Perse had initially entered her daughter's room looking for money. She was desperate but it wasn't for food or bills but a designer handbag from her backstreet dealer. If she wanted to lure in middle-income rich men she had to dress the part so whenever there was something good he would call her over.
Using the call from the visit from the Gallard family members as an excuse she entered Circe's room and tore the entire place apart. Instead of money, she found this diary and now she was going to use it to extort money out of her.
After this brat scared her earlier she felt ecstatic after finally having the upper hand. She stood there with a malicious smile clutching the diary in her hands like a forbidden treasure while flipping through the pages.
"He is quite handsome. Mother can teach you how to catch a rich man though it will cost you," she said and Circe narrowed her eyes in disgust.
The room seemed to shrink, the air thickening with tension. Circe's anger surged, a tempest brewing within her chest. Perse was a little shaken by the look on her face. It was the same look as the one she had on the other day. Her eyes were fierce, pupils dilated, lips twisted into a cruel smile. It was as if a demon had possessed Circe.
"I won't repeat myself," she said her voice sending chills all over Perse's body.
"I can give it back... but it will cost you," said Perse after gathering her courage."...otherwise I will publish your diary on the academy forum. I wonder what the gossip will be like... Tsk, maybe they will say like mother like daughter."
Circe's eerie laughter suddenly echoed off the walls. "Let me put it this way. I will not pay you a single dime but if you don't give it to me... it will cost you."
Perse's smile fell and she asked, "What do you mean?" She glanced at her open bedroom door and she was suddenly frightened. She had a lot of out of season designer handbags, clothes and heels worth more than this house combined. She suddenly took a step forward to close the door but Circe stepped closer. Perse didn't know if it was her illusion but she thought she saw Circe's nails elongate. She quickly dismissed this idea and grabbed either side of the diary threatening her.
"You... stay away from my things otherwise I will tear this to pieces."
Circe sneered before saying, "You think I would waste my time damaging your things? No... these useless things aren't the most valuable things you own." Perse was a little vexed. What could she possibly own that was worth more than the things in her bedroom?
"If you don't give it back to me, I will claw your face and make you so ugly that not even a street vendor will look at you," she promised, her voice low and venomous. "I will make you as ugly as your soul. You will live the rest of your miserable life unable to step foot outside this door. I will also spread your ugly pictures to all the wives whose husbands you had a tryst with. So which one is worth more to you? Your beauty or a little bit of money?"
Perse trembled from both anger and fear. She never thought for a second that her daughter would dare escalate things to such a point. They had fought countless times in the past and Circe would always relent but now...
Weren't children meant to support their parents? Was that asking for too much? If she couldn't even do this for her then what was the point in keeping her here?
"Here. You have made your point," she said tossing the diary towards her. Circe caught it and Perse continued saying, "Pack your shit and get the fuck out of my house. Don't come back even when you are on holiday. This is no longer your home," she said while pointing at the apartment door. That threat of hers had shaken Perse to the core and she was pretty sure Circe wouldn't renege on her promise. She would most definitely follow through with her threat. She could afford to keep such a person in her house.
Circe smiled. This outcome was exactly what she wanted. "Gladly," she said before walking into the bedroom and shutting the door behind her.
The place was completely ransacked making it hard to determine what things were important to take with her. In the end, she took her suitcase and stuffed a box with photos of Ci Ci's grandmother, some letters and a jewellery box. She packed away the books and clothes Ci Ci brought along with her before dragging her suitcase out.
Perse who was impatiently pacing out the door stormed towards the main door and pushed it open. "Don't dawdle. Get the fuck out," she said and Circe pulled a suitcase out through the door.
As she passed Perse she suddenly stopped. Perse thought she would beg or at least apologise for threatening her own mother. She was ready to gloat and tell her that begging was useless.
Unexpectedly, Circe smiled menacingly and without looking at her she said, "Have a nice fucking life," before leisurely striding away seeming quite relaxed.
Perse gritted her teeth and as though possessed by gods and demons she began to yell after her retreating figure. "I fucking will have a nice life. You slut actually cut ties with your mother over a fucking boy who doesn't even give two shits about you! You unfilial bastard. If I see you ever again I will break your legs!"
The moment Circe stepped out she felt refreshed like she had finally gotten rid of dead weight. Thinking that the real Circe would be sad after being disowned by her mother she said to herself, "You don't need toxic people like her in your life. You will be fine without her."
She didn't even know if that lonely weak figure was still there but if she was, she wanted to comfort her.
Circe suddenly sensed something and quickly sidestepped. With a splash a bucket of foul smelling water was poured out of the window where she was about to step. She could recognise that smell anywhere. It was the smell of the water Perse had soaked her undergarments in for who knows how long.
Circe looked up and there she was standing at the window with a provocative smile.
Circe, "..."
This woman surely had a death wish otherwise why else would she provoke her at every turn even at the risk of having her face clawed off?
"This crazy bitch," she muttered under her breath before turning back towards the building door.
Terrified, Perse shut the window closed and probably went to lock the door. Circe didn't have the energy to go up there again so she wrote this matter down in the back of her head. She would pay her back sevenfold for this.