e, as if something had changed, but she wasn't sure what. She had been overthinking the situation, but all she felt was confusion an

had begun to form between them. Deep down, she felt that this relationship could go far beyond the projects they shared. But she didn't want to think about that now. Sh

r ideas about life or what it meant to have a successful career. They often criticized her for her decisions, for not following the same path as her older brother, a family man, marrie

hing could prevent what was coming. This wasn't just a casual meeting. This was the moment when her paren

e, closed behind her with a stiffness that no longer went unnoticed. Her mother was in the kitchen, as always, a

with a tense smile as she

ight. She was watching her with a gaze full of unspoken questions. Her father's eyes, always so apprais

as always, her father wasted no

oject?" he asked, with a calmness that

d to keep the conversation professional, but her father didn't seem interested

sk. She knew Emilia was annoyed by the insistence, but she couldn't stop trying to

it seemed. It was her parents' constant surveillance, the

g together," she replied calm

ays more direct, wa

. He's not someone with whom you can maintain a professional relationship without it getting complicated. You know what I

ad, that feeling that she wasn't capable of making decisions for herself, irritated her m

ink. Not everything has to be so black and white."

ituation, but her father's disapproving

of you. Why lose everything for a man?" her father said, without looking her in the eyes, as if he could

from the table, her hands

made everyone fall silent for a moment. "It's not all about your expectations! Don't you see that I'm trying

sadly, but it was her fat

everything to succeed. And now you're going to ruin yourself for someone like him? A man

ons, was unbearable. She knew her parents only wanted the best for her, but that "best" was based on an i

very decision I make being analyzed, criticized, and destroyed before I can even understand what i

rming into something darker: a sense of pain, of separation, of

d and left the room. Her mother slowly stood up, and although

out this anymore," she s

lp but feel the weight of the tension she'd created. Not just with her parents, but with herself. She knew that no matte