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!"

my fault. Maybe if I leave the

nonsense, if anyone should leave, it's Lemira.

she quickened her pace back

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

cautiously, "Lemmy,

you?" Lemira leaned against the window,

present, she put on a

felt that Ms. Langston was being too harsh, bullying Evelina like that.

focused on her lessons and notes, aware she had missed a lot. Even with Evelina's

too much to do to waste

Alaric sitting on the couch,

trying to be adorable, "Ari, you're back, I've missed you so much

sour, but it softened after Evelina's cajoling. Lemira

didn't believe it until now. Can't you even say hello