Knock Again, Professor [GL• #1]

Chapter 27 [FLASHBACK]

SAMARA LEWIS FERNANDEZ POV

I could still vividly recall the day my life shattered like fragile glass. It always makes me sleep restlessly at night, haunting my dreams and replaying relentlessly.

Some people thought our family was perfect, like what they saw in the magazines. But in reality, we were far from perfect. We were a family worse than anyone could imagine. My father cheated on my mom and left us when I was just a kid. He told my mom he still loved his first love. After he left, my grandparents took care of me, while my older brother chose to go with our dad. We were all just trying to survive in our own ways.

Our family was broken, and nothing was as it seemed. The pictures in the magazines showed smiling faces, but behind those smiles were lies and pain. My mom tried her best to keep things together, but it was never enough.

Even as a child, I could sense the tension and sadness in our home. My mom often cried when she thought I wasn't looking. My grandparents tried to fill the void, but they couldn't replace the family I had lost. I missed my brother, even though he had chosen a different path. The separation from him was like another wound in my heart.

Growing up in this environment shaped who I became. The pain and betrayal left scars that I carried with me into adulthood. Trusting others became difficult, and I often felt alone, even in a room full of people. The memories of my father's abandonment and my brother's absence were always with me, a constant reminder of the family we could have been but never were.

Despite everything, I held on to the hope that one day things might get better. I longed for a time when our family could heal and be whole again. But as the years passed, I realized that some wounds never fully heal, and some broken pieces can never be put back together.

Growing up, I felt incredibly lonely. My mom always focused on her work, which she seemed to love more than she loved me. She changed a lot after my father left. She became heartless and distant, no longer the caring mother I remembered from before. It was like she built a wall around herself, shutting me out completely.

Luckily, I had my grandparents with me. They were my safe haven in those tough times. They provided the love and care that I desperately needed. They took me in and treated me as their own child. My grandmother Natacha, would cook my favorite meals and tell me stories to cheer me up. My grandfather Amiro, would take me to his golf contest, and even if he's a busy CEO he makes time to listen to my worries. They did everything they could to fill the void left by my parents.

Even though my mom was physically present, it felt like she was miles away. She buried herself in her work, often staying late at the office or bringing work home. When she was around, she was always tired and irritable. She rarely had time for me, and when she did, our conversations were brief and cold. It was clear that her priorities had shifted, and I was no longer at the top of her list.

My grandparents tried to explain her behavior to me, saying she was hurt and coping in her own way. But as a child, it was hard to understand. All I knew was that I missed the mother who used to read me bedtime stories and hug me when I was scared. The mother who laughed and played with me was gone, replaced by a stranger who seemed to have no place for me in her life.

The loneliness I felt was overwhelming at times, but my grandparents' love kept me going. They encouraged me to stay strong and reminded me that I was loved, even if my mom couldn't show it. Their support was my anchor, helping me navigate the stormy seas of my childhood. Without them, I don't know how I would have survived those years of feeling so lost and unloved.

I studied really hard because I wanted my mom to be proud of me. I put in a lot of effort into my schoolwork, always aiming to be the best. I wanted to show her that I was worth her attention and love, hoping that my achievements would make her notice me.