CHAPTER 7: TORN BETWEEN LOVE AND BETRAYAL

"You should marry someone else. Forget about Terry." Cecilia's blue eyes widened as she stared at her grandmother, Tatiana, sitting across the living room. The words that had just left the older woman's mouth felt like a sledgehammer to her chest. Her pulse quickened. Her fingers clenched into fists on her lap, nails digging into her palms as if the physical pain might distract her from the storm building inside. She blinked, her breath shallow. "What?" Tatiana's wrinkled face remained calm, her steely gaze locking onto Cecilia's. "I said, you need to marry this man. It's the only way to remove the shame." "Shame?" Cecilia felt her throat tighten, her Adam's apple bobbing painfully as she swallowed. "I'm in love with Terry! How can you—" She shook her head, cheeks flushing with hurt and fury. "No! I won't do it!" Her voice rose, trembling on the verge of hysteria. Her mother, seated beside her, sighed heavily, rubbing her temples as if Cecilia's defiance was giving her a headache.