As Luna stood by the window, Her father's words echoed in her mind, twisting like a knife. She had heard it all before how she wasn't respectful enough, how she didn't appreciate Vivienne's sacrifices, how she needed to be more like the perfect daughter they wanted her to be.
But deep down, Luna wanted to scream. Did they even care? Did her father ever see her as anything other than a pawn in Vivienne's schemes? She just wanted to ask him 'did he ever truly care for her?' Did he ever wonder how she felt? Did it ever cross his mind to give her the benefit of the doubt, to ask for her side of the story, instead of jumping to defend Vivienne like she was some fragile victim? But in the end she needed to hear from his how grateful he was to have her as his Daughter.
She felt like an outsider in her own family, a mere showpiece. She had always been seen as the beautiful, successful daughter but in their eyes, that's all she was. Nothing more. Carmella, on the other hand, had always been pampered, always coddled, always adored. 'Why wasn't she enough?'
Luna clenched her fists, feeling the weight of that question pressing down on her. 'What was it about her that made her so easy to disregard?' She had struggled to earn everything she had. Her degree, her business, her success all of it came from the endless nights of hard work, the persistence that her grandmother had instilled in her. If it hadn't been for her grandmother, Luna wouldn't have achieved any of it. She had been the only one who ever truly believed in Luna.
But ever since her grandmother passed away, it had been a lonely existence. The house was quieter, colder, and the warmth that once she had her was gone. She had never felt more alone. Luna could still hear her grandmother's soft voice urging her to push forward, to never let anyone, not even her family, undermine her worth.
A lump formed in her throat as she thought of her grandmother's absence. If only she was still here. But there was one other person who had stepped in after her grandmother's passing, one person Luna was deeply grateful for her grandmother's best friend, Mrs. Astoria.
Astoria was like a second grandmother to Luna. Whenever the weight of the world felt too heavy, Luna would visit her. Astoria had the same nurturing warmth as her grandmother, with the same wisdom in her eyes and a gentle way of making Luna feel understood. She wasn't just a reminder of her grandmother, though she was a lifeline, someone who always believed in Luna when no one else did.
Luna found herself wanting to call Astoria, just to hear her calming voice. S'he wouldn't judge.' She wouldn't jump to conclusions. She'd listen. Maybe Astoria was the only person in the world who knew how much Luna longed for love real, unconditional love the kind she had only ever gotten from her grandmother.
Luna pulled out her phone, staring at Astoria's name in her contacts. She hovered over the call button, her heart aching. But instead of calling, she tucked the phone back into her pocket. 'She needed to stand on her own feet right now.' Astoria had helped her through so much, but Luna needed to face this moment on her own.
Taking a deep breath, she straightened her back and wiped away the single tear that had slipped down her cheek.
..............................................
Mother? Luna thought bitterly , Luna went to Ross Estate for her assigned task. Vivienne was never a mother to her. Just an obstacle, one that had always found a way to humiliate her. But Luna knew better than to resist. She'd learned that lesson long ago.
Taking a deep breath, Luna stepped through the door, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn't sure what was worse the humiliation she was about to endure, or the fact that she was now so used to it, so numb to the idea of being made small by her family. She had no choice but to go through with it.
Inside, Vivienne and Camille were already waiting for her in the grand living room. Camille sat on the edge of the velvet couch, a smirk playing on her lips as she played with her perfectly manicured nails. Vivienne, on the other hand, looked calm, serene, her hands folded in her lap like she was waiting for the show to begin. Eagerly.
Camille looked up as Luna entered the room, her smirk widening. "Well, well, well," she said with a mocking tone, her voice full of smug satisfaction. "Look who decided to show up. I told you she would come, Mother."
Vivienne smiled, a small, almost victorious smile. "Of course she did, darling. Your father has a way of making sure she obeys. He always has." She looked over at Luna, her gaze sharp. "Isn't that right, Luna?"
Luna stood still, her face a mask of indifference, even though inside she was brimming with frustration. She wanted to tell them how wrong they were, how much she despised their little games, but she knew better. She had long learned that fighting back only led to worse punishments. "I'm here to apologize," she said simply, keeping her voice steady.
Vivienne raised her eyebrows in mock surprise, placing a hand on her chest. "Oh, Luna, there's no need for that. Why would I ever make my stepdaughter apologize to me? I'm sure you didn't mean to disrespect me." She paused for effect, then added with a sly smile, "But your father… well, he does take these things to heart. He loves me, you know. He doesn't like seeing me upset."
Luna clenched her fists at her sides, trying to maintain her composure. She had heard this same speech a thousand times, Vivienne always playing the victim, always manipulating John's anger in her favor. And yet, Luna had no choice but to play along.
"I didn't know you were at the office," Luna said, her voice soft but firm. "If I had known..."
Vivienne waved her hand dismissively, cutting her off mid-sentence. "That's enough," she said, her voice suddenly weary, as if the conversation was too much for her to bear. "I'm feeling a bit faint. I don't want to argue." She placed a delicate hand on her forehead, closing her eyes like she was about to collapse from the sheer effort of being there. "You came here for something, didn't you?"
Luna swallowed her pride. She had no choice but to see this through. "I came to apologize," she repeated, this time more firmly. Then, without waiting for a response, she bowed her head. "I'm sorry."
The room fell into a heavy silence as the words hung in the air. The staff, who had gathered nearby, exchanged uneasy glances. They adored Luna, and seeing her like this, bowing to a woman who had done nothing but undermine her, was painful to watch. But they couldn't speak up. It wasn't their place.
Vivienne's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Ah, Luna," she said in a low, cold voice. "Hasn't your real mother taught you how to bow to your elders?" Her smile widened as she leaned in, her voice dripping with venom. "Oh, wait. She can't, can she?" Her Face lit up "So I suppose it's my duty as your stepmother to teach you proper respect."
Luna's stomach twisted, the familiar wave of dread washing over her. She had heard Vivienne use her mother's memory to hurt her before, but it never got easier to hear. Still, she stayed silent, knowing that any protest would only make things worse.
"Get on your knees," Vivienne said, her voice cold and commanding.
Luna froze, a flash of old memories flooding her mind. She remembered her father's harsh punishments, the sting of the ruler against her back when she was just a child. All because she had accidentally spilled water on Camille, and Camille had run to John, crying and claiming Luna had done it on purpose.
Luna had learned long ago that resistance only brought pain. And so, despite the humiliation burning inside her, she slowly lowered herself to the floor, kneeling before Vivienne. Her heart pounded in her chest, and the weight of her shame felt unbearable, but she kept her face blank, her eyes downcast.
Vivienne sighed dramatically, waving her hand as if dismissing the whole ordeal. "I'm feeling lightheaded," she said softly. "I think I need to lie down. This has been… exhausting."
The staff shifted uncomfortably, but no one said a word. They were powerless to stop this.
Camille, however, was enjoying every moment. She stood up from the couch and sauntered over to Luna, standing over her with a satisfied smirk. "Oh, Luna," she said in a mockingly sweet tone. "How does it feel? The great Ross heiress, on her knees like a little servant. Must be a new experience for you, huh?"
Luna didn't respond. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor, refusing to give Camille the satisfaction of seeing her react.
Camille crouched down, her voice lowering to a whisper. "You know," she said softly, "Kiad is going to be mine. A man like him doesn't belong with a loser like you. Soon enough, I'll have everything you ever wanted. And you? You'll be left with nothing."
Luna clenched her jaw, the words cutting deep, but she remained silent. She knew that any retaliation would only make things worse. She just had to endure it. This was her life now.
Hours passed, and Luna remained on her knees as Vivienne retired to her room, feigning illness once again. The sun set outside, and the room grew darker, but no one came to release Luna from her punishment. It wasn't until the moon was high in the sky that Luna was finally allowed to stand, her knees aching, her heart heavy with the weight of everything she had endured.
But she didn't cry. She didn't show her pain. She simply stood up, dusted off her dress, and left the room, walking with her head held high even though she felt broken inside. She had learned a long time ago that showing weakness would only invite more cruelty. So, she swallowed her pride, pushed down her emotions, and moved forward because that was the only thing she could do.
Suddenly They heard a stick clicking on the Lavish Marble Floor "Vivienne" someone Screamed.