BENEATH THE FACADES

responsibilities. As the sole heir to the family business, she had always known that her life would

elt trapped, like a bird in a gilded cage. Her parents' voices drifted from the living room,

called, her voice dripping with false sweetn

the center of the room. Her father stood beside her, his expression st

t sinking. She knew that tone, that look. I

mpson," her father announced, his voice firm

d in the gut. She struggled to brea

r voice smooth as silk. "The Thompson have a significant stake

t to accept the arrangement. Her parents had always made it c

Emily protested, a spark of

er said, his expression unyielding. "Richard i

mpson- ruthless, cunning, and calculating. Not exactly the

knew better than to mention it. Her parents didn't believe

the gut. "What? Why?" she repeated, tr

t's for the good of the family. The Thompsons have a significant st

who hadn't? He was the eldest son of the wealthy and influential Th

ly asked, trying to k

a capable and intelligent young man. He'l

ng about, her future. She didn't want to be married off to som

gue. Her parents had made up t

t him?" Emily

r replied. "At the Thompson

trapped in a nightmare. She couldn'

of herself in the mirror. She looked pale and

through this, somehow. But as she walked away, she couldn't