THE MAFIA'S BROKEN VOW

Chapter 7: Judgement

Melissa stood in front of the mirror, feeling determined but scared. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions as she thought about the day ahead. Today's her first day back at college since the disastrous wedding, the scandal, and the weight of it all. She wondered if she could face the stares, the whispers, and the judgment that awaited her.

‘You have a full life ahead of you.’ Her mother’s words echoed in her mind, providing a faint comfort, though they did little to ease the heavy knot tightening in her chest. Melissa’s shoulders slumped slightly as she exhaled. She had no choice but to move forward, even if it felt like she was walking into the lion's den. Pearl needed her to be strong.

Leaving the room, she found Theresa sitting on the couch with a book in hand. A soft smile spread across her face as she glanced up. "Ready for today?" she asked.

"I swear I'm not," Melissa admitted, her voice low and uncertain. Her gaze fell on Pearl who was peacefully sleeping in her cradle. "But I have to... for her.” She said softly. “She’s the reason I want to fight. I don't want her to feel the absence of a mother."

Theresa placed a comforting hand on Melissa's shoulder. "You got this, okay? Just take it one step at a time."

Melissa nodded, drawing strength from her friend’s presence. "When is your shift today?"

"Around 3 p.m.," Theresa said, glancing at her watch.

"Okay, I should be back before then." Melissa wrapped Theresa in a tight hug, her heart overflowing with gratitude . "Thank you so much, Theresa. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Theresa shook her head, smiling softly. "You’ve said that countless times. We’re not just friends, Melissa. We’re family. Your mom was there for mine when nobody else was. This is the least I could do for you."

Melissa felt her throat tighten at the mention of her mother. She blinked away the threatening tears and smiled faintly. "See you when I get back."

"Bye,You got this!" Theresa called after Melissa as stepped out the door.

---

As Melissa reached the college entrance, a cool breeze brushed against her skin, sending chills through her body and making her heart pound loudly in her chest. Her fingers clutched her bag tightly as if it could somehow anchor her. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. "You can do this, Melissa. You have to."

She stepped inside the school, her footsteps echoing in the hallway. Memories flooded her mind as she walked past the water fountain in the middle of the hallway. The same fountain Sebastian had decorated with roses and fairy lights when he proposed to her in front of everyone. It had been a dream, a perfect moment out of a fairytale. But fairytales don’t last.

Her feet felt heavy, almost glued to the floor as her eyes burned with unshed tears. She shook her head, pushing the memories away. "He's married to Scarlett now. No need to wish anymore," she muttered to herself, swallowing the lump in her throat.

Bracing herself, Melissa walked toward her locker. As she approached, she noticed the groups of students clustered in the area, their eyes immediately shifted toward her. Whispers began to spread like wildfire, soft at first, but then louder, more biting.

"Yeah, that’s her," one girl said, not bothering to lower her voice.

"Oh no, poor thing. Did you see how she trended when Sebastian walked away from the altar?" another chimed in.

The scoffing laughter that followed made Melissa's stomach churn. She kept her head down, pretending not to hear, but their voices felt like knives cutting into her.

"Can you blame him?" a third girl added, louder than the rest. "Would you let your brother marry a pregnant bride? Especially when the child isn’t his?"

"Oh my God. That’s some deep s**t," someone else remarked.

Melissa’s hand trembled as she fumbled with the combination on her locker, the mocking words pressing down on her like a weight she couldn’t escape.

"I heard it’s some street thug that’s the father," one of the girls said with a wicked grin. "Daisy! How can you say that?" another girl whispered, though there was no real concern in her tone. "Well, that’s what I heard. Some thug she was dating while with Sebastian."

Melissa’s heart pounded in her ears as she heard the lies, her breath catching in her throat. She wanted to disappear, to melt into the floor and be free of their harsh words. But then she heard another girl whisper, her voice soft yet cruel. "I heard she was raped. That’s why no one knows who the father is. Not even her."

Gasping, one of the girls added, "Oh no. I guess her almost-Cinderella story is just a fantasy... Can’t happen."

Their laughter echoed through the hallway, sharp and merciless. Melissa clenched her fists, her knuckles white as she forced herself to keep breathing. She swallowed down the sob rising in her chest, refusing to let them see her break.

Her mother’s words played again in her mind. ‘You are not defined by what they say about you.’ Melissa took a shaky breath, forcing herself to focus. "I’m not defined by what they say. I’m who I choose to be," she whispered, as if trying to convince herself as much as the insecurities clawing at her.

Just as she closed her locker, ready to escape to her first class, her body froze. The blood drained from her face, her heart suddenly pounding so fast she thought it might burst.

Walking down the hallway, hand in hand, were Sebastian and Scarlett, the very picture of happiness. They were laughing, their faces glowing with joy as they got the ogling stares of other students.

Melissa’s legs felt weak, her chest tightening with the weight of seeing them together; her ex-fiance and now ex-best friend. Her heart, already fragile, shattered once more. She watched them, the people around them whispering in admiration at the star couple of the college, as if nothing had ever happened. As if the world hadn’t crumbled under her feet when Sebastian left her standing alone at the altar.

Her vision blurred with tears she fought to hold back. Her breath caught in her throat, a sob threatening to escape. Every memory of their love, every promise he had ever made, now felt like cruel jokes. She subconsciously rubbed her finger where her and Sebastian's initials were perfectly crested. Sebastian didn’t even glance her way, his arm wrapped possessively around Scarleptt as they passed by.

Melissa stood frozen by her locker, the world moving around her like she was stuck in some kind of nightmare. She bit down on her lip so hard she tasted blood, the pain grounding her, forcing her to hold it together. But her heart? Her heart was in pieces.