Chapter 17
Mrs. Galvez’s face was as dark as a thundercloud, and just when things were getting heated, a girl walked in.
“Wow, everyone’s here! Grandma, what’s the gossip?” The voice belonged to Joanna, Grace’s daughter.
As soon as Mrs. Galvez saw her, her face softened into an almost rare smile. “Joanna, how’s your piano practice going? Your piano competitions are coming up soon, right?”
“Don’t worry, Grandma. I can definitely handle this.” Joanna smiled with confidence.
Grace couldn’t help but grinned with pride, “That’s right. Joanna’s such a hard worker! Her teacher says she’s got real talent!”
As they chatted about nothing in particular, Isabel felt like a ghost in the room–completely invisible. Rolling her eyes, she quietly slipped out of the main hall.
She headed straight for the kitchen, where Hannah was hard at work preparing lunch.
“Come on, chop this up for me,” a maid commanded her. “And don’t forget to wash the peppers after peeling the garlic.”
Hannah was doing everything as if she was one of the maids–even more obedient. Isabel couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed Hannah’s hand and pulled her away from the counter.
“Mom, what are you doing here?” She asked in shock.
“Well, I’m helping with lunch.” Hannah shrugged, as if it was no big deal. She had gotten used to it. She remembered back when she lived in the manor, she did the same thing–working side by side with the maids, as Mrs. Galvez insisted no one should sit around doing nothing.
“Stop it!” Isabel snatched the garlic from her hands.
“Don’t worry, it’s fine,” Hannah said, trying to calm her. “I’m used to it.”
“Mom, it’s not fair.” Isabel shot back, “Why do Emily and Grace get to wear diamonds and sit at the table, while you’re stuck here doing chores with the help? You don’t owe them anything!”
Hannah’s face fell. She tried to hold back her tears in front of Isabel.
“I come from nothing, Isabel. I’m just a country girl.” She sighed. “When your dad was kicked out, it was partly because of me. Your dad may not be the sharpest, but he’s the kindest guy.
“He insisted on marrying me, and that made Mrs. Galvez hate him even more. She never liked him anyway, but after that, everything just went downhill.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “She never accepted him, and when he got hurt and couldn’t work anymore, they just kicked us
out.”
Isabel listened in silence, her mind racing as she pieced everything together. A lump formed in her throat as the weight of the past hit her.
She’d never known there were so many untold stories, so much pain buried beneath the surface. Her heart sank, heavy with the realization that her family’s history wasn’t just one of wealth and power, but one of sacrifice, bitterness, and betrayal. It was more than she could have ever imagined.
“Don’t worry, Mom. No one’s blaming you.” She patted Hannah on her back, trying to comfort her. “You’ve got me now. Nobody’s going to push us around again.”
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Chapter 17
Hannah hugged Isabel tightly, her tears soaking her daughter’s shoulder.
By lunchtime, Isabel was ready to leave quietly, but before she could say anything, Mrs. Galvez’s voice rang out.
“Isabel, come sit and eat.” She said, “It’s your first time here, after all.”
Isabel looked at Hannah, who gave her a subtle nod. ‘Fine.’ She thought, then took Hannah’s hand and moved to sit down.
“Hold up!” Emily suddenly snapped. “You don’t know? Hannah can’t sit at the table. She’s not allowed.”
Isabel frowned with disgust, “What are you talking about?”
Hannah didn’t argue. She lowered her head, mumbling, “It’s okay, Isabel. Just sit down, I’ll stand.”
Hannah had always known her place among the Galvezs. She was never meant to sit at their level–not like Emily and Grace, who were treated with respect, with privileges she could only dream of.
She had always been the outsider, relegated to the edges of their world. In the past, she would have been tucked away with the maids, serving and standing in the background, a shadow in their perfect lives. That’s how they saw her. Always the lower one, always separate.
“Isabel, Hannah’s nothing but a lowly woman, she doesn’t even deserve to sit here. You’re the blood of the Galvez family, that’s why you get a seat. What’s your problem? Can’t you just be grateful?” Grace sneered, her words laced with condescension.
Snap!
Isabel slammed her knife and fork into the plate. The loud crash made everyone flinch, and a few dishes toppled over, spilling food all over the table.
“I didn’t realize we were still stuck in the Dark Ages!” Isabel’s voice was sharp with disgust. “Fine, if you want to play it that way, I’m out. Let’s go, Mom.” She shot them all one last disgusted look before turning to leave.
“Did you see that? This girl’s got some guts! She scared the life out of me!” Grace wasted no time turning to Mrs. Galvez to snitch.
“Stop right there!” Mrs. Galvez’s voice cracked like a whip, sharp and commanding.
Isabel slowly turned around, her eyes frosty and unmoving. “What now? You got something to say?”
“You come from the Clyde family, one of the most prestigious families in Ardenfall, and you act like this?” Mrs. Galvez’s words dripped with contempt. “No manners, no respect for your elders. This is what the Clydes taught you?”
Isabel’s lip curled. “The Clydes‘ business is none of your concern. I wasn’t raised by you, and I’ve never eaten your food. You don’t get to lecture me on respect.”
Mrs. Galvez’s face flushed with fury. “How dare you…” She was so enraged she could barely form a sentence. In her family, everyone bowed to her, treated her like royalty. She was the queen, and no one dared question her. But this girl? She actually had the audacity to talk back to her? Unbelievable.
Hannah froze, the blood draining from her face. She had seen firsthand what happened to anyone who dared to stand up to Mrs. Galvez, and it was never pretty.
“Madam, Isabel just got back. She’s still young and doesn’t know better. Please don’t make a big deal out of this.” Hannah begged, her voice shaky with fear.
“Yeah, she’s young and doesn’t know any better, but you, as her mother, should know better. If I don’t punish her, I’ll punish 2/3
8:30 pm D
Chapter 17
you instead. Hannah, kneel here for two hours before you leave!” Mrs. Galvez’s voice rang out like a slap across the room.
Hannah lowered her head instantly, her hands trembling as she took a hesitant step forward to kneel. But before her knees could even brush the ground, Isabel shot forward, grabbing her by the arm and jerking her upright with surprising strength.
“Don’t kneel, Mom.” She snapped. “You haven’t done a thing wrong, and neither have I. Why should we bow to them?”
“You bold little brat!” William sneered, his voice thick with disdain. “You think you’re some sort of high–and–mighty princess? Acting all high and mighty in the Galvez family, with no respect for your elders? You’ve got some nerve!”
Isabel’s eyes flashed like steel, the coldness in her gaze sharper than a blade. “Respect? Do you even have the right to talk down to me like that?”
William, who had been standing tall and proud just a moment ago, suddenly froze. Something about Isabel’s stare made him feel like he was standing in an ice storm, and for the first time, he faltered.
“Hannah, are you really going to let your daughter disrespect her elders like this?” Mrs. Galvez’s voice cracked, her cane thudding against the floor like a hammer.
Hannah, pale as a ghost, stiffened. Her eyes darted nervously to Isabel, her lips trembling.
But Isabel stepped closer, tightening her grip on her hand. “Don’t be afraid, Mom. I’ve got this.”
A sense of calm washed over Hannah, the weight of years of fear lifting for a moment. Looking into her daughter’s eyes, she saw nothing but fierce determination.
“I trust my daughter,” she turned to Mrs. Galvez, her voice suddenly firm.
“Oh, so now you think you can stand against me, huh? You think you can get away with this?” Mrs. Galvez’s face turned a shade of purple with rage. “Fine! Someone, stop them!”
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