiliating me while my muffled cries vibrated uselessly against him.

And then, finally, he pulled back. His chest rising and falling as he leaned in close against my ear. “I can’t wait….” he breathed against my ear, every one of his words like poison sinking into my skin.

“To split you open on our wedding night.” His grip on my wrist tightened, nails digging into my skin as he dragged his mouth lower, brushing the corner of my jaw like he owned it.

“You think Adrian makes you tremble?” He continued, letting out a low and dangerous laughter that only I could hear.

“He’ll never fuck you the way I will on our wedding night, Ivy. I’ll make you scream so loud you’ll forget his name.”

My blood turned to ice as heat flooded my cheeks—shame, rage, and helplessness all tangled together. My whole body shook as his words crawled under my skin, filth I couldn’t scrub away.

“You’re mine, Ivy Sinclair,” he hissed. “Your body and your lips. Every sweet little sound you make……it belongs to me. And soon, everyone will know it.”

I wanted to tear his tongue out and rip his hands off me. To run away from this place and vanish into thin air before he could stain me further.

But worse—worse than Cassian’s kiss—was Adrian. He had seen the kiss just like everyone had. Every second of it.

I dared a glance in his direction to see his jaw clenched so tight I thought it might snap. His fists curled at his sides, green eyes blazing with fury.

Not sure if his anger was meant for me or if it was meant for himself—or everything that went wrong between us.

“Ex….excuse me, I need to go to the restroom,” I managed to force the words out even as Cassian’s gaze pinned me in place.

Cassian excused me with a smug grin on his lips as though he was granting me mercy for now. I pushed through the crowd, their whispers following me like knives as I ran out of the hall.

The moment the restroom door slammed shut behind me, my knees buckled.

“Ahhh!”

My scream ripped out of me. It echoed off the tile walls of the restaurant, bouncing back into my ears until I thought I’d go insane.

I pounded my fists against the marble counter, tears blurring my vision. “I couldn’t stop him. I just stood there and let that bastard kiss me.”My voice cracked, choking on the truth.

He kissed me in front of Adrian, who did nothing but just sit there and watch another man claim me like I meant nothing to him.

The humiliation was unbearable.

I pressed my palms into the cold sink, my chest rising and falling heavily as I tried to catch my breath.

Then—

Knock. Knock.

The sound jolted me.

I froze, my eyes instantly snapping to the door. Not him. Not Cassian. He’s the last person in the world I wanted to see right now.

“Go away!” I barked.

My voice shook with anger and shame.

“Cassian, I don’t want to see you. Leave me alone!”

But it came again—

Knock. Knock.

This time deliberate. I lunged towards the door, rage bubbled up inside me with every step I took. “Didn’t you hear me?!” I shouted, lunging forward.

“I said leave me the hell alone!”

I yanked the door open, ready to spit fire at Cassian—

And froze.

It wasn’t Cassian.

Adrian.

His tall frame filled the doorway as his green eyes pierced into mine, dark and furious. Yet carved with something deeper—something dangerous.

My voice trembled as I parted my lips to speak. “Adrian… w-what are you doing here?”

He didn’t answer me. Instead, he stepped inside. The door clicked shut behind him with a sound like that of a lock on a prison cell.

I staggered back instantly, my body reacting before my brain could catch up. But the more I stepped back, the more he came closer to me.

“Adrian…” I whispered, retreating with every step, until my back was now brushing against the cold tile wall. “You… you shouldn’t be here.”

“Answer me,” I pleaded, my voice breaking. “What are you doing….” I had nowhere left to go now. My palms pressed flat against the wall.

Adrian’s chest hovered inches from mine, his chest rising and falling heavily. His hand slammed against the wall beside my head, making me flinch as I gasped in fear.

His face leaned closer, so close I could feel his lips ghosting over mine without touching. My body was trembling so hard with something I refused to name.

Fuck….I wanted to pull him closer to me. But then his voice cut through the tension, burning with fury. “Why did you let him kiss you?”

I blinked, my lips parting to answer him but no sound came out. My body betrayed me as I found myself melting under his proximity.

“Tell me, Ivy….” His voice was sharp, venomous, filled with desire and rage all at once.

“Why did you let Cassian kiss you?!”