Chapter 7 – The Price of Defiance

The moment I got home that night, I knew something was wrong.

The house was too quiet. Too still.

I stepped inside carefully, my senses on high alert. The lights in the living room were dim, but I could make out the figures sitting on the couch.

Cassandra.

And my mother.

Both of them were waiting for me.

"Clarisse," my mother’s voice was smooth, almost sweet. But I wasn’t fooled.

I let out a slow breath. "Yes, Mother?"

She crossed her legs, her gaze sharp. “Cassandra told me you were disrespectful to her today.”

I clenched my fists. Of course, Cassandra ran straight to her.

"She came to the café just to harass me," I said calmly. "I was doing my job."

Cassandra scoffed. “You humiliated me in front of my friends!” she snapped. “Do you know how embarrassing that was?”

I stared at her. “You mean like how you tried to embarrass me?”

Her face twisted with rage, but before she could say anything, Mother held up a hand.

“I don’t care what happened between the two of you,” she said coldly. “What I care about is our reputation.”

I stiffened.

“You are a Mendoza,” she continued. “And yet you’re out there serving coffee like some commoner, embarrassing this family.”

I lifted my chin. “There’s nothing embarrassing about working hard.”

Her expression darkened. “You disobeyed me.”

I braced myself as she stood up, walking toward me with slow, deliberate steps.

“You are not allowed to work,” she said, her voice laced with warning. “And yet, you continue to defy me.”

I held her gaze. “I’m not a child, Mother. You can’t control me forever.”

SLAP!

The sting of her palm across my cheek echoed through the silent room.

I refused to let the tears fall.

Cassandra smirked from her seat, enjoying the show.

"You will quit that useless job tomorrow," Mother ordered. "Or else."

I met her eyes, my heart pounding.

This was it.

The moment where I had to decide.

Obey and stay weak.

Or fight back and face the consequences.

I took a deep breath.

And I made my choice.

“No.”

Silence filled the room after that single word.

My mother’s eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line. Cassandra let out a soft laugh, as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

"No?" my mother echoed, her voice dangerously low.

I swallowed hard but stood my ground. "I said no. I won’t quit my job."

Her expression turned ice-cold. "You’re testing my patience, Clarisse."

I clenched my fists, my cheek still stinging from the slap. "I’m not trying to, but I won’t let you control me anymore. I have the right to work, to make my own decisions."

Cassandra scoffed. "You think you’re so brave now, don’t you? Just because you’re acting different doesn’t mean you matter."

I turned to her, my eyes burning with frustration. "Why do you hate me so much, Cassandra? What have I ever done to you?"

For a split second, something flickered in her eyes—something almost like guilt. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by her usual cruel smirk.

"You exist," she said simply.

My breath hitched. That was all it took? That was my crime?

Mother sighed, rubbing her temple as if I was exhausting her. "I’ve been too patient with you," she muttered. "Fine, if you want to act like a rebellious brat, then suffer the consequences."

A cold feeling settled in my gut. "What do you mean?"

She met my gaze, her voice sharp as a blade. "From now on, you will receive nothing from this family. No allowance, no help, nothing. You want to work like a peasant? Then survive like one."

I flinched at her words, but I didn’t let her see how much they hurt.

Cassandra smirked. "Let’s see how long you last, dear sister."

I squared my shoulders, forcing myself to stay strong.

"If that’s the price of my freedom, then so be it."

With that, I turned on my heel and walked to my room, ignoring the way my hands trembled.

I had won this battle.

But I knew the real war was only just beginning.

As soon as I locked myself in my room, I let out a shaky breath. My heart was still pounding, my cheek still stinging from the slap.

They had finally shown their true colors.

No more fake pleasantries. No more pretending.

I was on my own now.

I sat on my bed, staring at my reflection in the vanity mirror. My eyes were red, my lip slightly trembling. But there was something else, something new.

Determination.

Before, the old Clarisse would have broken down, would have begged for forgiveness just to earn their love.

But I wasn’t her. Not anymore.

I had lived a life where I was strong, where no one dared to step on me. And if I could do it before, I could do it again.

Fine. You want me to suffer? Watch me survive.

I wiped my tears away, standing up with newfound resolve.

First things first—I needed to make sure I could support myself.

I grabbed my phone and opened my banking app. As expected, my parents had already cut me off.

Figures.

But I wasn’t helpless.

My part-time job at the café wasn’t much, but it was a start. I could take more shifts. Maybe even look for another job.

I wouldn’t rely on them anymore.

A knock suddenly came at my door. I stiffened.

"Clarisse?"

It was Alec, my younger brother. The only one in this house who didn’t treat me like garbage.

I hesitated before opening the door slightly. He looked at me with concern, his usual playful expression gone.

"I heard what happened," he said in a low voice.

I forced a small smile. "Then you know that I’m officially the black sheep of the family now."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don’t agree with them, you know that. But… are you sure about this?"

I met his gaze. "Yes."

Alec studied me for a moment before nodding. Then, to my surprise, he pulled something out of his pocket—a few folded bills.

"Take this," he muttered.

I frowned. "Alec, no—"

"Just take it, okay?" He sighed. "I know you won’t ask for help, but I don’t want you starving to death."

A warmth spread through my chest. He was the only one who truly cared.

I hesitated before taking the money. "Thank you," I whispered.

He gave me a small, lopsided smile. "Don’t thank me. Just don’t let them win, okay?"

I nodded.

As Alec walked away, I clenched the money in my fist.

They wanted me to fail.

But I would prove them wrong.

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