Selena's POV
The only thing I have ever truly lived for is my family and their wishes, though lately, those wishes feel heavier than the world itself.
The evening sun slipped slowly through my bedroom window, spilling golden light over the polished floor and shimmering across my wine-colored hair. It glinted in strands, making them appear aflame in the dying light. I sat cross-legged on my bed, staring at the sunlight as if it could shield me from the storm I knew was coming. The morning had been calm, almost peaceful, but I knew better. Today, Dad was coming home, and with him came the tension that always clung to the house like smoke.
"Selena!"
My name echoed from the hallway, sharp and insistent. I froze, gripping the edge of my bed, pretending not to hear. My mind screamed to stay hidden, to pretend the world outside my room didn't exist. But I couldn't ignore it.
"She's calling for me again," I thought, dragging my attention away from the window.
Lisa appeared, her tall frame hesitant as she approached. Her blond hair bounced lightly with every step, and her eyes, though bright, betrayed the slightest flicker of fear. "Mum called for you, didn't you hear?" she asked, voice trembling ever so slightly. She tried to mask it with confidence, but I saw through it instantly.
"I didn't hear," I said, calm but cool. She looked away quickly, brushing a hand over her face as if to hide her reaction.
"Where is she?" I asked, stepping off the bed, but Lisa kept her gaze averted and turned toward the hallway. I followed, my shoes silent on the polished floor.
I forced a small smirk onto my face, an armor against the dread curling in my stomach. As I moved, I kept my eyes on her, sending a silent warning: do not test me with your schemes.
We reached the kitchen, and my breath caught. Mum stood there, graceful as always, her wine-colored hair cascading over her shoulders. She leaned over the counter, chopping vegetables with a fluidity that made even the simplest motion seem regal. Chocolate-hued eyes, a slim nose, plump lips—she was beauty itself, a soft contrast to the storm that loomed outside her kitchen door. The maids bustled around her, yet she insisted on preparing dinner herself.
"Mum," I said gently, stepping closer. "Why are you doing this again? You should rest. Let the maids handle it."
She smiled, reluctant but warm, her fingers never stopping their work. I placed a hand on her shoulder and guided her away from the counter, shielding her from discussion and, unknowingly, from the tension gathering at the doorway. Lisa trailed behind, her eyes darting like a fox plotting. I shot her a look, warning her that not all plans come to fruition.
As we entered the sitting room, the unmistakable sound of Dad's footsteps reverberated through the hallway. Richard Lawrence, my father, had returned. The weight of his presence hit instantly, and I felt Mum tense beside me. Lisa moved quickly to greet him, her bright smile wide and practiced. He returned it, but his eyes, dark and stormy, flicked toward us with a look that made Mum shrink and my stomach coil with fear.
"Hi, Dad," I said cautiously, my voice barely above a whisper.
Before he could speak, his hand struck my cheek. The sharp sting echoed in the room, and every head turned instinctively. My heart thudded in my chest. Everyone braced, knowing the storm was just beginning.
People imagine that my life is full of roses, but they are blind to the thorns. I am Selena—most call me Lena, though only those I allow. My father is Richard Lawrence, magnate of LRC Media, a titan in Escalda, and the man who has left the deepest scars in my life.
He met Mum after his first wife passed, a widow who seemed destined to be adored. At first, I believed he loved her for her beauty, for the grace she carried into every room. They seemed perfect until marriage stripped away the façade, revealing the monster beneath.
I am not his biological child. Mum had me before him. Lisa, four years older than me, is his. I call him "Dad" because, for now, I have no other choice.
Lisa, petite and striking, embodied the beauty that drew attention effortlessly—blond hair that shimmered in sunlight, thin lips curved naturally into a smile. Men in Escalda admired her, and Dad seemed blind to everything else when he looked at her.
I held my cheek, stinging and raw, while Mum instinctively stepped in front of me. Dad's hand jerked her aside, and the fear in her eyes cut me deeper than his slap ever could.
"How dare you give me that taunting look?" he growled, his voice low but lethal. "Haven't I had enough of you, mother and daughter? Can't you give me a peaceful welcome home? Or must I endure the sight of both of you? Why can't you learn from Lisa?"
I wanted to speak, to scream, to defend myself—but terror froze my words. His shadow loomed large, every memory of his past abuse echoing in my mind. Not anymore, though—I told myself, not anymore.
I went to Mum and lifted her, preparing to leave the room. Dad's approach was swift, deliberate, and threatening.
"What did you do to my daughter while I was away?" he demanded, closing the space between us. "I work hard so you all can live as you please, and yet my precious daughter is mistreated?" His hand raised once more, a storm about to strike.
Mum's attention flickered to Lisa. "Lisa, dear, what's wrong? Did someone bully you?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.
Lisa's tears were fake, her expression carefully crafted. "I was scrolling through Selena's posts. The dress she wore looked beautiful, so I asked her to show it to me. She screamed at me, demanded I never touch her things again!" She turned to Mum, sorrow dripping from every gesture, every blink.
I caught Mum's eyes—surprise, disappointment, and something else I had never seen before: doubt. My heart sank. I realized, in that instant, that I was losing her too.
A happy family of four had become a living hell for two. I had once seen Lisa as a sister, a best friend, a confidante. Now, she was a manipulator, perfectly poised to maintain the illusion, while Dad became the tyrant I could not escape.
And in the golden light of that evening, as shadows stretched across the room, I knew something had to change.