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Liana’s words were sharp, and the tension in the room thickened as everyone turned their gaze toward Audrey. Catherine’s quiet words had struck a nerve, and Liana’s anger was now palpable. Her face flushed with indignation, and she was determined to not let Audrey’s interference slide.
But Audrey, despite the discomfort, maintained her composure. She had long learned to endure Liana’s biting remarks. Her position in the family was precarious, but she still held her ground.
“Rules are rules, Liana,” Audrey said, her voice calm but firm. “And respect, as Catherine pointed out, is not something that can be dictated by personal grudges.”
Liana, now fully aware that her words had lost their bite, narrowed her eyes at Audrey. “You think you’re still a part of this family just because you speak like that?” she retorted bitterly. “You were expelled for a reason!”
Audrey looked at her, unflinching. “The reason for my expulsion was personal, not based on the rules of the family. You, of all people, should understand that.”
The atmosphere became tense as Korbin’s eyes flickered between his daughters. He felt the sting of the family’s fractures growing deeper, and for a moment, he found himself at a loss for words. He had always been the patriarch, but the power struggles within his own home were threatening to unravel his authority.
Catherine, who had remained quiet during this exchange, could sense the shift in the dynamic. She knew exactly how to exploit the fractures between them. Her eyes swept over Liana and Audrey, the former furious and the latter attempting to defend the unspoken.
“You’re right, Audrey,” Catherine said, breaking the silence. “Liana might have forgotten the rules, but some things are hard to forget, aren’t they? After all, a family is not just about blood—it’s about the respect we give one another.”
Her words, though calm, carried an undertone of criticism that Liana couldn’t ignore. Liana’s lips parted as if she were about to retort, but she held herself back when she caught sight of her father’s increasingly disapproving expression.
Korbin sighed heavily, his fingers tightening around the armrests of his chair. He didn’t want to deal with this petty bickering anymore, but it was clear that his daughters weren’t going to stop anytime soon. The cracks in the Swanns’ family structure were widening, and he was helpless to stop it.
“Enough,” Korbin finally said, his voice quiet but commanding. “Liana, Audrey, I expect more maturity from both of you. We’re here to address Catherine’s actions, not to reopen old wounds.”
Liana clenched her fists in frustration but said nothing further. She knew better than to argue with her father when he was like this.
Catherine, ever the one to keep her cool, turned her attention back to Korbin, who now appeared torn between his loyalty to his daughters and his desire to avoid further conflict.
“Since we’re addressing things, Father,” Catherine said, her voice dripping with polite formality, “I did go out last night, but it was for a walk. Is that so troublesome?”
Korbin paused, his gaze narrowing. He could sense the challenge in her words, but he wasn’t sure how to proceed without further inflaming the situation.
“Just remember your place, Catherine,” he warned, his tone a mix of authority and restraint. “The Swanns’ reputation is not something you can toy with.”
Catherine gave a half-smile, her eyes glimmering with an unreadable emotion. “Of course, Father. I’ll remember.”
The room fell silent again, the weight of the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. No one dared to speak, each person retreating into their own thoughts. The day’s confrontation, it seemed, was far from over.