I numbly stared out of the window of my room, the creepers clambering over it was looking beautiful, outside acres and acres of land stretched in front of my eyes, fresh breezes were occasionally entering the room flowing my hairs along with them. I was gaping in the distance living my worst moments again, sitting in the most expensive room humankind has to offer, everything was designed in the 90s theme, giving off the royal vibe, I was caged in these golden chains.

I didn't notice the door opening and someone coming in, I was just admiring the beauty outside when I felt someone placing a hand on my shoulders, slowly breaking my trance I turned around to see Marissa standing there.

Her motherly smile swelled my heart, I wanted to cry but I was just so fed up from crying, that was the only thing I did anyways this whole week, cuddling with Diya and crying my heart out.

I gave her a little smile and she settled down beside me on the bed, gently taking my hands in her hands and caressing them, I impassively continued starting at our entwined hands. She was so happy when we arrived at the King's estate in the morning, literally squealing and freaking out about how our engagement was a huge surprise for them both, I didn't have the heart to dishearten her by telling her what her baby boy was making me go through, how much I was suffering alone and how much I was dreading this engagement.

The news spread like wildfire all over the world, not even an hour later the conference I started receiving calls from my parents, Noah and friends, either congratulating me or bragging about how I got lucky, the only ones who asked me if I wanted this was my parents, my heart broke while lying to them but I couldn't drag them into my mess, Noah was concerned and was repeatedly asking if the previous call had something to do with this but I waved it off saying that it was just a casual call.

In four hours I had to be downstairs as Xavier's intended and for celebrating our engagement party together, pretending to be happy while I will be slowly breaking inside, pretending to be in love when I hate my fiáncee with all in me. I refused to see him during the whole week, rejecting his every single call, it wasn't a surprise when he showed up at my house today, cause I already knew that the engagement was going to be today, my parents couldn't attend since mom was receiving last of her therapy and someone has to be there to take care of them and I was glad that they will not be included in people congratulating me for my downfall.

"Do you want this sweetheart?" Marissa unexpected question pulled me out of my thoughts, I nodded monotonously just as I have been doing all this week, my gaze plastered on our hands.

She gently lifted my head by my chin, staring into my eyes for solace, I would be surprised if she found anything at all, her eyes dulled at my lifeless expression, "I have never been this happy in life before, to have you as my daughter will give me the most beautiful present, I adore you, Shana, I really do but as much as I'm selfish I know this isn't what you want and I promise you, the moment you deny to advance I'll be standing behind you there to support you." She completed and I stared at her in gratitude, she was promising me to stand up for me, even if it meant going against his son.

"Thanks," I whispered softly, keeping my fresh tears at bay, I don't want to start to cry again.

"No need to thank me, sweetheart, after all, someone has to fill up your mother's duties since she can't attend." She replied softly kissing my forehead and standing up.

"Your stylist, make up artist and hairdresser should be here any minute, make sure to wear comfortable heels, no need to carry those monstrosities to look extra, and remember to be yourself, you're empowered when you are yourself, and that's my mother-in-law's advice for me and mine for you." She said jokingly before winking at me and retreating from my room, I didn't notice until later that I was grinning by the time she left.

I deeply inhaled once I was able to pull myself together, going into the bathroom to wash my face and stop looking like a walking corpse, splashing cold water on my face somewhat soothed my numb senses and brain. Wiping my face with a towel afterwards I went back into the room, casually going through important emails on my phone, I felt horrible for leaving everything to Catherine this week, there were thousands of congratulating messages, some of them I didn't know who they were, ignoring them I carried on my task of finding any significant email.

Knocking on the door made me divert my attention from my phone, climbing down from my bed I went to open it, I found three ladies standing there, looking professional as they could be in their suit jackets and fashionable clothing, one of them was a little aged and she flashed me a big smile before joyfully introducing herself.

"It's so nice to finally meet you, Ms Rajput, I'm Gertrude Stein, your stylist and hairdresser for your engagement." She extended her hand in my direction and I accepted it, she was a famous international stylist and I wouldn't have expected anyone less than her to be sent here, Xavier was like that, I'm sure he had her interviewed before allowing her in.

"I'm delighted to make your presence Ms stein, I've heard a lot about you," I replied smiling, the least she deserved was respect.

"Trust me I too heard a lot about you! By the way, this is my assistant Hailey" she introduced a much younger girl behind her, Hailey was looking a lot of my age and I extended my hand in her direction to greet her as well.

"You're more beautiful in real life, pictures didn't do you justice." She justified seriously and I awkwardly thanked her, her words were more like a statement than a compliment.

"Don't mind her! She's like that! Always being serious." Gertrude stated and I nodded my head before turning around to the third female, she was most shy of all.

"Hi Ms Rajput, I'm Daine Walter, your assigned makeup artist," she lifted her makeup box up in gesture and I chuckled at her awkwardness.

"Thank you so much for sparing your time for me," I responded politely, her eyes suddenly went wide and she waved her empty hand furiously.

"No. It's actually my pleasure to have you as my client." She replied hastily and I smiled gratefully before swinging the door open for them, gesturing them to enter.

"Please come in." They all entered one after another, and I closed the door behind them, Gertrude turned to me smiling and tapping her fingers together in excitement. I was a little nervous about this whole process, I didn't even pick up my dress so I had no idea what to expect.

"We'll start with a bath, Hailey will run you a bath and remember to relax in there, loosen your sore and stressed muscles while I prepare everything here." She explained and I nodded following her advice, going for a bath after Hailey had prepared it for me.

By the time I came out, they were all set, Gertrude pulled me to the seat in front of the vanity table and made me sit, I did as she wanted and soon enough she started working on my hair, occasionally conversing in between.

"Mr King is lucky to have you." She said gently leaving my hair strand from the curling iron, I glanced at her through the mirror.

"You're the first one other than my family to say that he's lucky to have me and not the other way round."

"Well, what else proof do you need that people are dumb." She responded smiling mischievously.

I smiled in return, after half an hour she was finally done with my hair, they were looking different from the bird's best I was carrying in the morning, wavy and sensually flowing on my back, they even smelt amazing.

"Now I'll do your makeup," Daine started grinning and I nodded my head before settling comfortably once again, it was a long process, somewhere in between Hailey started doing my nails as well. It was overwhelming having three of them dolling me up.

When I finally opened my eyes to have a look, I was stunned to see myself, not another supermodel since I was still in my towel but the best version of mine starting back, her eyes were still void even after the makeup adding the important tinges, my nails were painted of skin nude colour.

"It's time for the dress!" Gertrude exclaimed and I turned to her in surprise when the doors opened and two men pushed a mannequin inside and positioned it in the middle of the room before swiftly departing.

The dress was beautifully stunning and shining under the warm light of the room, the nude colour of the dress matching with my nails, I was amazed by the beauty of the dress.

"Who picked it?" I asked confusedly, I never did.

"That dress is one of its kind and designed by late Giuseppe de Santis and straight out of King's personal collection, Mr king told me that he would choose the dress himself so I guess he picked it." She was even more enthralled by the dress, it was understandable since she was a famous stylist, I softly touched the dress, careful not to wrinkle or stain it. I don't even want to know how much this must cost.

Xavier had a good taste in dresses, I would give him that, but it doesn't really matter since I would've shown up in my jeans if he hadn't picked the dress.

Hailey and Daine helped me get into the dress carefully, once it was on, I turned around to see myself in the mirror and stilled, I was looking elegant and spectacular and gorgeous, everything that I wasn't in the moment. I sucked a heavy breath in to calm myself from freaking out.

"You're looking beautiful." Gertrude choked on her tears and I awkwardly turned to her in confusion as to why she was getting emotional.

"Thank you, Gertrude, please don't cry." I tried to compose her, she wiped her nose with her handkerchief.

"The dress is perfect on you. I'm sorry I shouldn't cry but I just couldn't control myself, it's a special work of a legendary stylist." She sniffled and I patted her shoulder in consolation, I guess I couldn't understand her situation.

"Your heels are here, Mrs King dropped them just now," Daine interrupted us, I smiled upon remembering Marissa and opened the sent Louis Vuitton box, heels of similar colour came out, creepers and leafs embroidered on it, I glanced at the window and my heart swelled at her thoughtful gift. I slipped into them, standing to my full height, everything was done and I was ready, only half an hour was left before the engagement ceremony would start, the plan is to exchange rings and officially announce our engagement.

"We'll be down there as well, in case anything goes wrong with your dress so feel free to move around." Gertrude acknowledged me one last time before exiting my room with others. I was left alone in my room with my overwhelmed senses and overthinking brain.

I was standing near the bed, anxiously grating my nails together, I just couldn't go down there and accept it but I had to. There will be hundreds of judging eyes gaping at me downstairs, degrading me how I wasn't good enough for him when in reality I don't even want this.

I was drowning myself in self-pity when the opening of the door pulled me out of my thoughts, smoothly turning around I saw Xavier standing there in his black tux, looking handsome as hell, sinful as the devil himself, his looks were deception to his true nature, trapping you, hypnotising you until you were enthralled and trapped deep into the hell. His dark hair looking several shades darker today, his brown eyes accessing me with intricacy, I felt my skin crawl and shiver under his gaze, I kept my eyes on his every moment.

His suit packing him and doing justification to every part of his body, he stepped in, closing the door behind him, coming closer in my direction. I neutrally stared at him continuing his way to me in trance, his eyes were clouded and there was exhaustion prominent in them. He stopped right in front of me.

"You're looking ethereally beautiful Shana." I didn't reply to his hypnotic compliment, I didn't want to talk to him after what he did to me. My hands were beside me ready to slap the f*ck out of him if he advanced, I still wouldn't let him have me.

There was a box in his hands, I diverted my gaze to it and a frown automatically contoured my face, it was the same parcel I had received for him the day Jackson tried to assault me, I thought we threw it away. Like answering my non-spoken question he opened it and a beautiful pendant set came into my sight.

"I brought it for you the other day, you were so mad at me and I didn't know how else to make you talk to me, I knew you would argue with me as soon as you see this, I would have been happy as long as you have talked to me even if meant listening to you shouting at me." He explained and I kept staring at the diamond pendant. It was a beautiful piece of art along with diamond earrings, I was a little amazed how these were able to remain intact in my and Jackson's little fight off.

"May I?" He asked and my eyes diverted to meet his. He had a hopeful tinge in them, my old self would have argued about how this was so expensive and I couldn't take it, but I didn't care about any of his gifts, they were all worthless to me, there was nothing sentimental about them and expensive things means nothing to me.

I impassively obliged by turning around and moved my hair to the side for him, I heard him sigh defeatedly before slowly placing the box on the bedside table and placing the pendant around my neck, his fingers trialling along my neck while his breath fanned my shoulder, I kept quiet, not giving away any reaction, cold metal of the pendant burned into my skin as he slowly locked it before standing back.

I stroked the pendant and turned around to him, not bothering to wear the diamond earrings since I was already wearing mine.

"I'm sorry for making you go through all this—" He whispered while staring at me, his knuckles were covered in bandages beside him, I did notice those before but I didn't care."—but I would rather have you hate me with all of you than you despising and loathing yourself forever" he completed, his eyes slightly turning red, I didn't understand what he meant and I was not interested in finding out.

"I hope you can find it in yourself someday to forgive me and even if you don't I would still be yours forever," He whispered again before softly caressing my cheek, I neutrally continued staring at him, I wanted to scream at him to stop making this all up and lying to me again but I kept my mouth shut.

"I won't let anyone harm you."

"Who will save me from You," I stated indifferently, I just couldn't stop myself from retorting at this point.

He was quiet for some time, looking down at the floor before he determinedly raised his head and answered.

"I will. I promise to never touch you without your consent again, never to hurt you again, never to disgrace you again, never to betray you again, I will be loyal to you and I will protect you from everybody including myself." His eyes never wavered from me once, lies. More lies.

"So you're telling me that you won't rape me?" I asked neutrally.

His hands dropped from my cheeks, as his face paled at my words, my mind was not filtering my words and I couldn't care less, that's what his reality actually was.

"You're telling me that you'll remain celibate if I never obliged to your desires. You'll not seek pleasure anywhere else?" I continued and he remained silent, I stepped closer to him.

"What if I slept with another man? Would you force me again? And maybe this time you won't stop." I stated.

"Stop." He whispered painfully, his eyes slowly turning blood red and his footing staggered a little.

"That's what I said, I begged you to stop, you didn't, why do you think I will forgive you? I can only offer you one thing out of this engagement and that is my darkest hatred for you, ever and forever," I replied.

"I will not be loyal to you, I will have affairs with whomever I want wherever I want, I will not leave a chance to humiliate you or hurt you. I will never be yours, you lost me the day you silently watched me wail, the day you forcefully took what you wanted and left me alone to collect the left pieces."

He was looming over me but there was not a single thing intimidating about him.

"I will not be standing beside you like you expect me to, you'll never have me anywhere near you, I will be yours but just for the name, you'll loathe this day for the rest of your whole life and I'll make sure of that," I stated, disgust flowing through my words.

"Do you still want me as your fiáncee?" I asked.

He lifted his gaze to my face, taking my hateful expressions in, he staggeredly inhaled before nodding his head and taking my hands in his softly.

"I-I'll still keep my promises." He stumbled across his words and I boringly listened to him. If this is what he wants then this is what he's going to get.

"I will too." I smiled at him while he defeatedly stared at me.

"Then let's go," I said before taking his arm in my hand, he shatteredly glanced at our conjoined hands before swiftly guiding me out of the room, everything's was posh and expensive and the corridors of the huge manor were decorated beautifully, the closer we got to the grand staircase the intense the chatter became, maintaining my posture I continued walking beside him.

The staircase was long and exquisite, embellished by tons of flowers on either side, we were standing on the top of the staircase with hundreds of eyes on us, snaps and flashes were already blinding me.

"Be careful on stairs," Xavier whispered beside me and I smirked inwardly, slightly leaning to him I murmured.

"How would you like to see your fiancee rolling down the stairs?"

He glared at me, before hissing back."Don't do anything stupid! You'll get hurt."

I smirked at his annoyed face, he was already getting irritated, does he think I'm mental to just intentionally drop down the stairs? Borderline Braindead Moron.

We descended down the stairs as flashes increased a thousandfold, his parents happily waiting downstairs, all eyes following us, I carefully placed my heels on every step, avoiding any type of possibility of tripping, his grip on my hand was a little more firm than usual, maybe he was considering my plan seriously.