The Pain of Expectations

The morning was a still, quiet one, with the first rays of dawn just beginning to filter through Lily's bedroom window. 

She stared at herself in the mirror, straightening her uniform and squaring her shoulders as she steeled herself for the day. 

Her thoughts were set on one thing: she was tired of being treated like an afterthought, someone who didn’t belong.

As she went downstairs, she found Lucas and Liam waiting by the front door, leaning casually against the wall. They straightened when they saw her approach.

“I want a separate car to school,” she declared, keeping her tone even but firm.

Lucas raised an eyebrow, and Liam scoffed. 

“What for?” he asked, folding his arms.

Lily met their stares, unflinching. 

“Because I’m tired of being dropped off in some hidden corner of the school just because you two don’t want to be seen with me. If you’re so ashamed, let me have my own car.”

For a moment, silence stretched between them, the twins exchanging a look. 

She half-expected them to argue, to refuse her request. But then Lucas shrugged dismissively. 

“Fine. If you want to be dropped off separately, we’ll arrange it,” he said, barely concealing the disinterest in his voice.

Liam smirked, clearly pleased to be rid of the nuisance. 

“Should’ve thought of that sooner,” he muttered as he turned away.

Lily swallowed, trying not to let their cold indifference pierce her. 

Moments later, a sleek black car pulled up outside the mansion. It was hers—a separate ride. Her own way to arrive at school without feeling like a shadow tagging along behind them.

As the car rolled onto campus and pulled into the parking lot, Lily spotted someone she hadn’t expected to see. 

Her mother, dressed in her finest clothes, was standing by the curb, glancing around with a mix of awe and calculation as she took in the sprawling school grounds. 

The sight sent a wave of unease through Lily. She had no idea why her mother would come here, of all places.

“Mom?” Lily approached her cautiously as she stepped out of the car. “What are you doing here?”

Her mother’s gaze shifted to her, eyes narrowing briefly before she gave her daughter a bright, eager smile. 

“I wanted to see how things were going for my daughter. Look at you now, the Luna,” she said with a smirk that held no warmth. “This is exactly the future I dreamed of for you.”

Lily felt the tension seep into her shoulders. 

There was something about her mother’s expression that made her feel uneasy, like there was a hidden agenda beneath her mother’s sudden interest. 

“I don’t understand, Mom. Why are you really here?”

Her mother crossed her arms, the eager gleam in her eyes fading to something sharper, more calculating. 

“I want what I deserve, Lily. You’re the new Luna now, which means we’re entitled to the respect and wealth that come with that title.”

Lily’s brows furrowed in confusion. 

“What does that have to do with me?”

Her mother let out an impatient sigh, as though Lily was purposely being dense. 

“It means you need to speak to the twins’ father on my behalf,” she said, her tone a mixture of impatience and entitlement. “Let him know that the Luna’s family should not be overlooked.”

Lily recoiled slightly, a pang of resentment tightening her chest. 

“I… I can’t do that, Mom. I barely talk to him myself.”

Her mother’s face twisted with irritation, her eyes darkening. 

“I didn’t raise you to ignore your family. After all the sacrifices I made for you—raising you alone after your father left us—I think I deserve a little appreciation.”

Lily’s heart sank as her mother’s words cut through her. 

Her mother’s resentment was sharp, each word dripping with bitterness that struck Lily deeply. 

She could feel the curious glances of other students in the parking lot, the way they were beginning to whisper as they watched the scene unfold.

“Mom, please,” Lily whispered, her cheeks heating with embarrassment. “People are watching…”

But her mother didn’t seem to care. 

“Let them watch,” she snapped, her voice rising. “They should know how much I sacrificed for you to be in this position. You owe me, Lily. You’re the Luna now because of everything I did to raise you, and now it’s time for you to start giving back.”

Lily felt the tears prick at her eyes, the humiliation building until it was a suffocating weight on her chest. 

She didn’t know what to say, how to defuse the situation without causing more of a scene. All she wanted was for her mother to stop, to leave her with at least a shred of dignity.

Unable to take it any longer, Lily turned around and ran, leaving her mother’s angry voice echoing behind her as she disappeared into the school building. 

She didn’t stop running until she reached the gym, where the noise and chaos of the world seemed to fade, replaced by the hollow quiet of the empty space.

In a secluded corner, she finally let herself break, the tears streaming down her face as the weight of everything crashed down on her. 

She buried her face in her hands, struggling to muffle her sobs, wishing the ache in her chest would go away.

Then, a gentle touch on her shoulder pulled her from her sorrow. 

She looked up, blinking through her tears, and saw Alex standing over her, his face filled with concern. She hadn’t even heard him approach.

“Lily…” he said softly, his hand resting on her shoulder. 

He didn’t ask any questions, didn’t push for explanations—he simply stood there, a quiet, comforting presence in her moment of vulnerability.

For a moment, she just stared at him, his steady gaze and calm demeanor a balm to her wounded heart. 

And then, without thinking, she leaned into his touch, letting herself take solace in the warmth and kindness he offered. 

The world outside, the judgments and expectations, faded into the background, and in that moment, she allowed herself to simply feel the safety of his presence.