The morning light seeped through the curtains in soft golden hues, but there was no warmth in it—not for Cora. She sat on the edge of the bed, her arms wrapped around herself, as if trying to hold her world together. But it was already crumbling.
She hadn’t slept. How could she? The weight of last night hung over her like a suffocating blanket, pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Lorenzo’s mother’s words echoed in her mind, sharp as blades:
*"You will never be one of us. He was never meant to marry you."*
Her throat burned with unshed tears. She wanted to scream, to fight back, to demand answers—but Lorenzo had remained silent. He had let it happen.
Where was he now? Had he spent the night thinking of her at all? Or was he with Rachel, discussing their fut
