## Liam''s Perspective


    I strode through the hall, my steps echoing against the marble floor. Whispers rippled through the crowd like wind through tall grass. Every eye followed me. Good. Let them watch.


    "That''s him! Liam Knight!"


    "He dares toe here?"


    "Does he have a death wish?"


    I ignored them all. My focus remained singr: Isabelle. Each step brought me closer to her captors, the men who''d forced this farce of a wedding.


    The grand hall reeked of wealth—crystal chandeliers, gold-trimmed curtains, and exotic flowers worth more than most people earned in a month. All this extravagance for a celebration built on lies.


    Dashiell ckthorne stood at the altar, his expression shifting from confusion to rage. Beside him, his father Roderick maintained a practiced smile, though his eyes betrayed his rm.


    "What is the meaning of this intrusion?" Roderick''s voice carried across the hall.


    I stopped in the center of the room. "I''m here for Isabelle."


    Dashiell stepped forward, his wedding attire immacte and ridiculous. "You''re not wee here, Knight. Guards!"


    Two security men rushed toward me. I didn''t even turn to look at them. With a casual wave of my hand, golden energy shed. Both men crashed into the nearest tables, sending champagne sses shattering across the floor.


    "I said," I repeated calmly, "I''m here for Isabelle."


    Roderick''s smile tightened as he approached me. "Mr. Knight, this is a private ceremony. I must insist you leave immediately."


    "Where is she?"


    "Being prepared for her wedding, of course." Roderick''s voice remained smooth, diplomatic. "Now, if you''ve brought a gift—"


    "Actually, I have." I reached into my spatial artifact. The crowd gasped as I pulled out a long wooden coffin and dropped it on the marble floor with a heavy thud.


    Silence fell across the hall.


    "What is this?" Dashiell demanded, his face paling.


    "Your wedding gift." I kicked open the lid. "I thought you might need it soon." <em ss="meta-ref-static">Enjoy the story by reading on *.</em>


    A receptionist stepped forward, his face flushed with indignation. "Sir, this ispletely uneptable! You cannot—"


    I didn''t let him finish. My hand shot out, grabbing him by the cor. With one smooth motion, I tossed him into the open coffin. His scream cut short as hended with a thump.


    "Perfect fit," I remarked.


    The crowd erupted in shocked whispers. Several women fainted. Men reached for concealed weapons.


    Dashiell''s face contorted with rage. "You''ve lost your mind, Knight!"


    "Have I?" I turned to face him fully. "Or have you forgotten our agreement?"


    Confusion flickered across his features. "What agreement?"


    "The one where we settled this with a duel. Your life against mine. Winner takes all."


    Recognition dawned in his eyes, followed quickly by fear. He masked it with a sneer. "That childish challenge? I thought you''d realized how outmatched you are."


    "I''m here, aren''t I?" I spread my arms wide. "Unless you''re backing out?"


    Roderick stepped between us. "Gentlemen, gentlemen! Let''s not spoil this joyous asion with unpleasantness."


    "This was never meant to be joyous," I snapped. "This is a forced marriage. Isabelle never consented to this."


    Roderick''s face hardened. "Mr. Knight, I believe you misunderstand. This is a celebration! In fact..." He turned to address the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, what you''re witnessing is part of tonight''s entertainment! A theatrical performance to amuse our guests!"


    Nervousughter rippled through the crowd. Some guests visibly rxed, believing the tension was staged.


    "This isn''t entertainment," I said coldly. "This is a reckoning."


    Dashiell adjusted his cuffs, regaining someposure. "If you insist on this duel, Knight, at least wait until the reporters arrive. I want witnesses when I crush you."


    "Always performing for an audience," I sneered. "Afraid to face me alone?"


    "Afraid?" Dashiellughed. "Of you? A disgraced former son-inw? Don''t tter yourself."


    I turned away from him, scanning the crowd. "Where''s Corbin Ashworth?"


    A murmur passed through the guests before they parted, revealing Corbin standing near the back. His face was a mask of hatred.


    "Knight," he spat. "You''ve got nerve showing up here."


    I walked toward him slowly. "Where''s Isabelle?"


    "None of your concern." Corbin folded his arms. "She''s where she belongs—far from you."


    "I''ll ask one more time." My voice dropped dangerously low. "Where is Isabelle?"


    "She''s preparing to marry into a family worthy of the Ashworth name." Corbin''s eyes narrowed. "The ckthornes offer connections, wealth, status—everything youck."


    "Everything except her choice," I countered. "You can''t force her to love him."


    "Love?" Corbin scoffed. "What use is love in building power? Marriages like this forge alliances, secure futures. Her feelings are irrelevant."


    My hands clenched into fists, golden energy crackling between my fingers. "Her feelings are the only thing that matters."


    "Step back, Knight." Corbin raised a hand, and a dozen armed security guards appeared behind him. "You''re outnumbered and outmatched."


    I didn''t move. "Numbers didn''t help your menst time, did they?"


    Corbin''s face darkened at the reminder of his previous defeats. "This ends today. You will not interfere with this wedding."


    "Watch me." I took another step closer. "I don''t care how many men you''ve hired or what connections you have. I''m leaving with Isabelle."


    "She belongs to the Ashworth family!" Corbin shouted, losing hisposure. "Her duty is to strengthen our position!"


    "She belongs to herself," I growled. "And I promised to free her from men like you."


    Corbin''sugh was bitter. "Free her? With what? You have nothing to offer her."


    "I have everything she wants—choice, respect, love." I stepped even closer, until we were almost nose to nose. "What do you offer? Captivity disguised as duty?"


    Behind us, guests began quietly edging toward the exits. They recognized the dangerous line we were walking. This was no longer a disrupted wedding but the prelude to violence.


    "Security!" Roderick called from across the room. "Remove this man immediately!"


    Guards approached from all sides, weapons drawn. I ignored them, my eyes fixed on Corbin.


    "Last chance," I said. "Where is Isabelle?"


    Corbin''s smile was cold. "You''ll never see her again. The ceremony proceeds in one hour, with or without your interference."


    Something inside me snapped. The golden energy surrounding my body intensified, causing several guards to step back involuntarily. The marble floor cracked beneath my feet as power surged through me.


    "Corbin Ashworth," I said, my voice carrying to every corner of the silent hall, "let me tell you, no matter what, today I will take Isabelle away. Anyone who tries to stop me..." I looked around slowly at the assembled guards and guests, "will be killed without mercy!"