Chapter 95 The First Crack
Selene’s POV
Ever since I was little, there had only ever been one person I couldn’t stand.
Flourish.
She always acted as though she was above everyone else.
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She never fought with me over clothes, never argued over jewelry, and never even bothered competing with me for Dad’s attention. That indifferent attitude irritated me far more than if she had openly hated me.
It made me feel as though I wasn’t even worth acknowledging.
Mom always said I was the real daughter of this family.
I had prettier clothes, Better tutors, Better friends, Better opportunities.
Flourish had only been tolerated because Grandma Josephine insisted on protecting her. Whenever I wanted something, Mom would find a way to get it for me.
Whenever I made a mistake, Dad would only sigh before letting it go.
Life had always been exactly the way I wanted.
Until Flourish changed.
Ever since that ridiculous Luna rites ceremony where Harold refused to show up, it felt as though everything had gone completely out of control.
She no longer cried, no longer argued, no longer begged Dad to believe her.
Instead… She simply fought back. And somehow, she kept winning.
That evening, Dad returned home looking more exhausted than I had ever seen him. The moment he stepped into the living room, Mom sensed something was wrong.
“What happened?”
Dad loosened his tie before answering. His voice was calm, but every word landed like a bomb.
“Lydia. You and Selene need to move out.”
Mom’s shrill voice instantly echoed through the villa. “What?”
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11:10 Thu, Oct 1
Chapter 95 The First Crack
Fintshett
Her chest rose and fell violently, her face flushing crimson with disbelief. “He wants us to move out?”
I shot to my feet so abruptly that the teacup beside me nearly tipped over. “Dad! Why should we be the ones moving out? This is our home too!”
I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. “She’s just trying to bully us!”
Dad looked as though he had already expected this reaction. Rather than becoming angry, he tried speaking patiently. “Haven’t you always complained that this villa is old? I already have a penthouse in the new district. It’s on the top floor, and it even has a private terrace. It’s no worse than living here.”
He looked between us. “Just move there temporarily. Once this matter settles down, you can move back.”
Neither Mom nor I felt the slightest bit comforted. I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
“Dad! That’s not the point! Flourish is humiliating Mom! No matter what, she’s still Flourish’s elder. How can she treat us as though we don’t matter?”
My voice trembled with fury. “She already refused to call Mom respectfully. And now she’s trying to drive us out of the house. If you keep giving in to every ridiculous demand she makes, she’ll only become even more arrogant!”
Beside me, Mom remained silent. She didn’t say a single word. But I knew her well enough to understand.
Her silence meant agreement.
Dad’s expression gradually hardened. It became obvious that whatever conversation he had with Flourish earlier today had already determined his decision.
He wasn’t here to negotiate. He was here to inform us.
“Enough.” His voice became noticeably colder. “There is nothing left to discuss.”
Mom’s fingers tightened around the edge of the sofa. I could almost hear her breathing become
uneven.
As for me… The humiliation burned hotter than anything else.
If
my
friends found out we had been forced out of our own house because of Flourish…
How many people would laugh at me behind my back?
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11:10 Thu, Oct 1
Chapter 95 The First Crack
How many would secretly mock Mom?
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Just imagining it made my face burn. Before either of us could speak again, Dad added another
sentence.
“One more thing.” He looked directly at Mom. “Lydia. You’re the one who drugged Flourish. The evidence is solid. If this case reaches the Judiciary Council, you’ll face charges as well. You might even be banished.”
His expression remained grim. “And if that happens, the company’s stock price will take another hit.”
He took a slow breath before continuing. “You. And your nephew. Both of you will issue a public apology online. You don’t need to explain every detail, just keep the reason vague.”
“Show a sincere attitude. Let Flourish vent. Once she’s satisfied, she’ll withdraw the complaint.”
Mom and I practically screamed together. “What?”
I stared at Dad as though he had completely lost his mind. “Dad! Did Flourish cast some spell on you? Have you gone crazy? Why should Mom apologize to that woman in public? How is Mom supposed to show her face afterward?”
The words burst out before I could stop myself. I wasn’t willing to accept any of it.
Not moving.
Not apologizing.
Not surrendering.
I’d rather fight Flourish forever than lower my head to her.
Perhaps my tone had crossed a line, because for the first time in years, dad finally exploded.
His face darkened completely. “Selene!”
His voice thundered through the villa. “Is that how you speak to your father?”
I froze. “You call her ‘that woman’ every other sentence. She’s your sister.”
His sharp gaze settled on me. “When you’re outside, you represent this family. If you continue behaving this disrespectfully, the only person embarrassing this household is you.”
Every word struck harder than the last. Dad had never spoken to me like this before.
Never.
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