CHAPTER TWENTY THREE – TURNING A NEW LEAF

The clinking of silverware against china sounded hollow in the vast dining room. Sunlight streamed through the French doors, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Karina sat stiffly across from her parents, her wedding dress crumpled beside her on the chair. It felt like a foreign object, a cruel reminder of the sham of the previous day. "More coffee, Karina?" her mother asked, voice hesitant. Karina shook her head, her gaze fixed on the untouched plate of eggs in front of her. "No thanks, Mom." The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken apologies. Her father, usually so boisterous, cleared his throat uncomfortably. "About yesterday…" "There's a lot to unpack, isn't there?" Karina said, her voice flat. "The Hogans, Kayla's betrayal…" Anger simmered beneath the surface, threatening to boil over. Her mother reached across the table, placing a hand on hers. "We were wrong, Karina. About Matthew, about forcing you into this. We let everyone manipulate us – the Hogans, society'