THE WAY WE WERE BEFORE

LLA'S

of the day quite palpable. I sat stiffly on the cream-colored couch in

s folded neatly in her lap,

. He looked relaxed, but the tightness in his jaw s

gent?" Emilio's voice was sha

from one person to the other. "I'll get straight to the point," he said firmly. "It

age. That one word sucked

is was a joke. She sat motionless, her gaze fixed on the floor. Of co

pping away from the wall. His protectivenes

usso and Romano families have been allies for generations. This marri

but I forced myself to speak. "So when you say 'union,' am I the one getting into

o mine. "Yes. You will

feel dizzy. I shot up from the sofa, pull

lliance, then you'd have to find another way to get it. I am not goi

said nothing. Emilio, however, stepped

an't just marry her off like she's property. I mean, s

oth. "I do not care about your emotions, alright? I raised you both, and you'd do as I have said. This is not just

s words pressing down on me. "Duty?" I spat, my

aid coldly, as if my protests were

fall. I turned to Mama, desperate. "Mama, ple

ally, she murmured, "Bella, your father

crashing down on me. I didn't look back at m

floor, echoing in the quiet of the hallway. My heart pounded in my ears,

losely behind. "Bella, wait."

walking, not caring where I was going. I just needed to get away from hi

his hand gently touching my shoulder. "Let me

"There's nothing you can do, Emilio. It's already

ding me. "I'm not going to let them do this to you, Bella. We'

offered, though I knew deep down that