he portraits of his ancestors hanging on the walls, the antique furniture, the perfectly polished parquet floor... Everything that had always been a symbol of

er. There was no other choice. She could no longer stay in the shadows, waiting for him to make a decision for her. She had to know where she stood, especially now that her situation had

ll of wood, the scent of ambition that had permeated this place, all of it made her sick. She knocked softly, bu

in, Au

s gaze fixed. When he saw her enter, he didn't even get up. He didn't even look at her immediately. He was probably waiting for her to speak first, for her

ter. "I told you yesterday about my pregnancy. You must

break down in front of him. She needed answers, to understand

He looked up at her, his gaze filled with cold anger. "You know what this man represents.

She had always believed that he loved her, that he would be there for her, but she was naive. She had believed that her

chance. I'm pregnant, and it's not a m

of her, imposing, almost threatening. "No, Aurelia. What you are doing is a mistake. A mistake that

his words. "Are you denying me? After everything

like an impulsive teenager, and now you want to be given a medal for it. You want

ld eventually understand that it was his duty to support her, to protect her. But no. He had rejected her without hesitation, condemning her to even greater

. It's not too late to reconsider your decision. You can prevent this from becoming public. But if you choos

on was much crueler than she had imagined. She died under his words. But she knew one th

, where she knew no one could see her. It was there, among the flowers she had planted herself as a child, that

this golden cage. She was ready to leave everything to escape this shame, this rejectio

mistake

dness in her eyes. His mother, always gentle, always understanding, but who seemed powerless

ow that, but your father... He is infle

. You are not responsible. It's him. He was the

lf be carried away by her gentleness, her love. "I'll help you, I'll do

lips. "I don't need anyone, Mom. I no longe

, determined. "There's nothing you can do. I have to leave

scape. But it was what she had to do to avoid getting further lost. She no longer wanted to be a shadow, a reflection of what she had been. She

nto the night, wi