Love In The Shadows | Fred Weasley x OC

Chapter 93

Chapter 93: Planning

The Malfoy estate had always been a place of quiet grandeur. The kind of place where silence carried weight, where decisions were made behind closed doors, and where rebellion was swallowed whole by the expectations of legacy.

Today was no different.

Lucius Malfoy sat in his study, his quill gliding effortlessly across parchment as he finalized the arrangements.

The venue had been secured—the grand Laurent château in the heart of Bordeaux, a location that symbolized wealth, power, and the seamless union of two great families. The wedding date had been set, invitations already being delivered to the most prestigious names in both Britain and France.

The guest list was impeccable. Ministers, aristocrats, and high-ranking officials from the wizarding world. Every name carefully selected, ensuring that this union would be seen as nothing short of perfection.

The dress was in the works, handcrafted by the finest magical couturiers in Paris. A creation of delicate silk and enchanted lace, its design chosen without Adhara's input. Because, in Lucius's mind, what did it matter? The bride's role was to wear what was given to her, to follow the script written for her.

The cake, towering and elegant, would be charmed to perfection. The floral arrangements—pure white, untouched by imperfection—would line the halls of the château, framing the moment when Adhara Malfoy would become Adhara Laurent.

Lucius leaned back in his chair, satisfaction settling in his chest. Everything was falling into place.

Adhara would marry Max.

And this time, there would be no escape.

Adhara sat by her bedroom window in Malfoy Manor, staring at the untouched parchments in front of her.

She had spent years writing letters that would never be sent. Words filled with longing, apologies, anger, and hope—all addressed to someone who would never read them.

She had written to Fred when she first left, when the loneliness had been unbearable. She had written on nights when she had convinced herself she hated him for not coming after her. She had written when she had seen the house, the home he had built for her, and realized how much she had lost. She had written about everything.

Now, the letters sat in a neat pile. Tons of them, filled with everything she had never said.

Her hands trembled as she reached for an envelope.

For years, she had let these letters collect dust, telling herself that keeping them was enough. That knowing her feelings existed—even if they were never shared—was enough.

But it wasn't.

Because she had spent her whole life not doing things.

She hadn't fought hard enough for Fred. She hadn't stayed when she should have. She hadn't spoken when the words were screaming inside her.

And now, she was being forced into a marriage she didn't want, to a man she didn't love, in a life that would never be hers.

Adhara swallowed hard, staring down at the ink-stained pages of her past.

If she was going to lose everything, she wouldn't lose herself silently.

This time, she wouldn't have regrets.

This time, she would send them.

She carefully tied the letters together with a ribbon, her heart pounding as she sealed them. She hesitated for only a moment before picking up her quill, writing the only address she knew they needed to reach:

George Weasley, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Diagon Alley

George would understand.

And if he didn't, then at least she had tried. At least, for the first time, she had done something instead of standing in the background while her life slipped away.

Adhara glanced around her room, the weight of her choices pressing down on her.

The dress was already hanging in the corner, draped in protective enchantments. She hadn't even seen it yet. She hadn't picked the fabric, the style, the details—everything about it had been decided without her.

Because it wasn't for her.

It was for the perfect bride, the one Lucius wanted her to be.

Her entire life had been about what she was supposed to do.

Now, staring at the letters in her hands, she realized she had finally done something for herself.

She could feel her heart breaking all over again, but this time, there was a strange sense of peace beneath it.

Because now, at least, Fred would know.

Even if it didn't change anything.

Even if it was too late.

She stood abruptly, moving toward the door before she could change her mind. She wasn't going to hesitate this time.

She wasn't going to leave things unfinished.

With one deep breath, Adhara stepped out of her room, the bundle of letters clutched tightly in her hands.

And for the first time in years, she felt like she had taken back something.