Page 23 of Of Vows and Betrayal

“…the delivery at Little Island is crucial,” my father says, his voice carrying the weight of authority. “We can’t afford any mistakes.”

I take a few steps back, intending to leave, but my foot catches the edge of a console table. A vase topples and shatters on the floor, the sound splintering the silence. The conversation inside stops abruptly.

“Who’s there?” My father’s voice is sharp, and I can almost feel his fury radiating through the door.

The door swings open, and my father’s eyes blaze with anger as he sees me standing amid the shards of the broken vase. He’s not alone; several of his associates, men whose faces are etched with the harsh lines of their trade, turn to look at me.

“Ophelia.” My father’s voice is icy, slicing through the tension. “I told you to stay away from my office during meetings.”

“And you promised to keep my store,” I shoot back, bitterness lacing my words. “Looks like we both broke our promises.”

His face flushes a deep red. “It’smystore, Ophelia! My store! And I think it’s time to let it go. You keep going back there?—”

“It’s my home!” I shout, my voice cracking with emotion.

He slams his hand on the desk, the sharp sound echoing through the tense room. “No, it’s not.Thisis your home.Thisis your life!” His words reverberate with finality.

The room falls silent, the men shifting uncomfortably.

“Dad, don’t,” I plead, my anger giving way to desperation. “Midsummer Petals is all I have left of Mom.”

His face softens for a moment, a glimmer of regret in his eyes, but it’s quickly replaced by the hardened resolve ofa Mafia boss. “You need to let it go, Ophelia. We have more important things to focus on.”

I shake my head, tears welling up. “Important toyou, maybe. But not tome.”

A knock redirects his attention toward the door. “I’m coming. Get the car ready,” he says before turning toward me. “What I’m doing now is important for you, for your safety and the place of this family within the organization. You may act like this is not your life, but it is, and everything I’m doing is to ensure our survival.”

“Dad…”

He sighs, walks around his desk to the door, then stops, hand on the doorknob. His expression hardens, unyielding. “I’ve been too lenient with you, Ophelia. It’s time you remember your place.”

I struggle to understand this sudden switch in his demeanor, but I know better than to question him now. The fire in his eyes warns me to tread carefully.

“Your cousin Sophia will help with that,” he says, a note of finality in his voice.

I know Sophia too well; her saccharine smile always hides a sharp blade, every word designed to cut. I brace myself, already anticipating that any interaction with her will only fuel her cruelty. Her perfectly coiffed hair and designer clothes complement the venom in her eyes..

“Tomorrow, you’ll go shopping with her,” he continues, ignoring the protest forming on my lips.

“I already have plans,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

“No,” he snaps, cutting me off as he opens the door. “You will go with her tomorrow, or I’ll take away your guard and stop pretending I don’t know all the rules you break. Then we’ll see how you like it.”

I can’t believe his transformation. Just moments ago, he was promising to protect me, and now he’s throwing me to the wolves. My heart aches with the betrayal.

I tighten my fists, feeling Jeremy’s loss even more now. If I had my way, this whole issue would be nothing more than a bad dream.

I retreat to my room, my sanctuary, letting the tears flow. The weight of my father’s words and the threat of losing Midsummer Petals crush me. I feel powerless, trapped in a world that doesn’t care about my dreams or my past.

The next morning, I meet Javier in the hall. He takes one look at me and frowns, immediately sensing my tension.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice gentle but concerned.

I shake my head. “Nothing, just a change of plans. I have to go shopping with my cousin,” I say, hoping the reluctance in my voice isn’t as obvious to him as it is to me.

“Shopping?” He twists his mouth to the side. “We can’t really say it worked for you last time.”

“No, but this time I have you.”

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