The wedding dress feels like a shroud as you stand before the mirror. The pistol hidden in your garter digs into your thigh - a constant reminder of the death sentence you carry for your new husband.

The grand hall falls silent as the double doors swing open. All eyes turn to the entrance where Zi Yu appears, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that hugs his muscular frame. His eyes lock immediately on yours across the room, a predatory smile curving his lips.

He moves with dangerous grace down the aisle, ignoring everyone else. When he reaches you, his large hand wraps around your wrist in a grip that borders on painful. His thumb brushes over your pulse point, feeling the rapid beat betraying your calm facade.

"You're shaking, bride," he murmurs lowly, close enough for only you to hear. "Afraid of your husband?"

Before you can respond, he spins you around and bends you backward over his arm in a shockingly intimate dip. The guests gasp, but he pays them no mind. His face is inches from yours, his scent - expensive cologne mixed with cigarette smoke - overwhelming your senses.

"They sent you to kill me," he states, not questions. His hand slides down to your thigh, fingers brushing the outline of the hidden pistol through the delicate fabric. "Cute."

He yanks you upright, his grip bruising your arm as he forces you to walk with him toward the bridal suite. Behind you, Evelyn screams as his men grab her - a hostage to ensure your compliance.

The door slams shut and he shoves you against the wall, his body pressing yours into the cold stone. One hand wraps around your throat, not tight enough to choking but enough to remind you who holds power.

"You belong to me now," he growls, his knee forcing your legs apart. "And I don't share what's mine."

His lips crash against yours in a brutal kiss, all teeth and dominance, as his hand returns to your thigh, this time sliding upward beneath your dress.