d of my phone made my pulse quicken, drawing my

t a second thought. "Hello, Mom," I said,

d demanding. "I know you're not at Emma's place

made me suspect she might have seen the video. My guilty conscience twisted inside me, reminding me of t

e just said, "Okay," and ended the call. Trying to calm my nerves, I lean

t, with only a few neighbors outside. I lowered my gaze, hoping to avoid any eye contact that might lead to

s. Carlos, should I wait until you're ready to go ba

their own business turned their attention toward

and shutting the door behind me. I leaned against it, trying to catch my breath. Aft

er sitting on the couch, her phone in hand. "What's this?" she asked, her eye

mind raced, trying to come up with an

tarted, but s

is probably talking about it by now!" Her voice was firm, but there

me. "It's not what it looks like," I said weakly, th

parently getting engaged to some stranger in a club!" My mother sto

know, Mom. I didn't even realize what was happening unti

back down and rubbing her temples. "You need to fix this, Veronica. This... this isn

ettle over me. "I'm sorry, Mom. I know. I'l

o have to face the consequences, Veronica. But whatever hap

. I felt a deep sense of guilt, not just for

her voice gentler now. "We'l

ned out differently. Ever since I moved to Canada to stay with her bec

ad upstairs. The moment I got to my room, I fell face-first into my pillow and

you can't just wake up in a man's bed naked and think nothing happened. You sl

. I rolled my eyes-I have had enough drama for one day. I switched off my phone and tossed

Oh no, don't tell me the internet scandal has come right to my apartment. I mumbled to

utation. The internet is already

we just made fifty million, and with the way things are going, it's

g in the single-seater couch, her fingers intertwined,

y elder sister, in a car accident. After that, my mother suffered abuse from my father, who blamed h

llness. I had to leave Ohio and come to Canada to be with her after an urgent call. She had been doing okay,

chair, and I could tell she was

r mansion and let the whole marriage facade continue

I knelt beside her, making eye contact. "It's going to be alright,