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All she could do was focus on the task and hope everything would go smoothly. He looked at her with a piercing gaze, his eyes searching for any sign of comprehension. Lily nodded slowly, her heart racing with anxiety. She knew the importance of this moment, with the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air between them. She took a deep breath and met his gaze with a determined look, silently promising to do her best.

A deafening silence filled the room as soon as the words left his lips. I stood there, frozen, unable to process what had just been said. My eyes darted around the space, searching for any sign that this was all some kind of sick joke. But the solemn expressions on the faces of those around me told me otherwise.

I stole a glance at Damian, who was standing off to the side, his eyes trained on the ground. I couldn't read his expression, but I knew he must feel as shocked as I was. We had never discussed marriage, let alone with each other.

My mind raced as I tried to come up with something to say, but my tongue felt heavy and uncooperative. I wanted to protest and tell them that I couldn't marry someone I barely knew. But the words wouldn't come. Ultimately, I remained silent, my heart heavy with uncertainty and fear. What would become of me now that my fate had been decided for me? As I stood there, my mouth agape, I couldn't believe what I saw. The shock of the moment rendered me completely speechless.

The smell of alcohol immediately assaulted my nostrils as I entered the dimly lit space. The air was thick, as if the same molecules were saturated with the scent. It was the kind of smell that clung to your clothes and hair long after you left, a reminder of the evil that had taken place within those walls. Despite the overwhelming stench, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement at the prospect of what lay ahead.

This was where anything could happen, where inhibitions were shed like a snake sheds its skin. And I was ready to embrace it all. As was his custom, he was intoxicated, his senses dulled by the familiar effects of alcohol. As I watched him take another swig from his flask, I couldn't help but feel a sense of resignation wash over me.

It wasn't the first time I had seen him drinking on the job; it had become a consistent pattern. And yet, despite my growing unease, I couldn't bring myself to confront him about it. It was as if I was trapped in a never-ending cycle of watching him slowly spiral out of control, powerless to intervene. So no, I shouldn't have been shocked when he took another drink, but somehow, it caught me off guard. With a forced smile, I replied, "Yes, Father," though my insides were boiling with anger and hate.

He spoke in a low voice, his words barely audible as he leaned back in his chair and put some distance between us. He lifted his glass to his lips and took a long sip of his beer, the liquid disappearing down his throat with a satisfying gulp. With a stern expression, he uttered those words and leaned back in his chair.

The silence in the room was palpable as I slowly rose from my seat, feeling a sense of defeat wash over me. Without another word, I turned and went to the door, my mind racing about what had just happened. As I stepped out into the hallway, I couldn't help but wonder what my next move would be.

With a gentle click, I shut the door behind me, feeling a solitary tear trickle down my cheek. At such a tender age, the protagonist had not yet experienced the harsh realities of life. Thus, they were caught off guard and ill-equipped to handle the situation when the unexpected occurred.

As I made my way down the hall, tears streaming down my face, his words echoed in my mind. I couldn't believe what he had just said to me. It was as if the ground had been pulled out from under me, leaving me feeling lost and confused. She was acutely aware that she couldn't meet his demands.

With a heavy heart, I stormed into my room and slammed the door shut behind me. I stood there momentarily, hoping that the sound would reach my father's ears and he would come to talk to me. Exhausted and emotionally drained, I let my body sink into the softness of my bed.

The weight of his news presses heavily on my chest, suffocating me with a sense of helplessness. I cannot alter the course of events set in motion, and the realization is crushing as she gazed at the stranger before her, a wave of conflicting emotions washed over her. She couldn't quite grasp it, but something about him seemed familiar.

She couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that lingered in the air. She knew she had never met him before, but something about his presence made her feel uneasy. As she struggled to make sense of her emotions, she couldn't help but wonder what the future held for her and this mysterious man.

As I looked into Damian's eyes, I couldn't help but feel a sense of fear wash over me. There was something about him that made me uneasy, something that hinted at a darker side. His demeanor was cold and calculating, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was capable of great cruelty. I had heard rumors about him—whispers of violence and abuse that made my skin crawl. And to make matters worse, I had seen him drink heavily on more than one occasion, a habit that reminded me all too much of my father. As much as I tried to avoid him, Damian seemed everywhere I turned.

His presence was like a shadow that followed me wherever I went, a constant reminder of the danger that lurked beneath the surface. I knew I needed to be careful around him, keep my distance, and avoid confrontation. But deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that one day I would find myself face-to-face with the true extent of his cruelty. Damian's position in the Mafia was far from prestigious. As she sat in her room, staring out the window at the passing clouds, she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over her.