Tangled Loyalties

3: BEHIND

of expectation. She had always known that marrying into the Lakosta family would come wi

he was living a lie. She was engaged to a man she didn't truly love, and she

e feelings and desires. She was trapped in a life that wasn't

tion wash over her. She didn't know how m

s, hanging on the wall like a specter. She felt a shiver run down her spine as

n. She had tried it on countless times, but she still could

heryl heard a knock at the door. It wa

oing?" Leila asked, b

h over her. She was grateful to have Leila i

ing to sound casual. "Just dealin

brow, her eyes spar

out marrying Jude?" Leila ask

ew that Leila was trying to get her to open up, to

lly, feeling a sense of frustration. "I just feel s

r eyes filled wi

remember that you have the power to change your life. You do

Leila was right, but she also knew that it wouldn't be easy

sh over her. She knew that she had to make a decision, to choose betwe

uldn't do it alone. She needed her friend's support

feeling a sense of gratitude. "Just

er eyes sparkli

Leila said. "Now, let's get out of he

over her. She knew that with Leila by her sid

hadn't felt in months. She knew that she still had a long way to go, but wi