THE WAY WE WERE BEFORE
LLA'S
so slow. I sat stiffly on the cream-colored couch in my fathe
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 stood up from the sofa, pul
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 an Item. I mean, sh
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
. "I'm not going to let them do this to you, Bella. We'll f
offered, though I knew deep down that