as she stood frozen, watching her

lse's nightmare. One where everything was

voice cracked through

this to your twi

fore she could even defend herself, her father's hand fl

xploding across her cheek and s

gasped as the sting tore through her, but it wasn't the wo

?" he spat, voice l

ning cheek, her vision blurred by tears.

thundered. "You drugged your siste

ren choked, her voice bar

ening. The room was

" her father continued, his rage intensify

before another blow could land, her mother ste

d, eyes wide with panic. "You're goi

ed, yanking his arm away.

the room was closing in on her. She couldn't breathe.

he was the only one who could prevent Bryan f

it would only

idn't love B

elieve it was for t

k burning and her father calling her

ed to protect her. Th

as th

ing. "You all knew. You agreed. Karel said sh

r father stepped forward ag

ve ruined everything! Do you even realize what B

breath

at wa

ver even about Karel. It was abou

had done... she

ere ready to de

nding beside Bryan. Her hand slipp

my sister. She didn't know what she was doing. She's never had a man in her

blood tu

oman she had loved and protecte

ord was calculated. Every glance rehearsed. Karen could se

age and heartbreak fighti

second, she thought she saw something-doubt, maybe. Or guilt.

he right time to discus

let them humiliate me. You

to your room, Karen. And if I see you here again,

d. She had no room to a

ed around the room-at her father, still seething with rage. At her mother, silent and a

ord, Karen turned

mud. Heavy. Suffocating. Her body

until she reache

learned some respect!" her fat

open and stepped out

ease the heat of humiliation burning in her chest. She di

et. Her phone buzzed in her hand, but she didn'

best friend. The only one

ent to v

. And

gnoring

g away tears. Of course. Of cou

thought was rea

r her bare shoulders or the way her heels scraped the pavement. Her mind replayed

of neon lights caught

king type. But toni

as nearly empty-just a few people scattered at booths, t

elbows on the counter, trying to

ila," she said, v

didn't question her. He poured t

ed at it f

icked it u

eyes water, but she welcomed it.

other sip.

est dulled. Her vision blurred slightly. T

she wasn't

just e

rd time, she couldn't feel her legs. Her

'am, I think you've had enough.

nked slow

oice

o her hand-the wedding

to tear it off. But her f

ke through again. "Your h

t want to

t want to

w... she had

d over her phone. "Please. Ju

d away to make the call

now if Bryan

s too tire