Years had passed since she first stepped foot into Mr. Gabrielli's mansion, a lost soul seeking refuge from the unforgiving streets. In that time, she had blossomed from a ragged urchin into a refined young lady, her days filled with lessons on etiquette, history, and the arts. Each day had been a journey of discovery, a gradual unfolding of her true potential under the watchful eye of Miss Crawford and the other staff members who had become like family to her.
Now, as she stood before Miss Crawford, her final lesson coming to an end, a sense of anticipation thrummed through her veins. She had waited patiently for this moment, eager to leave the confines of the mansion and finally meet her father, to earn his acknowledgment and approval. The weight of her expectations hung heavy upon her
