Page 11 of Snow

For a split second, she almost gave in to those old instincts to do what she was told. But she quickly reminded herself that she wasn’t that person anymore.

Nova slowly straightened her shoulders and met her father’s furious stare head-on.

“No. I’m not sorry for one damn thing I’ve said.”

Her dad took a big breath and looked at Rick’s parents. “Could you excuse us? My wife and I need to have a moment alone with our daughter.”

As soon as Rick’s parents were gone, her dad slowly walked toward his desk, then turned back toward her and leaned on it. Her mom joined him, standing by his side.

“Nova—” he started to say, but she cut him off.

“No! I don’t want to hear it. You know, most fathers that I know would be furious if their daughter’s boyfriend cheated on them. But you,” her voice broke, anger laced with something deeper, sharper. She wouldn’t cry. “You’re more concerned about reputation than what he did to me, and how his infidelity affected me.”

His lips were pressed into a thin line. But there was no shock or outrage. Only an exasperated sigh, as if Nova had just told him the country club raised their dues again.

“You’re not surprised,” Nova said flatly, the realization slamming into her like a truck. “You knew.”

Leonard folded his hands neatly in front of him. “Rick is ambitious. Men like him have tendencies. You should have understood that.”

Nova’s jaw dropped. “Understood? You have been pushing me to tie myself to a man you knew who was cheating on me!”

Erica, ever the passive spectator, tapped her manicured nails nervously against the desk but didn’t say a word.

“You’re being emotional,” Leonard said, his voice calm and patronizing. “Relationships in our world are complex. You will benefit from being tied to Rick regardless, especially when he’s elected as the next governor.”

Nova’s blood boiled. Benefit? This was her life, not a damn business transaction.

“You don’t care about me,” she hissed, trembling with rage. “All you care about is image and reputation.”

Leonard gave a dismissive shrug. “Sacrifices are necessary for success, Nova. I thought you understood that by now.”

Something inside Nova snapped. “Oh, I understand completely now. And that’s fine. You can keep protecting the image. But I’m done sacrificing my happiness to help maintain it.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Her dad asked.

“It means that I’m done. I’m done with Rick. I’m done with the firm. And I’m done with you dictating my life.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Leonard said, his tone sharper now. “You have a future there.”

“No,” Nova cut him off. “I had a future there. One you chose for me. But as of today, I’m choosing a different one.”

Erica finally spoke, her sickening, fake-sweet voice pleading. “Nova, darling, let’s not make a scene.”

Nova barked out a bitter laugh. “You think this is a scene? A scene would have been me throwing things. A scene would have been me dragging Piper out of that bedroom by her hair. A scene would have been me posting that little video for the entire world to see. What you’re witnessing right now is actually me showing remarkable restraint.”

“Nova—” her mother started again, but Nova cut her off before she could say another word.

“No. I don’t want to hear it. No more excuses, no more lectures, and no more speeches about family, appearances, or doing what’s expected of me.”

She looked at her parents.

“For years, I’ve listened to you both tell me what I should do, who I should be, and what’s best for my life.” She took a slow breath. “The truth is, I don’t have the energy to care what any of you think anymore. So save your explanations, your excuses, and your disappointment. Because I’m finished.”

And for the first time in a very long time, Nova meant every word. Something inside her had finally snapped, not in anger or heartbreak, but in acceptance. She was done carrying the weight of everyone’s expectations.

Without another word, she turned and strode toward the door. She wasn’t running away. She was finally walking away.

“Nova!” Leonard barked from behind her. “If you walk out now, don’t expect to come back.”