My heart pounded in my chest as shame washed over me. I felt completely lost, unsure of what to say or do in front of my parents and Lorenzo Bianchi. My legs trembled uncontrollably, and I was filled with a deep sense of indignation. Not only were the three people at our table witnesses to the situation, but the other diners around us as well.
I fought back tears that threatened to spill from my eyes, my anger rendering me immobile. I glanced at my mother, my eyes filled with desperation, and she immediately sensed my distress. She knew just how awful I felt.
Avoiding my father's gaze, my mother rose from her seat and looked at me with concern. "Come with me, honey," she said gently.
But I couldn't even move on my own.
My mother reached out and took me by the arm, guiding me away from
