The next morning, Alina stood before the mirror longer than necessary. She had spent weeks wearing bland dresses and tying her hair in matching ribbons.
And where had that gotten her?
A future decided without her. A husband she had never met. A life already signed away in ink she hadn't written.
She imagined herself in the eastern territories married to a stranger. She would have to spend the rest of her life according to what Austin had decided and because Audrey had written letters that no one had asked her for.
Her chest tightened. She remembered Austin's words from last night when he told her he is getting married in a few weeks and that being useful, wouldn't change anything.
I need to change my strategy.
She turned away from the mirror and opened the wardrobe. Dresses in different colours hung in a row neatly. She pushed past them to the back, where the red dress hung. It was her favourite.
