Chapter 88: Take Her Away
Nina stopped walking.
She blinked once.
With everything going on, she’d totally forgotten she’d asked Sabrina to return to the pack’s house.
Forcing away the lingering thoughts of Rodrigo, she turned to Moreen.
"Where is she?"
"Lady Gina is with her," Moreen replied. "She asked what should be done."
Nina drew a slow breath, turning towards the exit.
"Lead the way.’’
Nina’s steps gradually slowed as she reached the courtyard outside the Pack House’s living quarters.
The courtyard was unusually quiet.
Several servants had paused in their work, pretending to busy themselves while stealing cautious glances toward the small gathering waiting near the entrance.
Sabrina stood there with a large travel bag slung over one shoulder.
She looked nothing like the pampered daughter Nina remembered.
Her face was pale and her eyes swollen as though she’d been crying, and although her black hair had been neatly tied into a bun, several loose strands clung to her face.
Marjorie stood beside her, one hand wrapped protectively around her daughter’s arm.
Jonathan remained on Sabrina’s other side, shoulders slightly hunched, his solemn expression lined with exhaustion.
The moment they spotted Nina, they straightened instinctively.
The nearby guards immediately bowed.
Jonathan lowered his head.
Marjorie followed.
Only Sabrina remained standing with her chin raised.
Their eyes met.
Sabrina’s expression was a mixture of pride, resentment, and disbelief.
Nina held her gaze for only a brief moment before looking away as though Sabrina were no more significant than another servant waiting for instructions.
"My Luna."
Lady Gina stepped forward with a respectful bow.
"The girl has been brought here by her parents. What are your orders?"
Nina let her eyes drift back to Sabrina.
The silence stretched just long enough for hope to bloom across Sabrina’s face.
Perhaps she expected mercy.
Perhaps she expected Nina to change her mind.
Instead, Nina spoke evenly, turning back to Lady Gina.
"She’s the newest maid in the Pack House."
Lady Gina inclined her head.
"Take her to the servants’ quarters. I want her to work in the laundry."
Silence.
Sabrina stared at her.
For several long seconds she simply blinked, as though the words refused to make sense.
"...What?"
Her voice cracked.
Disbelief spread across her face.
"Nina... you can’t do this to me."
The desperation in her voice made several servants lower their eyes.
"Mother..."
She turned frantically toward Marjorie.
"Tell her this isn’t funny anymore."
The courtyard fell completely silent.
Lady Gina slowly turned her head.
Her composed expression hardened,
She took one measured step toward Sabrina.
Then another.
The quiet scrape of her shoes against the stone echoed through the courtyard.
Sabrina frowned.
Confusion replaced panic.
"What—"
Lady Gina raised her hand.
For one suspended heartbeat, everything stood still.
Even the breeze seemed to stop.
Then—
Smack!
The sharp crack echoed against the stone walls.
Sabrina’s head snapped violently to the side.
Her neatly tied bun loosened as several strands of hair fell across her face.
The force sent the bag slipping from her shoulder and it struck the ground with a heavy thud.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Sabrina remained frozen, one trembling hand slowly rising to her burning cheek.
Her eyes were wide with stunned disbelief.
Marjorie’s mouth fell open.
She instinctively reached toward her daughter, pulling her into a close hug.
Jonathan closed his eyes briefly, saying nothing.
Lady Gina lowered her hand with perfect composure.
"You dare address the Luna by her given name?"
Her voice carried across the courtyard like ice.
"Who do you think you are?"
A soft scoff escaped Nina before she could stop it. She stepped forward until she stood beside Lady Gina.
"Lady Gina." she called softly.
Her gaze rested calmly on Sabrina.
"Please, assign someone to teach the new maid some manners."
A faint smile curved her lips.
"It is obvious she wasn’t properly trained."
Slowly...
Very slowly...
Sabrina lifted her head.
Anger.
Humiliation.
Hatred.
Every emotion burned together inside her tear-filled eyes.
A single tear escaped despite her obvious effort to stop it, sliding silently down her cheek.
She glared at Nina as though willing her to suffer.
Nina simply met the glare with quiet composure.
"Nin... Luna," Marjorie started. "Please forgive us and let your sister go. I know I have hurt you, but don’t punish your sister."
Nina’s eyes turned to her and the painful memories flooded back at once.
The countless beatings.
The days she’d slept without food.
Every memory rushed back at once, crashing into her with enough force to make her chest tighten.
Still...
Not once had this woman looked at her with remorse for what she had done.
Not once.
And then when she survived, her first thought had been to switch them back.
Even now...
She stood here begging.
Not for forgiveness, but to save her daughter.
A cold fury settled over Nina.
"Lady Marjorie."
Nina cut her off, a deep frown settling between her brows.
Marjorie immediately straightened.
Pain clouded her eyes as she held her daughter tightly.
Nina’s gaze drifted downward to her hand clung tightly to Sabrina’s arm.
Nina watched the hand for a long moment before speaking.
"Do you intend to remain in the Pack House with your daughter?"
Marjorie blinked.
"What?" She asked, taken aback by the question.
’’I said, do you want to join your daughter in the servants quarters? Because I can assure you there is enough room for two.’’ Nina’s voice was laced with disdain.
Marjorie hurriedly shook her head.
"No, no... I only brought her here as you requested."
"Then why are you holding on to her?"
Marjorie’s eyes followed Nina’s gaze.
Only then did she realize she was clutching Sabrina.
Her fingers immediately released their grip.
Sabrina stumbled half a step, still shaken from the slap.
A faint smile curved Nina’s lips.
"Much better."
She turned back toward Lady Gina.
"Take her away."
Sabrina’s muffled sobs broke the silence as Lady Gina signaled for two female servants to escort her away.
Nina didn’t look back.
Instead, her eyes settled on Jonathan.
He hadn’t spoken once. His head was lowered as he stared at the ground.
Nina gritted her teeth tightly as she stared at her father, then she straightened.
"I need to speak with you."
She hesitated.
The next word caught unexpectedly in her throat.
"Father."