?[I belong to you]? (English)

Chapter 42

"Don't take too long we still have work to finish"
Her father informs her, already checking his watch

"then I'll be brief"
Zoe says calmly, not expecting an emotional conversation anyway

"It's been a while since I started seeing someone... And now we are together... So here it is, I thought I should let you know... To share my happiness"
Zoe studies very carefully the words to be used before saying them out loud, she tries very hard to be sure but at the same time she can't stop herself from feeling nervous. Besides always because she hardly ever talks to her parents she doesn't know how they might perceive her relationship.

"Someone from school?"
Her mother asks calmly

"actually... No"

"and where did you meet him then?"
The father asks this time with a questioning look

Zoe hesitates a bit before answering, she was so focused on the fact that she has to tell her parents that she is engaged to a girl that she has completely forgotten that moreover Destiny is also from the decadent part of town, a slight feeling of panic makes its way inside her but she has to keep calm and confident at all costs. She decides to sweeten the pill by telling a half-truth.

"at the town festival"

"one of the boys who took part in the parade?"
the mother asks again

"no"
For the second time Zoe gives a negative answer

"then who?"
Asks the father confused by the vague way his daughter expresses herself

"she is from the decadent part of town, a girl"
Zoe states calmly and composure taking on a determined look

"what did you say?"

"I hope you're joking"

Zoe couldn't tell if they were referring to just one or both statements, either way she knew it wouldn't be easy but this was something she felt she had to do

"You got it right. I'm dating a girl and she's from the decadent side"
Again the queen affirms without hesitation

"What the hell does that mean? Is it some kind of rebellious phase?"
Asks visibly annoyed the father

"It means what I said. And no it's not a rebellion"

"Since when have you been like this?"
Asks the mother acidly

"Like what?"
Zoe asks, hoping she's not going to say what she thinks she's going to say

"so... So, you know, don't make me say that word"

"Oh you mean lesbian? No I'm not Mom if that's what you're worried about"
Zoe immediately clarifies

"So what!?"
Mr. Knox asks impatiently

"So I don't have to name it, it's just love"

"What love? You have no idea what you're talking about!"
The man exclaimed angrily

"Oh I don't know what I'm talking about!? What do you know about love, huh? How long has it been since the two of you have shown some affection for each other?"
Zoe finally became impatient with her father's hypocrisy

"How dare you, little girl!?"
Her mother is also furious, getting up from the chair

"You can't just ignore my existence and then when I tell you something important like that, make a scene as if you were involved in my life!"
Zoe angrily exclaims, thinking that the last time she managed to have a decent conversation with her parents she was 10 years old

"I've really had enough of this behaviour, you're not allowed to see her anymore!"
Shouts her father adamantly, also getting up from the chair and walking out of the room

"what!? Forget it!"
Zoe shouts following the man

"what are you doing? Running away!?"
Zoe continues to shout in frustration with her mother in tow

"Don't you dare, you hear me? You have to show respect!"
The man shouts, frowning, from the door of his office, which he then violently closes, making the noise caused by his gesture reverberate throughout the house

"respect goes both ways for your information!!!"
the girl screams in a huff

"Zoe Knox go to your room right now!"
Her mother orders her for then return to her study

Once the woman closes the door behind her, Zoe, instead of following her order, leaves the house and starts walking through the huge garden. She would have preferred to leave directly from the property but there are surveillance cameras and her escape would have been over before it started. She stayed outdoors until late at night, so neither of them would have noticed or cared that she was gone.