After a while, Dad left the hallway, leaving me alone with Simmy. When I glanced at her, she was staring at me with a small smile on her lips. “I didn’t want to speak up for you and that boy, but I see Japen is a good kid. So I hope you won’t betray the trust I and your father have given you, Azora.”
I was dumbfounded by her words. She sounded like my mother. But then, I sighed. “You don’t need to do that. I can handle Dad on my own.”
Her expression softened. “I don’t like seeing you in distress,” she sighed. “Azora, even though you’re often rude to me, I don’t want to see you unhappy. I see you’re happy when you’re with that boy.”
“You don’t care.”
“I need to make sure you’re in good hands, Azora. I promised your mother I’d take care of you. I don’t understand why you’re so angry with me. You used to call me ‘auntie’. What changed, Azora?” she asked.
My lips tightened into a thin line. Why did she have to bring it up? I didn’t want the servants to gossip about us.
“Shut up,” I snapped.
“That’s it. Your mother didn’t raise you without respect, Azora. You’re not showing respect to your elders. Who taught you that attitude?”
I was still descending the staircase, and I couldn’t help but huff, roll my eyes, and purse my lips. Simmy was as irritating as ever.
“Just stop nagging at me,” I said, reaching the ground floor.
I looked around but couldn’t see Japen. Where was he?
“Azora,” someone asserted, grabbing my wrist. They forcefully turned me around, and I found myself face to face with Simmy. She seemed annoyed and angry. “Answer me!” she demanded.
I yanked my wrist free and huffed. “You’re annoying.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t know you had such a nasty attitude hidden, Azora. You never used to treat me like this.”
“I don’t want to hear you speak, okay?” I said, trying to walk past her.
But she grabbed my wrist again. “Don’t turn your back on me when I’m talking to you, Azora. You have no respect for your elders.”
I pursed my lips. “What do you want?” I asked, facing her.
Her forehead creased, lips forming a thin line. She was furious. “Do you want me to discipline you?”
I huffed again. “Dad didn’t discipline me. Are you that desperate to discipline me? Who are you? You’re not my mom. What right do you have to discipline me?”
Simmy’s expression darkened. She was seething, glaring angrily at me. “That’s why you grew up without respect, because your father never disciplined you.”
“Whatever,” I said dismissively.
“Kneel down!” she yelled.
I rolled my eyes and pulled my wrist away again. “No way,” I said, heading toward the kitchen. I noticed some of our maids looking in our direction. They whispered among themselves, scattering when they noticed me looking at them. Some hurried to the kitchen while others ran up the stairs.
I smirked. So much for gossip.
I gasped when someone forced me down onto my knees. Before I knew it, I found myself kneeling in front of Simmy. I glared at her angrily. I tried to stand up, but Simmy’s firm hands were on my shoulders, keeping me down.
“What are you doing?” I asked harshly.
She smirked. “You need to learn, Azora. I’ll let you go if you apologize.”
I bit my lip in frustration. I could feel blood trickling from my grazed knees. I couldn’t remember the last time I kneeled on cold tiles. When my knees hit the floor heavily, I knew they were already bruised. That woman. I hissed.
“What gives you the right?” I spat. “Let me go!” I yelled.
She was taken aback by my sudden outburst, but I could see my words fueled her to press me down even harder. I groaned in anger. The pain in my knees intensified.
“I’m your guardian, Azora. You have to obey everything I say. But you defied me. I’m just disciplining you.”
I laughed bitterly at her words. “Discipline me? Do you know the more you force me down, the less I want to submit to you? My respect for you is fading, and soon it’ll be completely gone. I’ll slap you hard, Simmy!”
In response, she pushed me down harder. I groaned again. The pain in my knees was unbearable, and I began to sweat profusely. I gritted my teeth.
After a while, someone pushed Simmy away from me, and strong arms wrapped around my waist. But before I could see who saved me, darkness enveloped me completely.