Chapter 3 03

« It's not dad, it's me. » I look up to see my mother standing in the doorway, her face softer than I've ever seen it. I shake my head, unable to hold back the frustration that churns inside me.

« Are you in on this too? » My voice cracks, and her features soften even further, but I can see the regret in her eyes. It's not enough to calm me. Not yet.

« I don't like the idea of my 18-year-old daughter getting married either, but it's for all of you, Claudia. Your father doesn't want to do this, but he has to-for all of us. We owe Isaac money, and we weren't paying up because we didn't have enough. He threatened to take all of our assets, so we had to make a treaty between us. Please understand. » Her voice trembles, as though she's holding back tears of her own.

I stare at the floor, my mind racing. My heart is pounding in my chest, and I feel a tightness in my throat. How could they do this? How could they just decide my future like it was nothing? My father-my protector-was supposed to shield me from things like this. But now, here I was, facing the consequences of their mistakes. Their adult problems were now being thrust onto me, a naive 18-year-old who had no say in the matter.

« How is that my problem!? » I roar, my voice shaking with raw emotion. Anger burns through me, but it's mixed with something else-hurt. Betrayal. They had taken my future and turned it into a transaction.

My mother's face hardens, but there's an undercurrent of fear in her eyes. « What do you think we're going to do without our house? Our money? Our cars? We'll be homeless! You'll be homeless! Think about that. It is your duty to this family if you want to remain in this family! » She's shouting now, and her words hit me like a slap across the face.

I stumble backward, feeling like the room is closing in on me. My breath comes out in ragged gasps, and my hands tremble by my sides. How could she say that? How could she threaten me like that, knowing I had no power? No say? She wasn't the same woman I had looked up to my whole life. My mother was supposed to protect me, not manipulate me with fear.

Tears pool in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. Not yet. I bite my lip, trying to hold it together, but my throat burns. It feels like a knot is tightening in my chest, suffocating me. I can't breathe. I feel trapped-cornered in my own home by the very people who should've been my support.

I swallow hard, trying to push past the lump in my throat, and force the words out, my voice barely above a whisper. « I'll do it. »

My mother's face softens again, her eyes filling with something that looks like relief mixed with pride. She steps forward, placing a hand on my shoulder. « You're doing the right thing, Claudia. I know this isn't what you want, but it's what's best for us all. You're brave. »

I want to scream. I want to scream at her, at my father, at the world for putting me in this situation. But I can't. What would be the point? I have no power here. No control. I'm just a pawn in their game, and I have to play my part.

« So you're not angry at your father anymore? » She asks, her voice softening.

I look at her, my eyes burning with unshed tears, and I shake my head. « No, » I lie, forcing the words out even though they taste like ash on my tongue. I'm angry. So angry. But there's no point in expressing it. Not when I'm already this far gone.

She nods approvingly, her eyes glinting with something like approval. « You're strong, Claudia. You'll handle this better than any of us. You're saving the family. You're doing the right thing, sweetie, » she coos, her voice laced with sweetness that makes my stomach turn.

I close my eyes, trying to steady my breathing, but it's no use. I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand, trying to stop the tears from falling. « I hate crying, » I admit softly, my voice shaky.

She tilts her head, her lips curving into a small smile. « Why? » she asks, genuinely curious.

« It shows weakness, » I reply, my words barely audible.

She shakes her head gently, her smile softening as she cups my cheek. « Crying isn't for the weak. It's for the strong-for those who refuse to give up. Don't ever let anyone make you feel weak for showing emotion. You're human, Claudia. You don't have to hide that. »

I nod, wiping away the last of the tears that had threatened to fall. Her touch is comforting, but it's not enough to calm the storm inside me. Nothing will calm it. Not when my life is being ripped from me like this.

She retracts her hand and pats my thigh, her expression firming up. « Go talk to your father, sweetheart. He needs you now. »

I nod, too tired to argue, and walk out of the room. Each step feels like I'm walking to my doom. The weight of what's happening presses down on me with every move, and the uncertainty of the future looms ahead like an endless abyss. But I have no choice but to move forward.

I stand in front of my father's office door, my hand hovering above the knob. I hesitate for a moment before knocking, the sound of my knuckles against the wood echoing through the silence.

« Come in! » he calls, his voice a mix of exhaustion and relief.

I push the door open and peek my head through. When he sees me, his expression softens, and he stands, his arms opening wide.

« Claudia, » he says, his voice filled with relief, and I walk into his embrace, sinking into it like I've done countless times before.

I wrap my arms around him, burying my face in his chest as the tears I've been holding back finally spill over. « I'm sorry, » I whisper, my voice muffled by his shirt.

« No, » he murmurs, holding me tighter. « Don't apologize. I'm the one who should. I yelled at you when it wasn't necessary. I should've been more understanding. You're young, and I forced this on you. I should have protected you from this. »

I pull away slightly to look up at him, my eyes filled with both pain and resolve. « I'll do it, Father. Mother told me everything. »

He raises an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. « She did? »

I nod, my voice small but steady. « Yes. »

He hugs me again, his grip firm and comforting. « Let's get through this... together, » he says softly, his voice a promise that I'm not sure I can believe in anymore.

But for now, it's the only thing I have left.