Chapter 2

Steve was gone when I stepped out of the bathroom. My body still ached, each step a reminder of last night. Even walking was difficult, my thighs sore and raw.

“He’s too excited to talk to my parents that he left me here like this?” I muttered under my breath, wincing. “I can barely walk. Shit.”

I forced myself downstairs, gripping the railing. Every step was slow, painful.

In Rose’s living room, my parents sat stiff and serious. Steve was across from my father, head bowed, rubbing his temples—probably hungover. Rose lingered off to the side, her expression uneasy.

My father’s voice cut through the silence. “Are you my daughter’s boyfriend?”

Steve looked up, his gaze flat. “No.”

My father’s frown deepened as he turned to me. “He’s not your boyfriend?”

“N-no, Dad,” I murmured, staring at my hands.

My father sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose before speaking again. “Even if you’re not together, you should marry her.”

My head snapped toward him. “What?”

Steve’s brows furrowed. “Why would I?”

“What kind of question is that?” my father snapped. “You slept with my daughter when she wasn’t even your girlfriend, and you ask why?”

“That was just a one-night stand, sir. It’s normal—”

“For you. Not for us,” my father interrupted. “One night or not, you’ll take responsibility. You’ll marry her.”

Steve’s jaw tightened, his glare flicking to me. “I’m not marrying you.”

“Are you insane?” my father’s voice rose. “Do we wait until she’s pregnant before you step up?”

“But I’m not pregnant—” I started.

“Not yet, Czes. Do you want us to wait until it’s too late?”

Steve shifted uncomfortably. “I have a girlfriend. I can’t marry your daughter.”

“Marry her,” my father said coldly, “or I’ll see you in court.”

Steve scoffed but didn’t argue. My parents stood, and I quickly called out to my mother. “Mom—”

“You know your father’s words,” she said, her tone like ice. “You made a mistake. Now face the consequences.”

They left without another glance. Steve muttered something under his breath before storming out. Rose touched my arm apologetically. “I’m sorry, B—”

“It’s okay, Rose,” I said flatly before following my parents.

The drive home was suffocating in its silence. I knew what was coming.

Inside, my father went straight to his office. My mother and I sat across from him. She wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“What now, Czes?” my father began. “You just finished college. You were supposed to start working for our company. Instead, you put yourself in this position.”

“It’s okay, Dad. I don’t have to marry—”

“Are you even thinking?” His voice was sharp. “You slept with someone who isn’t your boyfriend and now you want us to just let him walk away?”

“But, Dad, it wasn’t like that. We didn’t plan it—”

“Do you hear yourself? Where’s your brain, Czes?!”

I stayed silent, my throat tight. Every word from him was like a blow.

“If you get pregnant, what happens then? What will people say?”

There it was again—what people will say. That mattered more to them than how I felt.

“But he has a girlfriend—”

“You should have thought of that before you slept with him! Have you been doing this often? Sleeping with strangers?”

“No, Dad! No!”

“Better not. It’s shameful to have a daughter like that.”

“Calvin,” my mother warned, but it was too late. The damage was done.

Tears blurred my vision. They didn’t believe me. They didn’t care that Steve was my first.

I looked at my mother, silently begging for comfort, but she only shook her head. “You disappointed us, Czes. Did I fail as a mother?”

The crack in my chest widened. “No, Mommy… please…” I dropped to my knees beside her, clinging to her legs.

“You’re the only one we have. The only one we hoped for. And now you have to marry early.”

“We can still reach our dreams,” I pleaded.

“No. You made this, face in it.”

She left me there on the cold floor, sobbing.

I wanted to believe I didn’t deserve their cruelty. But deep down, I thought maybe I did.