Emma sat alone in the quiet living room, staring blankly into space. The TV hummed softly in the background. She held a cold cup of coffee but didn't notice. Her mind was still reeling from the past day's events: shocking photos, a heated argument with Ryan, and the uncomfortable silence they shared last night.
Thoughts went through her mind; she considered leaving the agreement with Ryan, but every time she thought about it, she pictured her little brother Lukas's face. He was counting on her, and she was his only hope. Lukas needed medical treatment, and her marriage was the only way to pay for it.
She felt trapped, and her heart hurt because now she didn’t really know who Ryan was. She feared him now and what he might become. Leaving would put Lukas’s future at risk; she would have to
