Chapter 1.

Sophia Montgomery walked through the big entrance hall of the Montgomery mansion, the place she had lived in her all her life. It was a nice Saturday night. The air felt cool and smelled like wood polish and incense from their morning prayers. Sophia always felt at ease in her home when it was quiet. With the fading sunlight shining through the tall, arched windows and casting long shadows on the marble floors she inhaled deeply and smiled enjoying the peace and comfort of the moment.

However, the comfort wouldn't last long because every night, she had to sit long at the dining table with her family probing her intensely, bringing back the expectations and pressures she tried to avoid.

At the top of the table, sat Sophia's Dad , Harold Montgomery. He had a serious look on his face with graying hair that made him look aristocratic and handsome. Sophia's mom, Eleanor Montgomery was sitting next to him. She was a slim woman middle-aged woman, of medium height and a pretty face. She sat up straight and fixed her napkin on her lap. She was an excellent wife and Matron of the Montgomery household, dedicating her life to her husband, the church, and society.

The family's riches were clear in every part of the room—the sparkling chandelier above, the shiny silverware, and the luxurious dark wood table. Sophia sat at the table with her older brother and sister beside her. Sophia's older brother, Nathaniel, sat back in his chair, dressed in a dark suit, talking confidently. He talked about a business idea with their father as they ate, his voice calm and sure. Victoria, Sophia's older sister, was on her phone, typing messages with her nicely done nails, giving sharp comments every now and then. Sophia felt like she was always in the shadow of her sister, with her sharp beauty and wit.

The room was filled with the sound of utensils clinking against plates as they ate and Sophia could feel tension weighing on her chest like a heavy burden. It was just a short time before everyone started talking about her.

"Sophia," Eleanor spoke up suddenly, her voice clear and steady. ''Have you thought about joining the church choir? It could benefit you, you know."

"It might boost your self-esteem," Sophia thought for the right answer as she held her fork tightly. She sensed her mother watching her, sensing the hope in her words. It was always the same - her mother kept pushing her to change into someone she wasn't. Sophia spoke up, saying, "I'm not sure if that's the right choice for me, Mother," in a calm and firm voice." I like to assist with charity events, instead she replied.

"Victoria scoffed, and said "I like to assist with charity events, my foot'' before looking back at her phone. Sophia felt a twinge inside, but she didn't let it show. She was familiar with Victoria's teasing, but it still hurt. Nathaniel laughed as he twirled his wine around in his glass. "Sophia, Victoria is right. You should try to be more assertive and less passive." In this world, people who don't take charge don't have an easy time. You can learn from me and Dad.

While they were talking, Harold put his fork down loudly, making everyone look instantly at him. He looked directly at Sophia with a determined expression. "You're doing a great thing by helping others, Sophia," he told her in a firm tone. "But don't forget to take care of yourself first. You're too kind-hearted." "If you don't become stronger, you won't make it in this world.''

Sophia thought sadly as she stared at her food, feeling bothered by her father's sharp words. The words kept repeating in her head, making her feel like she never met her family's standards. She wanted to explain that being kind and helping others was important, but she couldn't find the words. So, she simply said, "Yes, Father."

After dinner, She hurriedly excused herself and quickly went to her room for some peace and quiet. Hers was a small, comfy room with things that made her be herself - shelves full of books, a craft basket, soft cushions on the bed, and a framed photo of her and her siblings when they were kids. Sitting on her bed, she ran her fingers over the old cover of her favorite book. This book was her way to relax and forget about her problems when life got tough. However, tonight, reading the pages couldn't calm her down.

Her phone beeped next to her, showing a message on the screen. Sophia looked at it, thinking it was a message from one of the groups she volunteered in. However, the message was actually from Alexander Sinclair. His message read, "Hi, Sophia. You were on my mind today." ''How are you?' Her heart raced with excitement."

Alexander had brought a spark of joy into her dull daily life. He had just returned from living with his grandparents for a some years, and she spotted him at the church's charity event a couple of weeks back. Alexander used to be Nathaniel's classmate before he went to stay with his grandparents, in England and he would often come over to play baseball with Nate. She had a big crush on him since they were kids, but she kept it a secret. Now Alexander has become big, tall, really good-looking and charming.

At the charity event, he caught everyone's attention with his friendly demeanor, talking to older people, playing with kids, and making all the girls laugh. She had been watching him from afar as all the girls surrounded him, but he noticed her quickly and approached her to talk, eventually asking for her phone number. At first, she felt nervous, but his friendly personality made her relax quickly. He had qualities she didn't have - he was confident, well-traveled, and very self-assured. His kindness towards her felt real, not just polite like what she was used to everyone treating her.

Sophia paused briefly, her finger poised above the phone, keyboard. She could imagine her mom's disapproving words, cautioning her about getting sidetracked from her responsibilities. However, this time, she ignored that thought. She replied, "I'm fine, just feeling a bit stressed. How are you doing?" She quickly pressed the send button without thinking too much, feeling a rush of excitement.

She received a reply right away. I have been occupied lately, but I would really like to meet up with you again. How about we get some coffee together this weekend? I am eager to learn more about the book you mentioned to me. Sophia felt happy and warm inside as she thought about spending time with Alexander.

Being with him away from her family's high expectations was appealing. He felt like he understood her and made her feel special, which was a nice change for her. As she felt the excitement growing, a small worry crept into her thoughts. She wondered if this new opportunity would end in disappointment. She feared that Alexander, like others before him, would see past her calm demeanor and realize she was not enough.

Just as she was going to reply, there was a knock on her door that startled her. Sophia quickly hid her phone under her pillow when Eleanor came in, looking serious. "Sophia, it's late." You need to go to bed. It's really important to wake up early for Mass tomorrow," Sophia agreed, trying to stay relaxed. "I was only reading, Mom. I'm going to bed now."

Eleanor looked at her for a moment, then left the room. Sophia breathed out a sigh she didn't know she was holding. She made sure her mother had left before taking out her phone to send a text: "I want to go." "I love the idea of getting coffee," she replied. Then he sent a smiley emoji before wishing her good night. Sophia smiled and replied before putting away her phone.She looked forward to seeing him at church the next day.

As she lay on her bed, looking up at the ceiling, feeling a jumble of emotions. She felt guilty for going against her mother's wishes, but was excited at the prospect of seeing Alexander again, and a deep longing for a different life.

Dark clouds gathered in the sky outside her window, signaling an approaching storm. It seemed like the world could feel the chaos starting in her life, the first signs of trouble in the Montgomery family's perfect facade.

She shut her eyes, listening to the distant thunder rumbling through the night. She didn't know what would happen next, but she started to feel a little hopeful after a long time. Maybe this was the start of something different. Then she fell asleep holding her phone, a small voice in her head warned her. A big change was on the way, bringing along a powerful storm that could destroy everything.