Alex sat in the quiet corner of the library, her favourite spot by the large window that revealed the campus grounds. She had a piano piece to perform on stage the next week and she had to practice but that day she just didn't feel like doing it. The afternoon sun cast a warm, golden glow that set the perfect mood to read.
She was completely absorbed in the story when her phone buzzed softly. Glancing at the screen, she saw a message from Daman.
"Meet me by the Silverwood Lake in 30 minutes. I have something to show you." The text read. Curious and a little excited to know what they planned for her, Alexandra placed her book back and headed out of the library.
*******************
The path to the lake was shaded by tall, ancient trees, and as she walked, she thought about how much she loved this place and the people she had met here, especially Daman. Only few years had passed since she moved into Verdant City, but meeting her friends really made her feel at home.
When she reached the lake, she saw Daman standing by the lake's edge. He turned as she approached, a broad smile spreading across his face.
"Hey..." He said with a loving gaze, pulling her into a hug. "Come on, let's walk a bit." He took her hand and said. He then led her around the lake, chatting about their day and making her laugh. As they walked, Alex saw a small clearing with a picnic setup ahead of them. A blanket was spread out with a basket full of food, and balloons were tied to the nearby trees, gently swaying in the breeze.
"Surprise!" Came a chorus of voices. Alex turned to see Daniel, Natalie, and Rosalind stepping out from behind a large oak tree, grinning from ear to ear.
"You guys!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with delight. "This is amazing!"
Daman took her hand and led her to the blanket. "We wanted to give you a little birthday surprise. Nothing too fancy, just a nice evening with friends."
They spent the evening eating, laughing, and sharing stories. As the sun began to set, casting a beautiful array of colours across the sky, Natalie stood up and cleared her throat.
"Alex, we have a little something for you." She said, holding out a small, wrapped box. Alexandra took the box, her heart filled with happiness. She carefully unwrapped it to reveal a delicate bracelet with a tiny charm in the shape of a music note."We know how much you love playing the piano." Rosalind said, smiling. "So we thought this would be perfect for you."
Alexandra's eyes filled with tears as she held up the bracelet. "It's beautiful," she said, her voice trembling. "Thank you all so much."
Daman helped her put the bracelet on, and it gleamed softly against her skin. "Now you'll always have a little piece of your passion with you." He told her with a smile. As they all sat by the lake, watching the stars come out, Alexandra looked around at her friends and felt a deep sense of gratitude. This simple, heartfelt celebration was perfect, and she couldn't have asked for a better way to spend her birthday.
"Thank you.." she whispered, leaning against Daman. "This is the best birthday ever."
Daman smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Happy birthday, Alex. I'm glad you're happy." And with that, they continued to enjoy the peaceful night under the starry sky.
As the evening at the lake drew to a close, Alexandra and her friends were basking in the warmth of the campfire's glow. They laughed and reminisced about everything. Daman sat close by, his arm around her, and the music note bracelet on Alexandra's wrist sparkled in the firelight. Just as she was about to reach for a piece of cake, her phone buzzed with a new message.
It was from Laura. It just had one line.
"Alex, your father is home."
Alexandra's heart sank. She hadn't expected this news tonight. Her relationship with her father had always been strained. William had often been absent during her upbringing, focusing on his own pursuits while she felt neglected. While she still loved him, the idea of facing him was daunting. Things never went right when he came home.
She glanced at Daman, who noticed the sudden change in her demeanour. "What's wrong?" He asked, concern evident in his voice.
"Laura just texted me." Alexandra said quietly. "Dad is home. I need to go."
Her friends nodded understandingly as she gathered her things, trying to hide her anxiety. Daman offered to accompany her, but Alex shook her head. "I need to handle this on my own."
The way back home felt longer than usual. When she arrived, she took a deep breath and walked into the house. The familiar scent of old furniture and lingering cologne greeted her. William was sitting on the couch, his posture rigid, and his expression stern. He looked up as she entered, his gaze cold.
"Alexandra." he spoke, his voice lacking warmth. "Where were you?"
"I was... with my friends." Alexandra replied.
William's face remained impassive. "We need to discuss something."
"Mm, go on."
"Why do you think I built this house and moved you here? It's so that you can train and become stronger without anyone trying to harm you. You also need to study so that you can take over my duties. But what have you been doing? Simply spending too much time with your friends and playing some instruments. I am not letting you stay here so you can do whatever you want."
Alexandra's eyes widened. "I am doing as you want me to... It's just... my friends are important to me, and playing the piano helps me unwind. I can't just train and study the whole time, can I? And, why are you suddenly so concerned about my activities? It's not like you to look into every little thing I do." She felt like she would explode with anger.
William leaned forward, his tone firm. "I have to concern myself with you. Since you are my heir." Hearing that made Alex even more sad. This man would never even give so much as a glance if she weren't his sole heir. If only he used the word 'daughter' or 'child', then she wouldn't feel this sad. Alex knew fighting back was not an option as she knew that the moment her father found her unworthy, he would disown her. But with a faint hope, she decided to try one last time.
"I love playing the piano..." Alexandra said in a low voice. "And my friends— I promise that they would never be a distraction. I will—"
"Your friends won't be there to support you when you need to lead." William interrupted. "You need to be physically stronger and more disciplined. That hobby of yours is a waste of time. It's time to focus solely on your training. I allowed you to stay on Earth because you promised to give me results. So, do not disappoint me." His eyes became cold.
The weight of his words hit her hard. She had always felt neglected, but this was different. This was an outright dismissal of her passions and her life outside of her duties. Anger and frustration bubbled within her. But she couldn't find words to throw back at him. It was true that she promised to train hard and become worthy. But, in reality, that promise was made just as an excuse to run away from the place that gave her nothing but bad memories.
"You need to understand that your position requires sacrifices." William added. "If you want to be ready, you need to dedicate yourself fully. This is not negotiable."
"So, are you going to take me back to that place?" Alex asked.
"Hmm... I don't plan on taking you there immediately. I know you don't have any good memories of that place. But, I can't let you stay here for long either. I will give you time until your graduation. Wrap things up within that time. You won't be able to come back here after that."
"Haaa... Until graduation, huh...?" Alex wanted to cry. "Okay, fine.... I agree. But, in return, don't interfere with my life during this period."
"You know that I can't do that." William said in a firm tone. Alex wanted to protest but she knew that would be a waste of energy. He's never going to do what she asks him to do. So, she started walking away.
"Where are you going?" William asked. Alex opened the door.
"You needn't know that. Besides, I find it extremely difficult to stay under the same roof as you."
William's expression changed, but it was very subtle. He didn't try to stop her. "I will let you go for now..."
Not listening anything further, Alex left the house, her emotions swirling in turmoil. At that moment, she truly felt trapped and helpless....