Chapter 18: The Weight Of Betrayal
Lilia's lips trembled as she bit down hard, trying to keep the tears from spilling over. Her chest felt heavy, suffocating with the weight of everything she was about to lose. She sat rigid, her voice a fragile thread as she spoke, "Father, Mother... I don't want to go." The words tumbled out, slipping from her before she could think better of them.
She didn't want to go anywhere—especially not to someone she barely knew. Her mind raced with the unbearable truth of her situation, memories from her earlier bubbling to the surface. A part of her wished to run, to disappear into the walls of their cold, sterile house. But there was no escape. Not now.
Her mother's warning echoed in her mind: He's dangerous. Lilia knew her mother far too well. When her mother called someone dangerous, she meant it—every syllable wrapped in unspoken warning. Yet now, the very man she'd deemed a threat was the one they were forcing Lilia to meet.
Lilia could feel the gaze of her parents on her, heavy and suffocating. Her mother's eyes narrowed, the usual softness replaced by a cold, implacable fury. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and when she spoke, her voice was like steel, each word cutting through the silence. "What more do you want? He's powerful, rich—far wealthier than your sister's fiancé."
Sabrina's face tightened, her composure slipping for just a moment, the mask of confidence she usually wore faltering. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Lilia saw it she always did.
Then, as quickly as it appeared, Sabrina masked it with a practiced smile, straightening her back as though nothing had changed.
Her mother's gaze flicked to Lilia, a dangerous gleam in her eyes as she added, "And now, you dare to act ungrateful?"
Her voice rose, sharp and accusatory, each syllable biting like ice. Lilia flinched as her mother's hand lifted, ready to strike. The space between them seemed to stretch, and for a heartbeat, Lilia braced herself.
But before the slap could land, her father's voice cut through the tension like a blade.