After a moment's reflection, she gently patted Selina's hand.

“Selina, you're grown now. Marriage is the next step. You'd leave us one day.

How about this? Stay a bit longer. I'll speak with my husband about finding a decent husband for you."

Marriage?

So her departure was irreversible.

Selina's gaze fell, hiding the sorrow in her eyes.

If Rosalynn returned, her father's actions would certainly become infamous.

Then, the elite would surely learn of her vicious father.

With such a history, into what sort of family could she marry?

Having known men like Brian, average men failed to catch her interest.

Selina began, yet upon witnessing Gail's stern countenance, her intended words dissipated.

“Thank you."

With the Moreno family's decision final, she realized further discussion was futile.

"Rest well. I'll have the kitchen prepare some ginger tea for you,"

Gail offered, patting Selina's hand before departing.

Once the door shut, a hush settled over the room.

Selina surveyed her once-comforting bedroom, her nails pressing into her skin.

Would all this soon cease to be hers?

Was she to revert to a life of normalcy?

Uncertain of her path forward, a tumult of emotions, resentment, envy, panic, converged, contorting her features and igniting a desire to shatter her surroundings.