The New York sky that afternoon was clear, too clear for a day that held so many illusions. A gentle breeze from the East River blew gently, carrying the scent of white roses neatly arranged along the path to St. Claire Church—a sacred place, the place where Victor Reys stood at the altar, waiting for the woman who, in his mind, would be his forever.

Everything seemed perfect.

Victor gazed at the altar covered with white flowers—the color of purity, serenity, but to him it was more than that. White was a symbol of ownership, a sign that something sacred would soon be his.

Today, Cassandra Evelyn would be his in every sense of the word.

He wanted her not just to be loved. He wanted her to be his. Forever.

And that day, that dream seemed to come true.

As the church bells chimed softly, he closed his eyes for a moment. The air was filled with the scent of fresh flowers, and sunlight filtering through the stained glass created a halo around the altar—as if the heavens themselves were blessing the day. He opened his eyes slowly, and there, at the end of the hallway, the large doors opened. A white shadow began to walk inside. Each of Cassandra's steps felt like a slow dance in frozen time. The dress shimmered in the light, her thin shawl moving gently in the breeze.

Meanwhile, Cassandra stepped closer to the altar, and Victor got closer to the happiness he'd been waiting for.

When their hands finally touched in front of everyone, Victor felt the world stop for a moment. Her skin touched his. Warm. Soft. Real. A legal possession, sanctioned by law, by God, by a sacred promise.

Organ music played. Rings circled their fingers. Small smiles spread among the guests. But in Victor's eyes, it wasn't just a wedding. It was the end of a long wait and the beginning of the possession he'd waited his entire life for. As everyone stood and applauded, Victor kissed her gently on the lips. The kiss was soft, but behind it was an almost frightening power. He closed his eyes, feeling a sense of contentment he'd never felt before.

"Thank you, Cass."

He whispered softly before pulling back his hand for a moment, pressing his lips to it reverently, as if sealing himself completely.