Chapter 17
988 Words
The punishment at home was worse than the suspension from school.
Mom had initially accepted the principal’s one-week suspension for me. But after Mia’s dramatic performance crying about how I was “stealing her boyfriend” and “destroying our sister bond” Mom decided to make it two full weeks at home.
“You can’t leave your twin sister and go to school alone,” Mom said firmly during dinner that evening, her voice leaving no room for argument. “You two need to work on your relationship. I won’t have this fighting and jealousy tearing my daughters apart. Two weeks at home for both of you. No exceptions.”
Mia looked devastated in front of Mom, but I saw the small, victorious smirk she hid behind her hand. She had played her cards perfectly. Again.
I spent the first few days of my punishment locked in our room, doing schoolwork Mom brought home and avoiding Mia as much as possible. The silence between us was heavy. She would hum happily while doing her hair or texting her friends, while I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, replaying everything in my mind.
Lucian.
I missed him so much it hurt. His touch. His voice. The way he looked at me like I was beautiful despite everything.
On the fourth day of my punishment, while Mom was in the kitchen and Mia was taking a shower, my phone which I had secretly kept hidden buzzed under my pillow. I grabbed it quickly, my heart racing when I saw Lucian’s name on the screen.
I answered in a whisper. “Lucian?”
“Lily,” his voice came through, warm and filled with relief. “Thank God you picked up. I’ve been so worried about you. Are you okay? I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you better.”
Tears filled my eyes instantly. “I’m okay… but Mom grounded me for two weeks. Mia made everything worse. She told Mom I was trying to steal you from her.”
“I don’t care about Mia,” he said softly. “I only want you. I’ve missed you so much. I’m coming to see you tonight. I’ll sneak to your window or something. I need to see you, Lily. I need to hold you.”
My heart leaped and broke at the same time. “Lucian, no… you can’t. Mom will kill me if she finds out. Mia is watching everything. Please don’t…”
Before I could finish saying “no,” the call suddenly disconnected. The line went dead. I stared at the phone in panic, trying to call him back, but it wouldn’t connect. Maybe the battery was dying. Maybe Mom was coming. I quickly hid the phone again, my hands shaking.
He was coming.
He promised.
And I had no way to stop him.
while I was helping Mom with breakfast, there was a knock on the
front door. My heart skipped a beat. Mia, who was closer to the door, rushed to open it before anyone else could.
I froze in the kitchen when I heard her voice sweet and surprised.
“Lucian! What a surprise! Come in, come in.”
Mom’s face lit up as she walked to the door. “Oh, who is this handsome young man?”
Mia put on her best act, smiling brightly. “Mom, this is Lucian. The boy I told you about. He must be here to see me.”
Lucian stood at the doorway, looking nervous but determined. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on me in the kitchen. For a moment, everything else disappeared.
Mom smiled politely, clearly charmed by his appearance. “Nice to meet you, so you are Lucian.
Nice to meet you…so why are you here do you come to see Mia?”mom asked with a smile on her face.
“I came to see Lily.”he said firmly…
The silence that followed was deafening.
Mia’s smile faltered for a split second before she recovered, but I saw the flash of rage in her eyes. Mom’s expression changed from welcoming to stern in an instant.
“Lily?” Mom repeated, turning to look at me with disappointment. “After everything we talked about?”
I stood there, frozen, my hands trembling as I held a plate. Lucian took a small step forward. “Ma’am, I just wanted to check on her. After the fight at school..”
Mom raised her hand. “That’s enough. Lily is grounded. She is not allowed visitors, especially not boys who are causing problems between my daughters. Mia has been very upset about this situation.”
Mia stepped closer to Lucian, linking her arm with his smoothly. “It’s okay, Lucian. I understand. Maybe we can talk outside?”
Lucian gently pulled his arm away, his eyes still on me. “I really need to speak with Lily. Just for a minute.”
Mom’s voice turned cold. “Young man, I think it’s best if you leave. Lily will not be seeing anyone during her punishment. If you care about her, you’ll respect that.”
Lucian looked at me one last time, pain clear in his eyes, before nodding respectfully. “I’m sorry for the trouble. I’ll go.”
As soon as the door closed behind him, Mom turned to me. “Two weeks isn’t enough right. Seems you want more punishment from me.
If I ever see you with that boy again,you are no more my daughter is that clear.
“Yes, Mom,” I whispered, tears burning in my eyes.
Mia stood behind her, looking innocent, but the moment Mom turned away, she shot me a wicked, satisfied smile.
She had won again.
I went back to my room, my heart heavy. Lucian had tried to come for me. But with Mom and Mia working together, our chances felt smaller than ever.
- Writer
