Victoria’s heart throbbed violently as she paced the small confines of her room. It felt like a physical manifestation of the control her family exerted over her life.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and her mother, Meredith, stepped in. "Victoria," she began softly, but there was an edge to her voice. "I need to know more about this... man. Who is he?"
Victoria embraced herself as she met her mother's gaze. "His name is Alex,” she said firmly. “He’s a mechanic I helped. That’s all, really."
"A mechanic?” Her mother’s brow furrowed, clearly unsatisfied with the answer. “Victoria, be reasonable. You’re engaged to Dorian Blackwood, one of the most powerful men in the city, and you’re bringing some stranger into our lives. Do you realize how that looks?"
"It’s not about how it looks," V
