A CHANCE TURNED DOWN

Carly dropped to her knees in front of Flávia like a seasoned actress. All that usual confidence and boldness vanished, replaced by a woman wearing the mask of pure pity, as if she were the one wronged.

She clasped her hands together, lifted her tear-filled eyes—tears that were entirely fake—and spoke in a voice so gentle I had never heard it escape her lips before:

“Mrs. Ahmad, please, forgive me!” Her voice even trembled. “I… I lost my head. Everything I said ...