Love beyond the forbidden

age to James Thornton, but something had shifted. Every time she was with James, she felt a growing distance between them, as though he were a stranger. Their conversations were polite and formal, rev

e thoughts away. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to live in a world where she could choo

crisp autumn afternoon when they met again. Emma had gone to the market, hoping the busy str

layful tone, standing just a few feet away. His sudde

ide her surprise. "I'm just browsing," she

"It's hard, isn't it? Pretending that ev

bors and family friends. The last thing she needed was to be seen talking to Matthew, the outsider who had become the subject

e," Emma said, her voice

w him, leading her down a narrow alley that snaked behind the market stalls, away from prying

f the market were distant, almost nonexistent. Emma crossed her arms,

she said, her voice sha

his gaze unwavering. "But does it mat

harder to deny the truth. Matthew was right. She wasn't happy, and for the fi

arely audible. She wasn't sure if she wanted to hear his an

ng from you, Emma. I just want you to know that you have a choice. You don't

he had believed that her life was already set and that she had no control over her future. But here was Matthe

truly walk away from ever

m her. "It's not that simple," she said, her voice thick with frustration.

t gentle. "Who says you have to follow their rule

oundations of her existence. She had always assumed that duty and obligation were unbreakable, that her ch

g up in her eyes. "I don't know how to be a

rushing a tear from her cheek. "You're stronger than

e air was thick with tension, charged with the undeniable connection they shared. Emma

nly, stepping back and breakin

his expression resigned but understanding. "I'll

she hurried back to the market, her thoughts raced. What was she doing? She couldn't keep seeing

hake the feeling that Matthew was right. For the first time in her life,

idden love began to loom larger over her life, c