Tiana sneered. "You need to understand something. You're still young, and the love you speak of is small, insignificant, and ultimately meaningless. When you're faced with overwhelming power and forces beyond your control, you'll realize that Andrew is nothing more than a speck of dust in the vast tide of the world.

"Your future isn't meant to revolve around him—it's the stage the Driscoll family has built for you. Your place is in Blumedale and eventually, all of southern Holtrien."

Lauren lifted her delicate face, her long hair partially covering her stubborn, defiant eyes. "So, in your world, miracles don't exist anymore, and genuine love means nothing, right?

"Just like when you were young, forced to marry Dad and join the Rhodes family against your will. You never really loved him, did you? There was someone else in your heart. But because of your family pressure, you had no choice.

"And now, you want to repeat the same tragedy with your own daughter. Is that it, Tiana?"