Chapter 49: The distrust
Gracie’s hands trembled as she gently brushed her fingers on the fiery red imprint marring Riya’s cheek. Her heart clenched at the sight. "Does it hurt?"
Riya gave a small nod, her lower lip trembling.
Gracie turned her furious gaze on Zara. "Have you lost your mind?" she demanded, her voice rising with rage. "You hit her? She is the daughter of this family, the apple of our eye. How dare you lay a hand on her?"
Zara let out a dry, scornful laugh as she crossed her arms and met Gracie’s gaze head-on.
"Seems like the family’s blind affection has spoiled her so much that she doesn’t even know where the line is anymore. She doesn’t know how to behave," Zara replied coldly. "If no one else will correct her, I will. I gave her the lesson she deserved. I hope you won’t mind."
Gracie blinked, taken aback. This wasn’t the same Zara she had known for years. The quiet, composed woman who kept her head down and never spoke back had disappeared into the shadows. This Zara stood her ground with unwavering fire in her eyes, unbending in the face of confrontation.
"You..." Gracie’s voice faltered, stunned by the transformation. She felt her authority challenged for the first time. She suddenly couldn’t understand how to deal with this defiant Zara.
"You have no right to school her," she finally snapped, regaining her voice. "She has elders. We’ll deal with her if needed. But you don’t raise a hand on her."
"As her elder brother’s wife, I am her elder in this family," Zara replied evenly with a cold resolve. As she turned back to Riya, her face twisted. "And I won’t hesitate to do it again if she dares cross the line."