La Familià (Lim X Vergara Family) Au

XXXVII

A week ago, tension between Charles and Loyden reached a new level. Their daughter Selah's behavior had been spiraling out of control, and the recent confrontation about sending Selah to live as a maid still weighed heavily on their minds. Loyden, heartbroken by the harshness of the decision, had been pleading with Charles to reconsider.

That evening, as they sat in the living room, Loyden broached the topic again, her voice soft but urgent. “Charles, please... I’ve been thinking. Maybe instead of sending Selah to that secret family, we could let her stay with one of our parents.

She could go to your parents in Bohol they could teach her discipline. They’re both mayors, after all. Or she could stay with my parents in Batangas. You know how strict they are. Maybe being around family will help her see the value of things without feeling abandoned.”

Charles remained silent for a moment, her expression unreadable. Loyden could see the conflict in her wife’s eyes, but she knew how stubborn Charles could be when she had made up her mind.

Finally, Charles sighed, her tone firm but weary. “Loyden, I understand how you feel. But I’ve already made the arrangements. Selah is going to stay with the family I’ve chosen, and she will work as a maid. She needs to experience life without the privileges she’s always had.”

“But, Charles,” Loyden protested, her voice breaking slightly, “she’s still our daughter. Can’t we at least consider sending her to people who love her? Your parents, my parents they would help her without making her feel so... alone. She’s just a teenager. She’s lost, not broken.”

Charles shook her head, her jaw set in determination. “No, Loyden. This is the only way. Our parents would spoil her. They wouldn’t make her understand the consequences of her actions. She’d just think it’s another vacation. That’s not what she needs. She needs to learn what it means to work for something.”

Loyden could feel her frustration rising, but she tried to keep calm. “Then who is this family? Where is she going? Why is it so secretive?”

Charles hesitated before responding. “It’s someone I trust my assistant is handling everything. The family will treat her like any other maid, but they know how to keep things discreet. No one will know Selah’s identity, and that’s important for her to learn humility.”

Loyden’s heart sank. The thought of their daughter being sent away to strangers, without even the comfort of family, was too much. She had always been more lenient with Selah, and the idea of punishing her so harshly felt wrong. But Charles was resolute.

“I’ve made up my mind, Loyden,” Charles said, her voice softening slightly. “I know this is hard, but we have to do this. If Selah doesn’t learn now, what will become of her later? I’m doing this because I love her. Because I want her to be strong.”

Loyden, tears welling in her eyes, nodded reluctantly. “I just hope... I just hope we’re not pushing her too far away.”

Charles wrapped an arm around her wife, pulling her close. “She’ll come back, Loyden. And when she does, she’ll be better for it.”

But even as Charles said the words, Loyden couldn’t shake the feeling that something was slipping through their fingers that maybe, just maybe, this decision would have consequences they couldn’t  see.

That evening, Charles approached Selah’s room with a heavy heart but a firm resolve. She stood outside the door for a moment, gathering herself before stepping inside. Selah was sitting on her bed, scrolling through her phone, completely unaware of what was about to be said.

“Selah,” Charles began, her voice calm but authoritative.

Selah looked up, her expression still defiant from their previous arguments. “What now?” she muttered, half-expecting another lecture.

Charles took a deep breath. “Tomorrow, you’re leaving. You’ll be staying with a family I’ve chosen, and you’ll be working there, like I told you. It’s time for you to understand the value of hard work and the life you’ve taken for granted.”

Selah blinked, stunned. “Wait, what? You’re really doing this?” she said, her voice rising in disbelief. “You can’t be serious! I’m not going anywhere.”

“I am serious,” Charles replied firmly, her eyes unwavering. “You need this, Selah. You’ve crossed too many lines, and this is the only way I believe you’ll learn.”

Selah stood up from the bed, her face flushing with anger. “So you’re just sending me away? Like I’m some kind of problem you don’t want to deal with anymore?” Her voice cracked, the hurt beneath the anger finally showing.

“This isn’t about getting rid of you,” Charles said, her tone softening but remaining firm. “This is about giving you a chance to understand the consequences of your actions. You’ve been reckless, disrespectful, and you’ve put yourself and others at risk. You need to see that life isn’t just about being handed everything.”

Selah shook her head, her voice full of fury and desperation. “You’re ruining my life! You’re my mom, you’re supposed to help me, not punish me like this!”

“I am helping you, Selah,” Charles responded, her voice steady. “It just doesn’t feel like it right now.”

Selah’s eyes filled with tears of frustration. “I don’t want to go. You can’t make me.”

Charles sighed deeply, her heart aching at the sight of her daughter’s tears, but she stood her ground. “You need to pack your things. The driver will take you tomorrow morning. You’ll stay with the family I’ve arranged, and you’ll work there until I believe you’ve learned what you need to.”

Selah glared at her mother, her face flushed with anger. “You’ll regret this,” she whispered through gritted teeth, storming past Charles and out of the room.

Charles stood there in silence, her heart heavy but her decision made. She didn’t enjoy seeing Selah like this, but she hoped that someday, her daughter would understand why she had done it.

As she watched Selah’s retreating figure, Charles whispered to herself, “I hope this is the right choice.”