Chapter 5%
After dinner, the living room was filled with laughter and light conversation, but none of it reached Samira
She sat there, quiet detached. In the past, she might’ve tried to smile along, pretend to belong. But now, she didn’t see the point. Some things just weren’t meant to be forced
While they camed on like one big happy family, Samira quietly got up and stepped outside. She didn’t say a word and unsurprisingly, no one even noticed her leave
She had only been outside for a moment, breathing in the cool air, when Luna’s voice sliced through the silence behind her. “You’re still hanging around the Jourdain Family? Still clinging to Jean? Don’t you have any shame?”
In her past life, Samira had never walked out at this moment, so she had never heard Luna’s true colors like this. She didn’t turn around. didn’t say anything, just stood there, stanng ahead
In you out of the inheritance. It wasn’t about love. He sees you as a
Luna didn’t stop “Let me be real with you Jean only mamed you to push you cruel, heartless monster”
Samira stood still, her voice calm when she finally responded. “You really think no one sees through your lies? What if they find out
“They won L” Luna snapped, cutting her off. “You think you can explain your way out of this? Don’t waste your time. Everyone is on my side now You? You should just crawl back to that sad little town you came from:”/
Honestly, Samira didn’t disagree This house never felt like home. She replied evenly. “Things don’t always go the way you want, Luna”
That was all it took to push Luna over the edge. With a glare full of rage, she slapped Samira across the face hard. The sound cracked in the stillness. Samira’s cheek flared with pain
She paused, took a breath. In the past she would’ve swallowed the hurt and walked away. But not
time. This time, she hit back
this ti
The slap landed with force and Luna stumbled, stunned. Then she launched herself at Samira and the two of them went down in a flurry of fists and hair–pulling. Luna didn’t stand a chance, Samira had her pinned in seconds.}
The commotion drew attention. The front door burst open. Her father stormed out, followed by Jean and her mother.
He took one look at them and shouted, “What are you two doing?! Get back inside! Now! Sit down and think about what you’ve done!” The butler stepped in, separating the two of them and guiding them toward the hall without saying much.
Luna was quick to play the victim. Her face was pale and her eyes filled with tears as she turned to her father. “Dad, don’t be mad, please. I didn’t do anything. Samira started it
When he didn’t react she spun toward her mother, crying harder now. “Mom, you saw it too! I didn’t hit her first”
Her mother’s face softened immediately. She looked heartbroken, brushing Luna’s hair back like she was still a child. “Honey, you saw it too,” she said to her husband. “Samira het her. If someone needs to be punished, let it be Samira. Luna was the one who got hurt.” Samira just stood there, quiet. Her fingers were clenched at her sides, her face still stinging. She wasn’t even surprised anymore, same story, different day
in the end, they both got dragged away Her father wasn’t the kind to care much about faimess, he cared about appearances and control. The two of them knelt in the hall, the silence awkward and heavy. The butler stood to the side, arms crossed, like a chaperone watching Over detention
ver, a few minutes later, Jean showed up. He walked in without a hint of hesitation and said, “I’m taking her.”
he butler blinked. “Sir, fm sorry, but Mr. Jourdain gave strict orders. Neither of them is allowed to leave tonight. I can’t let you take Miss
Jean’s face didn’t change. “I’m not taking Samira fm here for Luna. I’ve already talked to Mr. Jourdain. Luna didn’t do anything wrong She doesn’t deserve to be punished “1
marung”
hesitated “But, Miss Samind’s face was clearly slapped’s
“And Luna’s not allowed to defend herself? You want her to just stand there and take (17“)))
mira and crouched in front of her. His voice was soft, but it didn’t feel warm. “Samira, I know things got out of Luna said, you shouldn’t have hit her Just stay here tonight I’ll come back for you in the
Someter shaped he didn’t speak, didn’t even look at him. She just stared straight ahead like he wasn’t even there
muttering un
“Sa stubbum ‘I
led, but we kept her head down The ache in her chest grew heavier, sharp like ice pressing against her nbs She
Bir allan or out the fert, love that had started when she was young didn’t just vanish overnight Still, she knew,
Desde far dear accessed tama anda tes amis and walked away without even glancing back Luna are you okay? Does it hurt? I’m sony
ward grew far y nued down tu hallway Before long the fuse was adenit again 3
rie land wakiled for group in the Anda git want the cod cod person everyone had painted her to be. She was
the once the master made as las mund te wachame the
kind. She always had been X
But once the master made up his mind, there was no changing it. The butler knew that better than anyone
He let out a long breath and walked a little closet. “Miss, you don’t need to sit so straight. It hurts less if you let yourself lean a bit.”
Samira didn’t move. Her posture remained rigid, back straight, chin up. Her voice came out soft but steady. “Thank you”
That was it. She wasn’t here to explain herself or beg to be seen!
Tonight she was just quietly paying back the Jourdain Family for the two decades they raised her, Nothing more.
