"Dad! Please don't agree! I beg you!" Teresa, kneeling, crawled to her father, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded.

Mr. Kroes, already irritated, became even more vexed by her crying. He glared at her and said, "You should be begging your sister now!"

Teresa, stunned, hesitated only a few seconds before crawling to Rianne. Her voice was as low as it could be: "Sister, please plead on my behalf. I promise I will never speak recklessly again or act as a pawn for others. Please have mercy and let me go. Without the Kroes family name, I truly cannot survive in Drakroit!"

Rianne lowered her gaze slowly, her...