When They Beg, I Rise!

Lemira took a cab back to the Langston mansion.

As she stepped into the foyer, she could hear Evelina's laughter, sounding blissful and carefree. However, the moment she appeared, the atmosphere shifted to a tense silence. Lemira, with a poker face, walked past the foyer, intending to head straight to her room.

Caspian's voice boomed, "Lemira, stop right there! Coming home and not even greeting your elders, is this your attitude now? So just because the school doctor has your back and even threatened to call the cops, you think you've got it all covered? Without the Langstons, you're nothing!"

Caspian grew angrier as he spoke, eventually standing up, "You think we favor Evelina, but you don't see how terribly you've treated her! Her dad saved your life, we're just paying your dues for you!"

Lemira felt utterly drained. She paused, looking towards the couch, "Lucian, Caspian, I'm home," thinking that should suffice.

Lucian spoke up, "Dinner's ready."

"You all go ahead, I'm not hungry," after saying that, Lemira turned and went upstairs.

"Lucian, look at her attitude, she's becoming more and more unruly!"

Maybe

leave, it's Lemira. Why should you

words followed Lemira as she quickened her pace back to her room, immediately locking the

breathe, her eyes slightly moist. She looked up at the ceiling, pushing the tears back. This time, she wouldn't cling to any false sense of sibling affection. The next day, Lemira went to school as usual. Evelina shared a ride with

"Lemmy, are you still

the victim, doesn't it tire you?" Lemira leaned against the window, closing

the driver present, she put

Langston was being too harsh, bullying Evelina like

notes, aware she had missed a lot. Even

much to do to waste

Lemira saw Alaric

ran over, trying to be adorable, "Ari, you're back, I've

softened after Evelina's cajoling. Lemira glanced at their interaction

disobedient. I didn't believe it until