The big day had finally arrived.

Zoe woke before the sun had fully risen, her heart racing with excitement and nerves. The soft morning light spilled through her bedroom windows, and she fought to calm the fluttering inside her chest. After a light breakfast, she left with her mother for the luxurious Palácio dos Cedros in São Paulo. The air there was perfumed with fresh jasmine, and the timeless beauty of the palace’s architecture seemed to whisper of romance and history. It was there, in that dreamlike setting, that she would marry Arthur.

She had returned from the United States that week glowing with happiness. Their pre-wedding photoshoot had been pure magic—stunning pictures captured in the palace gardens, her gown flowing in the breeze, her smile reflecting all the joy of a woman who knew she was about to live the greatest love of her life.

Now, the bridal suite was alive with emotion. Zoe wore a blush-pink satin robe with her name embroidered in gold across the back. Around her