Beneath the Surface

Chapter 49

The early morning knock was sharp and persistent, cutting through the quiet of the house. Y/N groaned, barely awake, as she dragged herself to the door with only a sports bra and sweatpants. The mansion was still, the sun barely rising through the windows, casting long, faint shadows on the walls.

When she opened the door, her mood darkened instantly.

It was her mother.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Y/N asked, her voice low with annoyance, already knowing this wasn't going to be a pleasant visit.

Her mother strode past her without waiting for an invitation, her heels clicking loudly on the marble floors as she made her way into the living room. "We need to talk," she announced coldly.

Y/N followed her, her jaw clenched. This wasn't the first time her mother had shown up uninvited, but it had been a while since their last confrontation.

Her mother turned to face her, arms crossed, her expression full of disdain. "I've heard things, Y/N. Things I can't believe. Tell me it's not true that you've thrown everything away. For a girl, no less?"

Y/N's eyes narrowed, her body stiffening. She knew where this was going.

"I don't owe you any explanations," Y/N said flatly, trying to keep her voice steady. But her mother was already moving in for the kill.

"Do you even realize what you've done?" her mother spat, her voice laced with venom. "You've disgraced your family. Everything your father built, everything he worked for—gone. All because you couldn't resist some Hollywood actress. You've turned your back on your legacy for a life that's disgusting, unnatural—"

"Stop," Y/N warned, her tone sharp.

Her mother ignored her, stepping closer, her words growing harsher. "You're living in sin. And for what? A life with some woman who will toss you aside the moment she finds something better? You've become weak, Y/N. You've always been weak, but this—"

Y/N's vision blurred with anger. She had taken her mother's insults for years, but this—this was different. Her body tensed, her fists clenching at her sides.

"Я сказал остановись" Y/N growled, her voice dangerously low. (I said stop)

Her mother sneered, unfazed. "You're a disgrace to your father's name. A failure. What kind of life is this? Gay, living with that actress, and what's next? Bastard children, ruining the family name even more—"

The next few seconds happened in a blur. Y/N lunged forward, her hand wrapping tightly around her mother's throat, lifting her easily off the ground. Her mother's eyes went wide, panic flashing in them for the first time ever as Y/N's grip tightened. The anger surged through Y/N like a tidal wave, her vision narrowing as her mother's insults continued to ring in her ears.

"You don't get to talk to me like that," Y/N hissed, her voice low and menacing. "Not anymore."

Her mother's hands clawed at Y/N's grip, her feet dangling inches off the ground, her face twisted in fear.

And then, a voice cut through the haze.

"Y/N!"

Lizzie's voice was sharp and panicked, slicing through Y/N's rage like a knife. Y/N froze, her grip loosening slightly as she turned to see Lizzie standing at the edge of the hallway, her eyes wide with shock.

Y/N's heart pounded in her chest as she slowly lowered her mother back to the ground, releasing her neck. Her mother stumbled, gasping for air, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and fury.

"Liz," Y/N muttered, her voice hoarse, still coming down from the intensity of what just happened.

Lizzie quickly crossed the room, placing a gentle hand on Y/N's arm. "Hey," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly. "Let her go. She's not worth it."