"I don't even know who you are anymore, Amara."
Her grandfather's voice thundered across the room, his anger practically vibrating through the air. Amara let out an exasperated sigh and massaged her aching temple, trying to ease the pounding pain in her head.
"We've given you everything. What more do you want from us?"
Grandpa Herman continued his tirade, causing Amara to roll her eyes in frustration.
"Seriously, Grandpa? It's three in the morning. Can we not do this right now? I'm drunk and exhausted. Can you please just shut up and save the lecture for tomorrow?"
She snapped, her tone dripping with defiance, which only fueled her grandfather's rage. She didn't bother avoiding her father's fiery glare either.
"Your attitude is out of control, Amara. When are you going to learn some respect?"
Her grandfather roared again, but Amara didn't flinch. Instead, she plopped herself down on the plush designer sofa like she owned the world.
"Oh please. What are you going to do this time? Ground me again? That's not going to change who I am, Grandpa. Do your worst."
She smirked arrogantly at him.
"And can everyone please stop treating me like some kid? I'm twenty years old, legally an adult, and I can do whatever the hell I want. And it's not like this is the first time I've been to a party. You're all so dramatic!"
She flopped back on the sofa like it was a bed, groaning from her splitting headache.
How many shots did she take tonight?
"Could someone get my bodyguard to carry me to my room? I'm dizzy and not walking another step."
She waved her hand lazily at her grandfather like he was a servant.
Amara had just closed her eyes when her father's furious voice rang out.
"Goddamn it, Amara, this is insane! Who the hell do you think you are, bossing your grandfather around like that? Get up! Now!"
"Ugh, Dad! If you don't want Grandpa to do it, then you do it. Either way, can you all just shut up? My head is killing me!"
She snapped, still not opening her eyes, too annoyed to care.
"I said get your ass up, Amara! Don't be disrespectful!"
Her father yelled again, yanking her arm roughly.
"Ow! What the hell, Dad?!"
"Go to your room. Now. And tomorrow, you're going to regret this."
His voice was filled with warning as he dragged her up and shoved her toward the stairs.
Amara stomped her feet like a brat before storming up, only to be stopped by her grandfather again.
"Seriously? You people are nuts! You want me to go upstairs, now you're stopping me again? What do you even want?!"
She glared at her grandfather, utterly fed up.
"I don't even know where you got this kind of behavior, Amara. Starting tomorrow, you're not allowed to leave this house without my permission. And from now on, you'll speak respectfully to every single person under this roof. Are we clear?"
Amara rolled her eyes again at his long-winded speech.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever! You're making so many rules in this house, Grandpa. What is this place, Hogwarts?"
The next morning, Amara groaned and cracked one eye open at the loud, obnoxious knocking at her bedroom door. She tried to ignore it and drift back to sleep, but the knocking only grew louder-accompanied by the high-pitched voice of that annoying maid.
"For the love of God, I'm still sleeping!"
She yelled.
"Miss Amara, the sun is high already! You'll be late for your first day at work! Your grandfather insisted you get up early!"
That only made her more irritated.