Christiana's Fury
Christiana stormed into her father's chambers, her face flushed with anger. The door slammed shut behind her, and her steps echoed through the vast, ornate room as she crossed the marble floor. The air was thick with tension, her aura crackling with frustration.
Chris Blackwood, seated at the head of a grand desk, didn't look up from the documents spread before him. His silence only served to fuel her rage. Christiana had always been a force to be reckoned with, but this? This was the breaking point.
"You've sidelined me." Her voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet like a knife.
Chris slowly raised his eyes to meet hers. His expression was unreadable, and for a moment, there was nothing but the heavy silence of the room between them.
Christiana's fists clenched at her sides. "I've been here, working tirelessly for this empire, and now you've chosen to give my responsibilities to others. You've given them my duties, and I've been left in the shadows. Do you even realize what that means, Father?"
She could see the subtle shift in his gaze, but he didn't respond immediately. It was as if he was weighing whether this was just another outburst or something more.
"I've seen it happening," Christiana continued, her tone sharp with a mixture of hurt and anger. "Xavier's death… the changes in command… the new roles being created without a word to me. Amara, Xavier, even others—they're all stepping into places I've earned. You've delegated my authority like I don't matter. Like I'm nothing."
Her voice cracked, but she quickly composed herself. She wasn't going to let him see the full depth of her hurt. She had been strong, had been loyal—always loyal—but this? This was too much.
Chris stood from behind his desk, his imposing figure casting a shadow over the room. For a moment, his silence was unbearable. Christiana's pulse quickened, but she held her ground.
Finally, he spoke.
"Christiana, you've always had power. But power isn't something you simply hold. It's something you command." His voice was calm, almost cold, but there was an undeniable edge to it. "You are my daughter. You have been given more than anyone could ask for. More than most could ever dream of."
Christiana's eyes burned with anger. "And yet you give it all away without a second thought."
"You're angry because I trust others to carry the weight. I trust them to make decisions. It's not because I've sidelined you; it's because the Empire needs more than one hand at the wheel. You're angry because I've chosen others to lead alongside you. But it doesn't mean I've forgotten you."
Christiana took a step forward, her words coming out through clenched teeth. "You've forgotten me."
Chris stared at her, his expression shifting slightly as if a realization had dawned on him. His eyes softened, though his voice remained firm. "I haven't forgotten you, Christiana. But understand this: leadership doesn't bow to anyone's will. It demands sacrifice, choices that can't always be understood. And that's something you need to learn."
"Sacrifice?" she repeated, her voice rising. "You've made choices for the Empire—without me, without any regard for me. You gave Amara a role in the territories. You gave Xavier more power after everything he did! And now, you've placed him above me in some places, after all the sacrifices I've made."
Chris's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. He knew what she was implying, and yet he couldn't afford to let her control the narrative.
"You've always had your place, Christiana," he said, his voice gaining an edge. "But sometimes, even I have to act in the best interest of the Empire. You're still my daughter, but your expectations are—" he paused, choosing his words carefully, "—misaligned. The roles I've given to others? They're necessary. They are important to us."
"Important to us?" Christiana scoffed, shaking her head. "And here I thought I was important to you."
Chris sighed heavily, closing the gap between them. "Christiana…" He placed a hand on her shoulder, his tone turning softer but still firm. "This isn't about being important. This is about making the Blackwood Empire unshakable. You want power? You already have it. But you must learn when to let go and when to assert your will."
Her eyes burned with defiance, but she looked away, trying to calm herself. There was a part of her that knew her father was right—to some extent—but another part of her, the part that had been fighting her entire life to prove herself, wanted to explode.
"You can't keep treating me like this," she said softly, but with a quiet intensity. "I'll prove to you, Father… I'll prove to you that I am more than just your daughter."
Chris's gaze softened, but there was an edge to his words as he replied. "You've always been more than that. But power is earned, not given, Christiana. Remember that."
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