Vanya sighed and watched as Elena stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. She couldn't endure Elena's dramatics anymore, and she didn't care if Elena tried to attack her again. Vanya had finally saved herself from the problems in her life, and she was determined to move on.
As she lay down on her bed, Vanya felt a sense of exhaustion wash over her. She closed her eyes, hoping to drift off to sleep and forget about the drama of the day.
But as she fell asleep, Vanya's mind began to replay the memories of her past life. She saw herself as a young mother, struggling to make ends meet and provide for her little daughter, Hope.
In the dream, Hope was crying, her tiny face scrunched up in distress. "Mama, I'm hungry," she wailed, her voice piercing Vanya's heart.
Vanya tried to comfort her, but she knew she couldn't afford to feed her. She had no money, no food, and no way to provide for her child.
The scene shifted, and Vanya saw Elena, her face twisted in cruelty as she taunted and belittled Hope. Vanya's heart ached as she watched her daughter sob and try to defend herself against Elena's vicious attacks.
Vanya's eyes flew open, and she sat up in bed, her heart racing. She was covered in sweat, and her sheets were tangled around her legs.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. It was just a dream, she told herself. But the memories of her past life lingered, haunting her like a ghost.
Vanya knew she had to push through the pain and the memories. She had to focus on the present and the future, not the past. She took a deep breath and swung her legs over the side of the bed, determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As Vanya made her way downstairs, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She had been dreading this meeting with her future in-laws, the Carters, and now that they were finally here, she felt like she was putting on a show.
She had dressed carefully, choosing a modest yet elegant outfit that would surely impress the Carters. She had also applied light makeup, just enough to enhance her features without looking too done-up.
As she entered the living room, Vanya was greeted by the sight of her father, James, being overly polite to the Carters. He was smiling and laughing, trying to make a good impression, and Vanya couldn't help but roll her eyes. She knew that her father was only doing this because he wanted to secure the alliance between their families, not because he actually cared about the Carters.
The Carters themselves were seated on the couch, looking every bit the part of a wealthy and influential couple. Mr. Carter was an elegant man in his late 50s, with a distinguished air about him. His wife, on the other hand, was a younger woman who looked like she was in her mid-30s, but Vanya knew that she was actually almost 50. She was a master of maintaining a youthful appearance, and Vanya couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
As Vanya approached the Carters, she put on her brightest smile and greeted them warmly. "Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Carter," she said, curtsying slightly. "It's so lovely to finally meet you."
The Carters smiled back at her, and Vanya could tell that they were sizing her up. She knew that she had to make a good impression, not just for her father's sake, but also for her own. She needed to keep up the charade, at least for now, until she could figure out her next move.
As they sat down to discuss the details of the upcoming wedding, Vanya couldn't help but feel like she was trapped in a nightmare. She was being forced to marry a man she didn't love, all for the sake of her family's reputation and fortune.
But Vanya was determined to take control of her own destiny. She would play along with the Carters and her father, at least for now, but she was secretly plotting her revenge against Elena and Emrys. And once she had taken care of them, she would be free to forge her own path in life.