The sight of him seated beside her father ignited a storm of contempt within her. Once, she had surrendered her heart to this man—the boy every girl at school had coveted—but now, sharing a table with him felt suffocating, as though her chest might shatter at any moment. She fled to her room, slamming the door as tears streamed down her face. If only her parents—especially her father—would release their judgment, she could choose Michael Williams over Alfredo Verano without guilt haunting her every breath.