I can feel my eyes glossing over as I look into Papa’s disappointed gaze. “He’s using you to bring down the family. You are a pawn, Melissa.”
“No, Papa, you’re wrong.” My voice trembles as I speak but I hold my ground. “Xander is not like that. He is not using me. He loves me.”
Papa’s eyes flash with anger, as he sharply smacks the table causing me to flinch. “Loves you? You’re naïve, Melissa. He does not love you.”
“It doesn’t matter, Papa. I love him,” I say firmly, lifting my head to meet his gaze. “I love Xander, and h-he loves me.”
Papa laughs, looking around the room incredulously. “Do you hear this, Daniel?”
“Loud and clear,” Daniel speaks plainly, his voice sharp and low. My eyes fall back to my lap as the room settles into silence once more, suffocating me, but Daniel’s next
