Crash! The sound of shattering porcelain echoed through the grand hall of the Feng mansion. The delicate tea cups, which once graced the room with their elegance, lay in fragments on the floor, mirroring the storm that brewed in Feng Liang's heart. His face was twisted with fury, veins bulging at his temples as he glared at his trembling daughter, Feng Yue, who knelt before him in disgrace.
"You useless girl!" Feng Liang's voice thundered through the room, vibrating with rage. "You can't even handle one simple task, can you? You've left traces—traces! And now Feng Yan knows it was you behind the kidnapping attempt."
Feng Yue's head hung low, her shoulders shaking. The sharp sting of her father's words cut deep, but she dared not speak. Her knees ached from the cold, hard floor, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the humiliation burning in her chest.
"You've failed me, Feng Yue," Feng Liang continued, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "Do you realize the consequences of your actions? Not only have you failed to remove that eyesore Feng Yan, but now she's sitting in the exam room, writing her answers as if nothing happened. You were supposed to ruin her future, and instead, you've given her more power against us."
He paced back and forth, his heavy footsteps sending ripples of tension through the air. Feng Yue's eyes filled with unshed tears, but she bit her lip to keep from crying out. She knew her father well—any show of weakness would only make things worse.
Feng Liang paused, turning his sharp gaze on her once more. "I should have never trusted you with this. I warned you—no traces. Yet here we are." He shook his head, his expression darkening with calculation. "But this isn't just your failure, Feng Yue. If Feng Yan suspects anything, it's now on me. And I won't let you drag this family down with your incompetence."
He strode closer, standing over her with an imposing presence. "To protect this family's reputation, you'll have to apologize to Feng Yan when you see her next."
Feng Yue's head snapped up, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. "W-What? Apologize? To her?" Her voice wavered, her heart racing with anger and humiliation. The very thought of bowing down to Feng Yan, of lowering herself before the girl she despised, filled her with rage.
But her father's cold gaze silenced her protests. "You heard me. You'll go to Feng Yan and apologize, and you'll make her believe you had nothing to do with the plan. You'll take the blame for it, and I'll play the part of the loving father who disciplines his wayward daughter. If Feng Yan buys it, we'll be in the clear. If not…" His voice trailed off ominously, the threat unspoken but clear.
Feng Yue's hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms as the tears she fought so hard to contain finally spilled over. She hated this—hated being caught between her father's ambitions and her own helplessness. But she had no choice. Defiance would only make things worse.
As her tears fell, her mother, who had been standing silently in the corner, rushed forward and knelt beside her. Madam Feng wrapped her arms around Feng Yue, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "It's alright, Yue'er," she whispered softly, her voice soothing but hollow. "We'll fix this. Don't worry."
Feng Yue leaned into her mother's arms, but even in her sorrow, resentment burned deep within her. Coward, she thought bitterly, her mind swirling with anger at her father. He was always like this—quick to seek personal gain and shift blame onto others. He would sacrifice anyone, even his own daughter, if it meant preserving his power and reputation.
As her mother stroked her hair, whispering empty words of comfort, Feng Yue's tears fell faster. But beneath the sorrow, a growing fury simmered. She had made a mistake, yes, but she wasn't about to let herself be used as a pawn in her father's schemes forever. One day, she promised herself, she would rise above this.
For now, though, she had no choice but to kneel, to bow her head, and to apologize to Feng Yan. But this humiliation—this disgrace—would not be forgotten.
Feng Yue wiped her tears, her gaze hardening with determination. One day, she thought. I will make them all pay.