Chapter 15 – The Awakening

The next morning, I woke up to the faint sound of birds chirping outside my window. My body still ached from yesterday’s training, but the pain was bearable—a reminder of how far I had come.

I pushed myself up, stretching my sore muscles before heading to the bathroom. The bruises were still there, dark against my skin, but they didn’t bother me anymore. They were proof that I had survived, that I was getting stronger.

After dressing in a simple blouse and jeans, I made my way downstairs. The atmosphere in the house felt different today—tense, as if everyone was waiting for something.

And they were.

As I stepped into the dining room, all eyes turned to me. My father sat at the head of the table, his cold gaze unreadable. Adrian leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. Bianca sat stiffly, barely touching her food.

I walked to my seat without hesitation, meeting each of their gazes with calm indifference.

“Clarisse,” my father said, his deep voice breaking the silence. “You survived yesterday’s training.”

I picked up my fork and calmly took a bite of my food before answering, “Of course.”

Bianca scoffed. “Don’t get too comfortable. One good performance doesn’t mean anything.”

I met her glare, unbothered. “Then we’ll see how I do today.”

She clenched her jaw, but before she could say anything else, my father spoke again.

“Since you seem so eager,” he said, his expression unreadable, “you’ll be training with Adrian today.”

Adrian’s smirk widened. “Try to keep up, little sister.”

I held his gaze, my grip tightening around my fork.

I wasn’t Clarisse anymore.

And I wasn’t afraid.

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The room remained silent after my father’s declaration. Bianca’s expression was one of barely concealed satisfaction, as if she expected me to hesitate.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I met Adrian’s gaze head-on. “I hope you don’t go easy on me.”

His smirk deepened. “Oh, I won’t.”

My father gave a curt nod before turning his attention back to his meal, signaling the end of the conversation. But even as everyone resumed eating, the tension lingered in the air.

I ignored the way Bianca kept glancing at me, waiting for me to slip back into my old timid self. She could wait forever. That girl was gone.

After breakfast, Adrian and I made our way to the training grounds at the back of the estate. The space was vast, surrounded by high walls and equipped with everything from weights to weapons.

He turned to me, arms crossed. “Let’s see what you’ve really got.”

I rolled my shoulders, feeling the slight sting of my bruises. “I was about to say the same thing.”

Adrian chuckled, clearly amused by my confidence. “Alright then, little sister. Let’s begin.”

Without warning, he lunged.

-------

Adrian moved fast—too fast. His fist came straight for my face, and I barely dodged in time, feeling the rush of air as it passed. My instincts screamed at me to move, so I twisted my body, stepping back to create distance.

He smirked. “Good reflexes. But that won’t be enough.”

Before I could fully regain my footing, he swept his leg low, aiming for my ankles. I jumped just in time, but the moment I landed, his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist and yanking me forward.

I gasped as I stumbled, but instead of panicking, I used the momentum against him. I twisted my arm free and aimed a punch at his side. He blocked it effortlessly, his strength overpowering mine, but I saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

“You’ve improved,” he muttered.

I didn’t reply. Talking was a waste of energy.

He attacked again, faster this time, and I barely managed to block. My arms trembled from the force of his blows, but I gritted my teeth and held my ground.

I refused to fall.

I refused to be weak.

With a sudden burst of determination, I ducked under his next punch and struck forward, slamming my palm against his chest. He staggered back slightly, eyes widening.

A moment of silence stretched between us. Then, Adrian grinned.

“Interesting,” he murmured, rolling his shoulders. “Looks like training you won’t be a waste of my time after all.”

I wiped the sweat from my brow, breathing heavily but steady. “I told you—I’m not the same Clarisse anymore.”

His smirk remained, but there was something new in his gaze. Respect.

I had earned his attention.

And this was just the beginning.

------

Adrian stepped back, rolling his neck as if loosening up. “Not bad,” he admitted. “But don’t get too confident yet.”

I clenched my fists, keeping my breathing steady. My body ached, my muscles burned, but I refused to show weakness. I had come too far to back down now.

He suddenly lunged again, his movements even faster than before. This time, I was ready. Instead of dodging backward, I ducked low and shifted to the side, narrowly avoiding his strike. I aimed a kick at his ribs, but he caught my leg mid-air and yanked me forward.

I gasped as I lost balance, but instead of crashing onto the ground, I twisted my body mid-fall, landing on one knee.

Adrian raised an eyebrow. “Impressive recovery.”

I smirked, wiping the sweat from my forehead. “You should know by now—I don’t go down easily.”

His expression darkened with amusement. “We’ll see about that.”

He attacked again, and our fight continued—faster, sharper, more intense. Every strike I dodged, he countered. Every hit I landed, he returned with double the force.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours, but I refused to yield.

Until, finally, Adrian stepped back, breathing hard. He studied me for a long moment before letting out a low chuckle.

“You’re different,” he said, his tone laced with curiosity. “Stronger. Smarter. I don’t know what happened to you, but I like this new Clarisse.”

I straightened, wiping the dust off my hands. “Good,” I said simply. “Because she’s not going anywhere.”

For the first time since I arrived in this body, I felt it—power.

I wasn’t just surviving anymore.

I was fighting back.

-------

Adrian’s smirk didn’t fade as he crossed his arms. “Alright, that’s enough for today. You survived longer than I expected.”

I exhaled sharply, rolling my sore shoulders. Every muscle in my body ached, but I refused to show any sign of weakness. I met his gaze with unwavering determination. “Tomorrow. Same time?”

He chuckled. “You’re eager to get beaten up again?”

I smirked. “No. I’m eager to win.”

A flicker of amusement passed through his eyes before he turned away. “We’ll see.”

As he walked off, I stood in the center of the training ground, letting the adrenaline settle. My body hurt, but beneath the pain, there was something else—satisfaction.

For the first time, I wasn’t running. I wasn’t cowering. I wasn’t Clarisse, the weak girl everyone could push around.

I was someone else now. Someone who refused to be stepped on.

And soon… they would all see it too.

Taking a deep breath, I turned back toward the mansion. The fight was over for today.

But the real battle was just beginning.

----

As I walked back toward the mansion, I could feel the dull ache in my limbs intensifying with every step. My body was exhausted, but my mind was sharper than ever.

The moment I stepped inside, I was met with Bianca’s mocking smile. She was leaning against the staircase, arms crossed, watching me like a predator waiting for its prey.

“So, how was training, dear sister?” she asked, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “Did Adrian finally put you in your place?”

I met her gaze without flinching. “You seem very interested in my training,” I said coolly. “Do you want to join next time?”

Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second before she scoffed. “Please, don’t make me laugh. Just because you lasted a few minutes in a fight doesn’t mean you’re suddenly strong.”

I stepped closer, just enough for her to feel my presence. “We’ll see,” I said simply. “I wonder how long you’ll last when the tables turn.”

Her eyes narrowed, but before she could retort, I walked past her, heading straight to my room.

The moment I closed the door behind me, I leaned against it, letting out a slow breath. My body was screaming for rest, but I couldn’t afford to slow down.

Not yet.

Because this was just the beginning.

Tomorrow, I would wake up stronger.

And soon… no one in this house would be able to control me again.

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