Chapter 2 Kicked Out of the House
891 Words
Chez's cheek burned with heat, and he could hardly believe what had just happened. He turned towards Tania in disbelief.
Laura, too, was frozen, her eyes wide with shock.
That dark, venomous voice—was it really coming from her sweet daughter?
Tania hadn't expected Theodora to have a recording.
For a brief moment, panic overtook her, but she quickly fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so sorry, Chez, Mom... It's all my fault! I was just so jealous of Theodora all these years, and I was so afraid of losing you to her. I couldn't bear going back to that miserable life..."
Her sobs wracked her body as she trembled uncontrollably. In an instant, Laura's heart softened, and she pulled Tania into her arms. "Tania, my sweet girl, you're our real daughter. Don't be afraid of losing us to an outsider. She's nothing compared to you."
Tania continued crying, but her eyes—those deep eyes—darted towards Theodora, a flash of triumph and mockery crossing her gaze.
So what if Theodora had a recording?
Her family would always side with her.
"I'm so scared," Tania whimpered, trembling. "Theodora recorded me... I can't stay here anymore..."
Chez, his mind finally snapping into focus, grew serious. "Theodora, you've been taking Tania's place for all these years. Even if she has grievances, she has the right to teach you a lesson. But you... how could you record this? I never realized you were so scheming..."
Theodora stood there, her gaze icy, her emotions strangely calm. Her eyes flicked over Laura, who was wearing a custom high-end dress that Theodora had spent months designing, and Chez, who was feeling better thanks to the medicinal dishes she'd carefully prepared. Yet now, they looked at her like she was their enemy.
All the lingering affection she once had for them faded, leaving only the cold truth.
With a frosty voice, Theodora asked, "Did you ever ask me if I wanted to take her place?"
They both froze.
That was... sharp.
Theodora had been as much a victim as Tania, caught in the middle of a family who had once loved her but now only resented her.
Chez recovered first, sneering. "Hmph, if you weren't a Belbin, you'd just be a nobody. You should be grateful. Do you know how much money we've spent on you? If you want to leave, fine—then pay it all back!"
He needed to make her see the reality of her situation.
Theodora calmly placed a card on the table. "This is how much you've spent on me."
Chez scoffed, mocking, "Ha... How much could be on this card? Since you've made up your mind to leave, let me check your bag, just to be sure you didn't take anything valuable."
He was treating her like a thief.
Theodora gave a humorless smile and opened the bag. Inside, there was only her notebook and a few scattered items—nothing of any real value. Her openness, her lack of fear, made Chez falter for a moment.
He wanted to say more, but Theodora had already turned and walked away.
No hesitation. No regrets.
The moment she stepped out of the door, rain began to fall, washing over the streets, but Theodora didn't feel the cold.
The fresh air felt almost like a rebirth.
Her phone suddenly rang. She swiped to answer.
"Floria, your designs are ready! They'll be in the store tomorrow. Would you like to come take a look?" The voice on the other end was polite and respectful.
"Already?" Theodora paused, considering, and then said, "Okay, I'll come by."
No more catering to the Belbin family. From now on, her time was her own.
Meanwhile, inside the Belbin house, Tania couldn't hide her satisfaction.
As soon as Theodora left, she let out a quiet, triumphant smile, but her voice was full of urgency. "Chez, you have to go after Theodora. She's out there alone. How will she survive?"
Chez, although a bit uneasy, couldn't bring himself to show concern. "Relax. She'll come crawling back once she can't take it out there. Then, I'll really teach her a lesson."
Laura sighed, clearly unconcerned. She shared the same view as Chez.
'She's just throwing a tantrum. She'll be back in no time, begging to return.'
The family continued their meal, the mood light, as if nothing had happened.
Laura smiled at Tania. "How about we go shopping tomorrow? I hear Floria has new pieces out."
Tania's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? Floria's clothes are so popular! People would pay anything to get them, but they're always sold out. It's amazing how you never have to wait in line, Mom. It's like Floria knows you're the perfect match for her brand. I bet she's even saved something special just for you!"
Floria, a rising star in the fashion world, had taken the industry by storm with her intricate designs.
Her clothes were coveted by many, with a year-long waiting list. But Laura—whenever she went to the store—always walked away with something, and this had greatly boosted her status in high society. Everyone who wanted to get closer to Floria had to go through Laura.
Laura, flattered by Tania's praise, smiled with pride. "Well, it's time I meet her in person."
- Writer
