"Get the hell out of here, Levine" an angry voice sounded in the silent room, sending chills down the spines of those who heard it.
Bang!
An object flew across the room, landing on a slender figure standing at the door. She flinched and her lips twisted. She looked at the woman whose eyes were red with rage and she cried out, "Mom, why are you treating me this way? Am I not your daughter also?"
Her skin was flawless and very fair and when the ray of light landed on her body, she looked so white that she almost looked transparent. Her big, round eyes were red because she had cried for a long time, but her features were still so alluring.
The woman heard her and laughed out coldly. She sneered, "Do you know what I regret the most? Giving birth to a child like you. Zavala Levine, get this to your head right now, you are so useless"
Those words that came out from her own birth mother's mouth were like daggers piercing through her heart. Levine Zavala was her first child, but she treated her like trash because she believed that her second daughter,Hansley Zavala was going to bring prosperity into their family.
Levine Zavala lost her father when she was young and was single handedly brought up by her mother, alone with no one helping her take care of both her and her younger sister. Her mother, Cora had wanted her to get married early, so that she wouldn't have to suffer in future and bring prosperity to their home.
However, Levine refused. She was still schooling and wanted to finish her studies and get a job, so that she would be able to take care of her mother and sister. Levine was only 23 this year and she felt that getting married to a rich man just because they are poor was out of it.
Her mother got angry and threatened to cut all ties with her daughter if she refused to do as she told her to.
Levine had been trying to hold back the tears that had welled up in her eyes, but the moment her mother said those words, they fell like broken pearls, landing on her clothes.
"Mom…" She moved closer, reaching out to touch her mother, but her hand was slapped away. "Can't you just trust me just this once? I'm going to get a job as soon as possible and I'll be able to make you proud of me"
Her lips were trembling as she spoke.
One thing she feared was her mother's anger and temper. Her mother had done this, not once or twice, but she still wasn't used to it. Since she was a child, she had always wished to grow up to be someone her mother and sister would be proud of.
She didn't have the time for relationships yet because of the failed ones she had had in the past. If she rushed into marriage just as her mother told her to, she would definitely regret it in the future. She wanted someone who would love and protect her, not someone who would use her to satisfy his sexual desires.
Her mother looked at her, her gaze still dark. She opened her mouth to ask, her voice was hoarse because of how she had been screaming. "Are you sure you are going to get a job?"
To Cora, getting married was the best thing for her daughter. If Levine got married to someone rich, she wouldn't have to suffer in future and mostly, her mother and younger sister wouldn't have to go through what they are going through now.
"Yes, mom. Can you just give me some time?" She sniffed her nose and walked towards her mother. She reached out and grabbed her mother's hand, wrapping it gently in hers. "I promise that you guys won't have to suffer like you are doing as soon as I get a job, okay?"
Her mother pursed her lips, not saying anything. She stared at Levine's beautiful face, trying to figure out if she was lying or not. After a while, she sighed, "Then why can't you get married now?"
"Mom, I'm not ready for marriage. Marriage is a lifetime commitment and I don't have to marry just anybody"
Her mother scoffed and rolled her eyes. "So you still believe that nonsense? What life time commitment? It's all trash. As long as you marry a rich man, he is definitely going to treat you well and you are going to enjoy"
That was her mother's thinking.
Levine had always wanted to ask a question. Did her mother get married because of her father's wealth or because she loved him?
Zavala sighed softly in her heart. She nodded her head and said, "When I'm ready, then I'll marry whoever you want me to marry as long as you are satisfied"
She had to say that to make her mother feel better.
As Levine watched as her mother left, her heart trembled. She felt her leg go weak and she sat weakly on the couch in the living room. She reached out to touch her arm and gasped in pain. Her mom had used all her strength when she was throwing that object and it hurt a lot.
She tilted her head to look at the novel by her side and reached out to pick it up. She just bought the book and she had not started reading it. She opened a few pages and her eyes caught the word 'responsibility' and it caught her interest. She couldn't help, but feel excited.
She opened the first chapter of the novel, ran her fingers through her dark brown hair and started reading it. A few minutes later, Levine started feeling sleepy. She rubbed her eyes several times, trying to keep herself awake. Her head drooped several times, before she finally fell asleep.
The book in her hand fell on the ground with a loud 'thud'.