us night with Lucas came flooding back. However, a wave of regret washed over me. I had allowed myself to be car

ionally as well. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm my racing heart. I wished I could turn back time,

s Blackwood? Why him? There were countless other men who were mor

right now!" a voice called out

our village chief. My family was overprotective, often likening men to bees eager to taste the nectar of my flower. They would do anything to keep th

hol for what happened, but I knew that wouldn't be fair. After all, it was my decision to approach Lucas at th

n on the bedsheet was a stark reminder of what had transpired between us. It was a o

to the window, pulling back the drapes to see what was happening outside. As I lost myself in my thoughts,

e doing in

unreadable, but I could sense a storm brewing behind his eyes. Initially, I had hoped he was here to court me, but the anger and frustration in his gaze told a different story. I g

Lucas said, his voice c

" I replied, trying t

night? How could you just give yourself to me after getting d

feigning innocence. I tried to pull

He proceeded to berate me, attacking my upbringing, my

e?" I asked, genuinely

hadn't challenged me last night, none o

ed me, leaving me on the verge of tears. I was shattered by the regret of having given my first intimate experienc

?" I pleaded, "If you regret last n

pat out with venom, hi

ge I couldn't understand. I had expected kindness, perhaps an apology, but instead, I was met with anger and scorn. The man I had admired for

? You enjoyed last night, didn't you, Zara?" His

s angry gaze. His insults were too

k advantage of my vulnerability," I said, my voice bare

ht? Don't even think about crossing me...or I

endure his verbal insults, but to have him pay me as if I were a commodity was beyond h

, my voice choked with emotion

eeping with you, and that's not fair. Do you k

ering our indiscretion was palpable. I felt insignificant and pathetic. Ho

ted to sleep with me or anyone else," I countered, my voice shaking. His eyes narrowe

Zara!" h

isappeared from view, my knees buckled under the weight of what had just happene

quiries. I didn't have the strength to respond. Instead, I retrea

in between. It was dull, but I didn't care. Antoinette would occasiona

e there - the nausea, the fatigue. I confirmed my suspic

ing a single mother myself was unbearable. I tried to keep it a secret, but somehow, my grandfather found out. The ti

own. But he was relentless. He turned his disappo

ou raise her right? Why is history repeating it

not dwell on it," Mom pleaded, trying to s

daughter, and now you're making the same mistakes! Was it too much to a

ad hurled at me. The pain of being used and degraded

as all I could

raised you to learn from your mother's mistakes, Zar