The Mafia Lord’s Multilingual

RUBY I stared blankly at the report card in my hands, the sea of red markers mocking me. Why did this keep happening? Life seemed to be cruelly repetitive, doling out failure after failure. I felt like I was drowning in an ocean of inadequacy. The numbers stared back at me, a harsh reminder of my shortcomings. Nine courses, and only one had a green marker - a paltry success amidst a litany of failures. At this rate, I'd never graduate. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I should be working, supporting Mom and Zac, helping with the family expenses. Instead, I was stuck, flailing in a cycle of disappointment. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I wondered, yet again, if I was simply not cut out for this. Was I really that dumb? The question echoed in my mind, a painful refrain that seemed to have no answer. I closed my eyes as I inhaled deeply, preparing myself to accept whatever my fate was on the other side of the door to my house. I trudged through the front door, my heart heavy with the weight of my failures. The crumpled report card in my hand seemed to burn with shame, the red marks screaming at me like a chorus of disapproval. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of inadequacy, with no lifeline in sight. As I entered the kitchen, the aroma of dinner wafted through the air, but my stomach churned with anxiety. Mom was busy at the stove, her back to me, while Zac sat at the small dining table, already munching on his food. I tried to slip past them, hoping to avoid any confrontation. "Mom, you didn't tell me dinner was ready?" I asked, attempting to sound casual despite the knot in my throat. "Only smart people get to eat on this table today," Zac sneered, his eyes glinting with malice. His words cut deep, and I felt a familiar sting of hurt and anger. "Zac, please," I said, my voice trembling. "Mom, tell him to stop." But Mom remained silent, her eyes fixed on the food in front of her. I knew she was trying to avoid conflict, but her silence felt like a betrayal. "Isn't today supposed to be the day you check your scores for the school year?" Zac continued, his voice dripping with condescension. "I'm guessing you failed woefully again this time, that's why you didn't even bother to let us take a look." He pulled out my report card from his pocket, and I felt a surge of anger. "How did you get that?" I demanded, trying to snatch it from him. But Zac was too quick. He squeezed the report card in his fist and tossed it into the dumpster. "You're such a disappointment, Ruby," he spat. "You'll never amount to anything." I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I stared at the dumpster, my report card crumpled and discarded like trash. Mom's silence was deafening, and I knew at that moment that I was on my own. I spun around, ready to escape the kitchen and the toxic atmosphere that came with it. But Zac's firm, menacing voice halted me in my tracks. "Sit!" he barked, his eyes glinting with a malevolent intensity. My fists clenched in anger, and I squinted, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill down my cheeks. I knew I wouldn't last long if I continued to hear Zac's poisonous words pierce my heart. With a sense of foreboding, I reluctantly moved to one of the couches, my eyes fixed on Mom's serious expression. Her gaze bored into my soul, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Zac's stern face seemed to tear me apart, his eyes flashing with a mix of anger and contempt. I wondered why the sudden change in their expressions, but something told me this wouldn't end well. A sense of dread settled in the pit of my stomach as I waited for them to speak, my heart racing with anticipation. "Mom and I have been talking," Zac began, his eyes still boring into mine with an unnerving intensity. "And I gave her suggestions to stop wasting money on your schooling. We're already deeply in debt, and the debtors will soon come knocking, ready to rip us apart if we don't pay up." He paused, his gaze never wavering from mine. "But she insisted that Dad's last wish was for you to become a doctor, and she's determined to fulfill that wish, no matter the cost." I felt a pang of pain and regret as I looked at Mom, my eyes searching for answers. I'd been trying for three years to grant Dad's wish, but nothing seemed to work. How long was I supposed to keep trying? Until we lost everything? Zac's next words cut into my thoughts, his voice dripping with an air of superiority. "So, I came up with a better solution." My eyes narrowed, skeptical of what this "new solution" could be. Zac's smug expression only added to my unease, and I felt a sense of trepidation wash over me. Zac's words dropped like a bombshell, leaving me breathless. "My friend, a doctor, will arrive tomorrow to collect you. You'll go with him, and he'll train you to become the doctor Mom wants you to be. Until then, you're no longer welcome in this house." My heart sank, and my voice trembled. "What?" I whispered, turning to Mom with pleading eyes. "Mom, you're just going to send me away?" Tears streamed down my face as I waited for her response. Mom's expression was resolute, but her voice was laced with a hint of uncertainty. "It's for your own good, Ruby. You've been struggling in school, and this is an opportunity for you to succeed. Plus, he's offered us a substantial sum of money for your absence." My brows furrowed in confusion. "What money?" I demanded, my gaze locked on Zac. He shrugged, his expression dismissive. "That's none of your business, Ruby. Just do as you're told." A spark of anger ignited within me. "Are you guys selling me off now?" I thundered, my voice echoing through the small house. Mom's hands fluttered as she tried to placate me. "No, dear, it's just for a few months. You'll be back home before you know it." But I knew better. Something didn't add up. Zac's involvement, the mysterious doctor, the large sum of money – it all seemed too convenient, too sinister. I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized I was trapped in a situation that seemed to be spiraling out of control.