La Familià (Lim X Vergara Family) Au

XXXV

Later that day, just as Charles was trying to process the emotional fallout from her confrontation with Selah, her phone buzzed with a message. It was from Selah’s teacher, and the moment Charles saw the notification, she felt her stomach tighten. She braced herself for more bad news.

The message read: “Mrs. Vergara, we need to discuss Selah’s involvement in a serious incident. It appears she attempted to copy the design for a project that was meant for the upcoming fashion show. This design is owned by Mairwen, the heir of the school. We need to schedule a meeting as soon as possible.”

Charles’ heart sank. The situation had just escalated. Copying someone else's work, especially Mairwen’s the school’s influential and respected figure could have major consequences. She could already imagine the implications, not just for Selah but for their family. Charles slumped down on the nearest chair, staring at the message as if it might somehow change if she read it enough times.

Loyden, who was putting Silas down for a nap, noticed the distress on Charles' face when she re-entered the living room. “Love, what’s wrong?” she asked gently, sensing something new had come up.

Charles handed her the phone wordlessly. Loyden read the message quickly, her eyes widening as she reached the part about the project theft. “Oh no,” she muttered, her hand going to her forehead. “This is getting worse, Charles.”

“I know,” Charles replied, her voice thick with frustration and sadness. “It’s one thing after another with Selah. And now this? Copying Mairwen’s design? This isn’t just school misbehavior. This could get serious Mairwen has connections, and if this gets out...”

Loyden sat beside her, placing a hand on her knee. “We’ll handle it, Charles. We need to talk to Selah again, and we’ll have to meet with the school. But maybe we should reach out to Mairwen first see if we can talk to her before this becomes a bigger issue.”

Charles nodded, though her thoughts were still racing. “I’m trying, Loyden. I don’t know what’s gotten into Selah. She’s always been so strong-willed, but this... this is different. It’s like she’s rebelling against everything, and now she’s dragging us into it.”

Loyden gave her a comforting smile. “We’ll get to the bottom of it. Selah is struggling, but we’re her parents. We’ll figure this out together.”

Charles sighed, her heart heavy with the weight of the day. She couldn’t help but think of the long road ahead and how far Selah seemed from the daughter they once knew.

As the tension from the confrontation between Charles and Selah escalated, Charles came to a decision one that wasn’t easy, but she felt it was necessary. Selah had spiraled too far, and nothing seemed to be getting through to her. The entitled behavior, the rebellion, the trouble at school it all pointed to one thing: Selah didn’t understand the value of what she had. She needed to learn the hard way.

Later that evening, Charles sat Selah down, her voice calm but laced with finality. “Selah, your behavior these past months has shown me that you don’t appreciate the privileges you’ve been given. You’re reckless, disrespectful, and ungrateful for everything we’ve provided for you.”

Selah crossed her arms, rolling her eyes. “Here we go again,” she muttered under her breath.

“No,” Charles said sharply, causing Selah to straighten in her seat. “This time, things are going to change. I’ve tried talking to you, reasoning with you, but nothing seems to work. So, I’ve made a decision.” She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in.

Selah looked at her mother, her defiance momentarily faltering. “What are you talking about?”

Charles took a deep breath. “I’m sending you to another house. You’re going to live there, not as our daughter, but as a maid. You’re going to learn what it’s like to earn what you have, to understand the value of hard work and the struggles that come with it.”

Selah blinked, stunned by her mother’s words. “What? You can’t be serious,” she scoffed, but the look on Charles’ face told her otherwise.

“Oh, I’m very serious,” Charles replied, her tone unyielding. “You’re going to live with another family, and they’re not going to treat you like Selah, the daughter of Charles and Loyden. You’ll be working for them cleaning, cooking, doing whatever they ask. And maybe then, you’ll understand what it feels like to live without all the luxuries you’ve taken for granted.”

Selah’s face flushed with anger. “You can’t do this to me! I’m not a maid! This is insane!”

Charles stood firm, her voice cold. “You’re going, whether you like it or not. You’ve lost the right to complain about what’s fair and what’s not. You’ll stay there for as long as it takes for you to learn your lesson.”

Selah jumped up from the couch, furious. “You’re ruining my life!”

“No, Selah,” Charles replied calmly. “I’m saving it.”

Loyden, who had been listening quietly from the other room, stepped in, her face full of concern but understanding Charles’ intent. She walked over to Selah and softly said, “We’re doing this because we love you. You need to understand that your actions have consequences.”

But Selah couldn’t hear it. She was too angry, too hurt. She stormed upstairs, slamming her door behind her, while Charles and Loyden stood in the living room, the silence heavy between them.

“This is the only way,” Charles whispered, more to herself than to anyone else. “It’s the only way she’ll learn.”