Anna was only nineteen when her life was turned upside down by a decision she never wanted. Born in a small Ukrainian village, she grew up knowing the taste of hard work — early morning chores, helping in the vineyard, caring for her younger brothers. Her family owned a modest winery, but debts, poor harvests, and economic crises pushed them to the brink of ruin.

That’s when a man appeared with an offer that sounded like a lifeline — Sheikh Tariq Ibn Rashid, one of the richest men in Morocco, a seventy-five-year-old billionaire. His condition was as simple as it was shocking: he would pay off all the debts, save the family winery… but Anna had to become his wife.

For a family staring at complete financial collapse, it was a deal with fate itself. The contract was signed, the papers sealed, and Anna — with a suitcase full of modest dresses and a heart full of dread — found herself in the hot, bustling city of Marrakesh.

The palace where she was taken looked like something out of an Arabian fairytale. Towering carved doors, mosaic floors, the scent of sandalwood in the air — it dazzled and frightened her at the same time. Servants bowed respectfully, but their eyes held a silent curiosity. She felt less like a bride and more like a prisoner.

Anna tried to convince herself that this marriage would be only a formality, that the old man was merely looking for company. But the cold stares of his lawyers and the silent, meticulous preparations for the wedding shattered that illusion.

The evening came. Gold bracelets jingled on her wrists with every movement, and beneath the light fabric of her wedding gown, she felt her body trembling. The corridors of the palace had gone silent, as if the air itself was holding its breath.

When the doors to her chamber opened, she saw Tariq. He walked slowly but with the confidence of a man who always got what he wanted. His eyes, despite his age, burned with a strange intensity. He didn’t greet her — he simply said:

— Take it off.

Every step he took brought the moment she feared closer. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might break free from her chest.

He came closer and sat beside her. His breathing was heavy, his presence overwhelming. And then… everything happened differently than she had expected.

Tariq stopped, studied her face carefully, and said in a quiet voice:

— You’re afraid. I can see it.

The words were unexpectedly gentle. He stood up, walked to the window, poured himself a glass of water, and without turning around, added:

— Tonight, we will only talk. You will have time to get used to me.

Anna could hardly believe her ears. All the terrifying stories she’d heard about forced marriages began to crumble in an instant. Instead of cold dominance, there was patience. But that night, she realized something far more unsettling — this was only the beginning.

Tariq told her about losing his first wife many years ago and how he had never found peace since. His life was full of power and wealth, but the emptiness inside him grew with each passing year. He wasn’t looking for a mere arrangement; he wanted someone who could make him feel alive again.

For Anna, it was a revelation. She still felt fear, but alongside it came curiosity. And somewhere deep inside, a dangerous thought began to take root — that her life might follow a path she would never have chosen… yet one that could change her forever.

That wedding night did not mark the end of her freedom. It marked the beginning of a story where power, money, and emotions would intertwine — until neither of them could ever return to the life they once knew.