Other women would cower and stay hidden for days, but Gabriella was different. If she wanted to hide, then she wouldn’t choose to stay in San Miguel.

She would show to everyone that she could rise again, and redeemed her sullied name. It was in San Miguel that she was ruined, so it was just appropriate that she should remain in town, and little by little, she would prove to the judgmental public that they were wrong about her.

It has been a week since the scandal broke, but it was still a favorite topic of discussions in school, in the market, and even in the church. Wherever she goes,...