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Amelia's POV

As I stood at the reception, exchanging forced smiles and polite conversation, Anna's voice cut through the din. "Congratulations, Amelia!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of joy and concern. I pasted on a bright smile, trying to match her enthusiasm.

 Today was my wedding day, after all. The day I would commit to spending the rest of my life with a man my parents, Reginald and Catherine Gerard, had chosen for me. They were wealthy and influential, with a legacy that spanned generations. At 85 and 82, respectively, they were determined to see me settled with a man of their approval. A man I couldn't imagine ever truly loving.

As I glanced around the crowded room, my gaze collided with an intense stare. Ricardo Gonzales, my cousin's son, stood across the room, his eyes burning with an unnerving intensity. I felt a shiver run down my spine as our gazes held, the air thick with unspoken tension. I broke eye contact, and a stream of congratulations from my parents' friends followed. After they dispersed, I discreetly scanned the reception, searching for him. But he was nowhere to be found. I turned my attention back to my husband, forcing a smile as we continued with the festivities.

As the wedding celebration came to a close, my parents pulled me into a warm hug. "Be good to your husband," my mom whispered. I nodded, smiling, and hugged them both tightly. I bid farewell to my friend Anna, who whispered a mischievous comment in my ear: "Make sure you lose your v-card tonight, old lady!" I burst out laughing.

After hugging Ethan's parents, we slipped into our car. As we drove away, I couldn't shake off the image of Ricardo's intense gaze. It had left me with an unsettling, yet unexplainable connection – one I'd never felt before.

Ethan turned to me, concern etched on his face. "Are you good?" he asked. I forced a smile, nodding. "Yes." But deep down, I wasn't so sure.

Guilty thoughts swirled in my mind like a vortex, threatening to consume me. I was married now, bound to Ethan Thompson, a man I didn't love. The weight of my decision settled heavily on my conscience.

Ethan, in his late forties, was one of the richest men in the country, with a business empire that spanned the globe. His gentle demeanor had initially put me at ease, but there was something about him that didn't quite add up. A nagging feeling I couldn't shake, but tried to brush it off, convincing myself he was nice, and that was all that mattered.

He was a man of few words, his silence often leaving me wondering what lay beneath his reserved exterior.

But despite my efforts to focus on my new husband, my thoughts kept drifting back to Ricardo – a man who was not only a distant family member, but also seemed younger than me. The memory of his piercing gaze lingered, making my heart skip a beat.

The fact that my parents had chosen Ethan for me, controlling every aspect of my life, only added to my resentment. And now, I found myself torn between the obligations of my arranged marriage and the forbidden allure of Ricardo. The turmoil brewing inside me threatened to spill over, and I didn't know how much longer I could keep up the charade.

Ricardo's POV

Amelia looked breathtakingly beautiful in her wedding gown, her porcelain skin glowing in the soft light. I couldn't tear my eyes away, my gaze drinking in every detail. I'd known her for ten years, but at this moment, she seemed like a stranger – a stranger who stirred something deep within me.