"What the hell is wrong with you?" shouted Dante. He was obviously angry and I wasn't able to give an answer. "I'm sorry." "Damn it. Now the press is suspicious over the matter between you and I and this is going to be all over the news tomorrow. If this gets out then who knows what's going to happen to us!" "I'm sorry," I said again. "That doesn't cut it. If we are caught that's the end of everything. I will be forced into marriage and your mother will die." I bit my lip. He was right. It's unlikely that my mother would make it if she was out back into the care she was once in. "I told you to prepare yourself!" he continued. "Is that what to call prepared; standing there with your mouth open and looking like a retard?" I was unable to respond. I was ashamed for not being able to do the one thing he asked me to do. "I'm really disappointed. I though that since you were so desperate to see your mother better you'd try as hard as you could to not seem suspicious. I guess I was wrong about your strength." I could feel tears forming in my eyes. I'd never been scolded like this before. It hurt. Everything he was saying was true. If I had been more determined to make sure my mother would always be safe this wouldn't have happened. "I want my mother to survive. I will do anything to make that happen." "It doesn't look that way. You seem as though you're scared to let the people know your mother's condition. Are you ashamed?" "I'm not." "Then during the next few months you better prove it." I looked at him. "Prove it?" "Prove to me that you are capable of obeying my command and that you're willing to do anything for your mother's sake." "But..." " If not, our little agreement will end earlier and your mother will be sent back to the care she was in before the transfer. You know what that means right? You understand." "I understand", I said and I bowed my head. I understood perfectly. "Good. Then go home. I can't look at your face any longer today." He left me standing in front of the press room, tears welling up in my eyes. Can't look at my face any longer? No one had ever said that to me... it made me feel even more ashamed. What had I gotten myself into? I called Daniel as I had realized I had no way of getting home. "What's wrong?" he asked on the other end. "Nothing... Daniel I have a favor to ask you." "What is it?" "Could you come and pick me up? The press conference I was just at ended and Dante left... he was the one that drove me so..." "He abandoned you? Wow. Alright I'll come pick you up. Where are you?" I told him where I was and in less than half an hour he was there to pick me up. He didn't look too happy though and I frowned. Why did he look so unhappy? "Daniel?" "Hurry and get in the car." "What?" "I realized this on the way here. You were just at a press conference and there are most likely reporters everywhere. If one of them sees you and me together..." I frowned. That was true. It would be the end of everything. If a picture was released, there would be no way Dante would never give me another chance. "Let's just go..." "Helena I think it would be better if you called Jessica or your sister to come and get you." "No it's alright, I want to go home now." "Suit yourself," he said and we both left the press center.