With a heavy heart and a numb sense of duty, Anna agreed.

The wedding was held in Morocco — lavish, opulent, and surreal. Anna wore an ornate dress embroidered with gold thread, her hair braided with jasmine. Guests applauded, musicians played exotic melodies, and she smiled for photos she would rather forget.

As the night fell, dread began to creep in. She kept reminding herself: This is just for show. Nothing will happen.

But once the doors to the private chamber closed, everything changed.

The sheikh, though physically frail, made it clear he expected a traditional wedding night. Anna froze. Panic surged through her. She had been promised safety, but now, she realized, promises meant nothing in this world of wealth and power.