Chapter 3: Destiny has been sealed.

"Axel, I'm happy to see you again," Princess Elara said, tears streaming down her face as she stared at the flat screen, displaying Simon's face, whom she saw as Axel. In the end, Elara threw a vase at the television, hoping to free Axel. The commotion brought the guards standing outside the treatment room door rushing in.

"Let me go! I want to see Axel!" Elara screamed, her voice trapped in Zuri's form. If she couldn't be with Axel before, maybe this was her destiny. She would never let go of that chance.

Suddenly, a fierce headache pounded in Princess Elara's head, and when she closed her eyes, flashes of Zuri's memories flooded her mind: all of Zuri's memories of Simon, her love for him, and her forced engagement to a man named Liam. Sadness mixed with anger boiled in Elara's chest. Two wounded souls, hers and Zuri's, now intertwined. She fainted again as the memories imprinted themselves onto her mind.

Elara didn't know how long she had slept. She opened her eyes and found herself still in the same place, trapped in the body of this girl named Zuri. It seemed Elara was starting to accept her fate; in this new world, she could be with Axel again.

"How are you feeling?" a man's heavy voice inquired. Zuri turned in her bed. It was the man who had appeared in her memories before she fainted.

"Dad," Zuri murmured, recognizing him. Elara would have to get used to calling this man "Dad" now that she was Zuri.

"I'm not okay," Zuri said curtly, refusing to meet her father's gaze. Elara, accustomed to the freedom of a princess, bristled at this forced control.

Zuri's father, Mr. Walter Harrison, smiled sarcastically. He had heard the doctor's report that his daughter had suffered memory loss, but it seemed she was back to her old, rebellious self.

"Are you still thinking about Simon?" His voice was deep, laced with warning. "A coward like him is not the right man for you, Zuri. Do I have to ruin his modeling career for you to finally realize that?"

Zuri remained silent."Even though you are in pain now, my decision will never change. You will marry Mr. Liam in three weeks. Everything has been arranged. Don't try to run away or do anything to jeopardize this marriage. I don't play games when I want to destroy someone. I'm doing this for your own good." Mr. Walter's words were absolute.

"Dad, I don't want to marry Mr. Liam! How can you marry me off to that horrible old man?" Zuri's voice shook with anger.

"Don't be silly, Zuri. This marriage isn't about your love or desires. It's about your future and our family," he snapped, then turned and walked away, leaving Zuri alone with her thoughts.

Zuri was allowed to go home two weeks before the wedding, but a nurse was hired to care for her during her recovery.

With the help of the nurse, Elara, who was now Zuri, learned about things she didn't know in this new world. The nurse thought Zuri had memory loss, so she innocently taught her without suspecting that it was not Zuri's true soul.

With the nurse's help, she found a news article saying that Simon would be attending a fashion show in the city. This is a golden opportunity for her. However, how can she escape?

The next day, Zuri pretended to be obedient in front of her father. She nodded at all the instructions about the wedding, as if accepting her destiny. However, deep down, she was planning her escape.

That night, under the cover of darkness, she slipped out, her heart racing between fear and excitement at the prospect of meeting Simon.

"To the fashion show downtown," she said to the taxi driver who nodded and got the car moving.

But Zuri was surprised when the taxi circled back to the house. Her father was waiting at the gate.

"Sorry Miss, I still want to live," said the taxi driver with a scared face. Finally Zuri understood that this must be her father's doing.

She paid the driver and got out of the taxi.

Mr. Walter smiled when he saw Zuri. He became suspicious when Zuri dutifully cooperated in the wedding preparations and began to watch Zuri's every move.

"Have you been around enough?" Mr. Walter asked, but Zuri did not answer and walked straight into the house, her father following her until they reached the living room.

"Get some rest. Your wedding is tomorrow, not in two weeks," her father said as if driving a dagger into her heart.

"I don't want to marry him! Or I'll kill myself if you force me to!" Zuri made her final threat, echoing the desperation Princess Elara felt when she was forced to marry Tristan, which ended in suicide.

"Do it if you dare. Because if you do, I won't just ruin Simon's modeling career. I'll make sure he and his entire family can't get a job anywhere. And they will blame you for the rest of their lives. Mr. Walter spoke very coldly. There was no room for negotiation.

Zuri fell silent, her eyes welling with tears.

She broke a few things in her room and hurt herself, but her anger did not move Mr. Walter. The wedding would take place the next day.

The next day, Zuri was wearing a simple white dress. Her wounded hand was treated, and she refrained from killing herself, haunted by the image of her father's threats against Simon and his family.

"Don't try anything stupid at the wedding, or I'll make sure Simon's career ends today, leaving nothing for him and his family," Mr. Walter warned as they got out of the car.

In front of the entrance stood a bald man in formal attire, looking like a groom, his neck showing tattoos and scars on his face, with a dark smile. Is this the groom? Zuri wondered silently, remembering the rumors.

The man invited them in, further convincing Zuri that he was the groom.

With her father's arm, Zuri was escorted down the aisle.

There were no guests, just a few people who seemed like guards. The woman claiming to be Zuri's mother wasn't there either. A truly private wedding. Zuri hung her head, feeling as if she would rather die. Or would she try to take her life once more? But what about Simon's career?

The wedding ceremony began.

"Lift your head, Miss. We're about to start," the priest said gently, and Zuri reluctantly lifted her head. When she looked ahead, her face froze. She wanted to die all over again. Standing in front of her was not the bald man, but a handsome face strikingly similar to Prince Tristan's.

Zuri was shocked. "You, why did you follow me here?" Zuri asked the man in front of her, a shocked look still dominating her face.

"Zuri, he's Liam, your groom," Mr. Walter leaned in and informed her about the man, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Prince Tristan.

Zuri was at a loss. Her life felt like a game. She thought she would never see the face she despised, but here she was, facing her fiancé's murderer again.

The priest's first sentence was no longer ignored. She just stared at Liam, who looked at her with indifference.

"Liam Hayes, do you take Zuri Harrison to be your lawful wedded wife to love and cherish for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"Yes, I do."

The priest then turned to Zuri, asking the same question.

A long silence hung in the air before her lips parted. Her heart, the heart of Princess Elara, cried out for Axel. But the memory of her father's threat silenced her. Zuri had no choice. Her voice trembling, she finally whispered,

"Yes... I do."

The words felt like a sharp knife piercing her heart. Her whole being rebelled, but her body had surrendered to fate. Whether in the past or the present, she was still bound to a man who looked like Prince Tristan.

The same feeling of cold bondage crawled up her skin as Liam slipped the ring onto Zuri's finger.

With a heavy hand and a broken heart, she returned the favor and placed the ring on Liam's finger.

"Now, in the presence of God, I declare that Liam Hayes and Zuri Harrison are now lawfully joined as husband and wife. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder."

As the priest's words echoed through the church, Zuri felt like she was drowning in a deep, dark ocean.

"You may kiss the bride," the priest announced.

Zuri was stunned, her heart rebelling but her body helpless. When Liam's lips touched hers, Zuri could no longer hold back the tears that began to flow.

"I hate tears," a voice whispered, cold and sharp.

Zuri flinched, confusion clouding her tear-filled eyes. Liam hadn't spoken, his expression remained unchanged. Whose voice was that?

Outside, the church bells chimed as if to seal their intertwined destinies.