"A Flame that Fades"

Chapter 3: Left Behind in the Fire

Freya's POV

I slumped into a chair near the buffet table. My mother and Manny had thrown me an engagement party at the town hall dining room. It was easy to arrange since Manny was in on the planning, but I couldn't shake the knot forming in my stomach. The catch was that I would be meeting my fiancé for the first time at this very party. I rubbed my temple with my fingers, trying to ease the tension, before reaching for someone's abandoned wine glass. I had sworn I'd never drink alcohol, but given the situation, I couldn't care less.

I raised the glass to my lips and chugged the burning liquid down. It tasted awful, but I needed something to lighten my mood. Just as I was about to finish my second glass, my mother spotted me.

"Freya Ibris Mustafa! What do you think you're doing, young lady?" she shouted, her voice cutting through the chatter like a knife. In an instant, she slapped the glass out of my hands, and I watched helplessly as it shattered against the stone floor. The sound echoed through the room, silencing the conversations around us and drawing everyone's attention.

"Hey, you just wasted good wine," I mumbled, feeling the alcohol already coursing through my system. I was acutely aware of the curious stares directed at me, especially from my fiancé and his family. The flush of embarrassment crept into my cheeks, mixing with the warmth of the drink.

"You're embarrassing yourself in front of your fiancé and his family!" my mother snapped, her tone sharp and disapproving. I could see the disappointment etched on her face, and it made my heart sink.

I opened my mouth to respond, to defend myself, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I glanced around the room, noticing the mix of concern and amusement on the faces of the guests. A knot of anxiety twisted in my stomach, and I felt a surge of frustration.

"I'm fine, Mom! I just needed—" I started, but she cut me off.

"No, you're not fine. This isn't just about you. It's about the family, the image we present." Her voice was quieter now, but the urgency was still there. I could tell she was trying to keep her composure in front of everyone.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I didn't want to make a scene, especially not here, in front of people I hardly knew. But the pressure felt unbearable. "I just wanted to relax," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

My mother softened slightly, her expression shifting from anger to concern. "I understand, but this isn't the way. You have to show them who you are, not someone desperate to escape."

With that, I felt the weight of her expectations crash down on me. I wanted to disappear, to melt into the shadows. Instead, I forced a smile, though it felt more like a grimace. "I'll do better," I said, hoping to end the conversation.

But in that moment, as I stood there with the remnants of shattered glass at my feet, I realized I had a lot more to prove than just being the perfect daughter or fiancée. I had to figure out who I really was in all of this.

Just as my mother left to kiss ass of my fiancé's family, Manny began to slowly approach me. His nose was bandaged, and bruising colored the skin under his eyes. I couldn't help but smile to myself, feeling a twisted sense of satisfaction.

Good luck explaining that to your future in-laws, I thought. I could already imagine the scene: Manny, trying to put on a brave face, having to tell them how their precious son's fiancée had been the one to break his nose. It felt almost poetic in a way—if only I had been brave enough to stand up for myself before.

"Freya," he said, his voice low and strained, "I know this isn't exactly the best party, but you could at least try to look happy."

"Happy? Like you?" I shot back, unable to suppress a smirk as I gestured to his bandaged nose. "What kind of future daughter-in-law breaks her stepfather's nose?"