BREAKING FREE: FALLING INTO THE MAFIA

I

bump in the road sent a jolt through my already tense body. The confrontation that awaited me loome

of my childhood home, I steeled myself. No more snea

night. Moonlight bathed the facade in an eerie silver glow, highlighting the cracks in the once-im

slip in unseen and avoid the inevitable showdown. But as I reached for the doorknob, a harsh click ec

il

a deep breath, I marched towards the imposing oak door and rapped my knuckles sharply against the polished wood. The

face framed by a curtain of worry lines etched deeper than

out here at this hour?" Her voice was a mere whi

d, my voice betraying t

vously over my shoulder before she finally steppe

s, felt sterile and cold. The air tasted stale, thick w

sked, already susp

y mother mumbled,

a thick, suffocating presence. Without another word, I marched towa

ing out into the hallway. Taking a deep breath,

n. The air in the room crackled with a palpable tension. Stacks of financial documents lay sc

ing out before I could stop them. The adrenaline that had fueled me

ce before morphing into a mask of steely resolve. "What do yo

I know everything," I said, my voice rising with each word. "I heard the maids

n my spine. "How dare you eavesdrop on private conversations?" he spat, his voice

know the company is on the verge of collapse, but there has to be another way out of this, not selling your own daught

e think of us? Think about my reputation, Lily. We all have to make sacrifices sometimes in our lives. You should

reputation, your company, your house. You never care about anyone or anything e

e pale and drawn. "Lily, what's going on here? Why are you yelling at your father?"

er at my father. "He was going to sell me off, marry me o

mouth. My father shot me a withering glare, his jaw clenched tight. The air in the ro

th a desperate need for control. "We were just... exploring o

ost in the cacophony of emotions swirling w

I faltered, the words catching in my throat. Shame burned in my cheeks,

other pressed, her voi

bshell revelation. "And," I continued, my voice b

e only sound breaking the suffocating stillness. My mother's face drained of color, her hand flying to her throat as if to

y father finally managed, his vo

e gaining strength with each iteration. "So, you can't

as she pressed a tissue to her lips. Her eyes, filled with a hear

his voice shaking with a mixture of anger and som

d, my voice rising to meet his. "How coul

own on me like a tidal wave. Tears streamed down my f

voice laced with bitterness. "This is about the fa

y voice raw with emotion. "There's no justification fo

oing back and forth through the study. My mother sat in stunned silen

e heated exchange. "That's enough, Lily!" he roared, his voice hoarse with an

ime in my life. "I'm not a child anymore, and I won't

lady," he growled, his eyes f

e, a mix of anger, frustration, and fear, but I wouldn't ba

won