Chapter One Hundred And Forty Eight

As my mother led me up to our small apartment above the bakery, a heavy silence hung in the air. The weight of my shame and regret pressed down upon me, making each step feel like an eternity. I could see the confusion and concern etched on my family's faces, but I knew that they couldn't fully comprehend the magnitude of my despair.

We sat together in the cramped living room, a stark contrast to the opulence of the palace I had once called home. My mother, her eyes filled with a mix of worry and frustration, looked at me intently. "Naomi, what did you mean when you said it was too late? What happened?"

I took a deep breath, trying to find the words to explain the depth of my pain. "Mother, I... I fell for Reuben's charm," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I believed in his love, in his promises. But he betrayed me, Mother. He took advantage of my trust."

My mother's eyes widened in shock and disappointment. She reached out and slapped me across the face, her voice filled