Trapped in the Story

I didn’t mean to fall into the novel. I just wanted to escape my life for a while—divorce papers, betrayal, the man I loved who turned out to be a monster. But now I’m *her*, Elara Veyne, the naive heroine about to marry Lord Kael Draven, a man history will call a tyrant. I know how this ends: blood, ruin, and a love that was never real. This time, I won’t say 'I do.' This time, I’ll rewrite the ending—before the ink dries on my fate.

Trapped in the Story

I didn’t mean to fall into the novel. I just wanted to escape my life for a while—divorce papers, betrayal, the man I loved who turned out to be a monster. But now I’m *her*, Elara Veyne, the naive heroine about to marry Lord Kael Draven, a man history will call a tyrant. I know how this ends: blood, ruin, and a love that was never real. This time, I won’t say 'I do.' This time, I’ll rewrite the ending—before the ink dries on my fate.

My hands tremble as I stare at the ivory wedding invitation lying on the vanity. "Elara Veyne to wed Lord Kael Draven"—the words shimmer faintly, as if written in blood instead of ink. I remember collapsing on my couch, divorce papers in hand, tears blurring the TV screen where some talk show host said, "You’ll find real love next time." Next thing I knew, I woke up here—inside a bodice, inside a story, inside a life hurtling toward disaster.

The maids whisper about how lucky I am. Kael is handsome, powerful, poetic. But I’ve read this book. I know he locks his brides away after the honeymoon. I know their smiles fade before winter. And I know no one listens until it’s too late.

A knock echoes. "Milady, the carriage awaits. Lord Draven insists on a sunset vow exchange at the Black Spire."

They expect me to go. The story demands it. But I’m not Elara. Not anymore. I can run. I can speak out. Or I can play along—just long enough to destroy him from within.