39

Nova's POV

I bit my lip, feeling frustrated that no one was defending me, not even Marian, who had always been on my side.

Without saying anything else, Diego pulled me out of the dining room with long, angry strides. I nearly stumbled trying to keep up with his quick pace, but he held on tightly, regardless of how hard I tried to resist.

"Diego! Let go!"

I shouted, trying to stop him.

But he didn’t answer. He kept walking straight, down the long castle hallway, his gaze fixed ahead.

I felt my chest tighten with a mix of emotions—anger, confusion, and frustration at being treated this way. Diego always acted on his whims. He did whatever he wanted without caring about my opinion.

And I was fed up with it. He pulled me into his room and slammed the door behind us. The loud sound startled me, and I turned to him with a sharp glare.

"What do you think you’re doing pulling me out like this?" I exclaimed, annoyed.

Diego glared at me with fiery eyes, his jaw clenched tightly.

"What do you think you just did?" he asked in a low, angry voice.

I frowned, confused by his meaning.

"What do you mean? I didn’t do anything."

Diego scoffed and stepped closer, forcing me to back up slightly.

"You caused a scene this morning, Nova. You reprimanded Jimmy in front of everyone and let Jessica touch you like that!"

I gaped, unable to believe what I had just heard.

"Wait... You're mad at me for that?" I asked, trying to ensure I hadn’t misheard.

Diego nodded, his expression still dark.

"Yes. Do you think they'll respect you if you lose control just because of a kid?"

I clenched my fists.

"Diego, that kid crossed the line! He kept bothering me, and not one of you stopped him! I just reprimanded him, and it was Jessica who grabbed my hand!"

Diego growled softly. "You shouldn’t show your weakness in front of them. You only make yourself look weaker."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"So, you think I should just stay silent while they treat me like that?"

Diego didn’t respond right away, but I could see the muscles in his jaw tightening.

"I didn’t say that," he mumbled.

I laughed cynically.

"But that’s what you mean, right? I should stay silent, accept their treatment, and pretend nothing is happening?"

Diego rubbed his face in frustration, then let out a long sigh.

"I don’t want to discuss this right now, Nova."

I crossed my arms over my chest, still feeling angry and annoyed.

"Too late. You’ve already brought it up."

He stared at me for a few seconds before finally turning away, walking toward the window and gazing outside with an unreadable expression.

Silence enveloped us, and I could feel the tension filling the room. Although I wanted to continue the conversation, I also knew that emotions were too high to discuss it rationally.

I took a deep breath.

"I don’t want to cause problems, Diego, but I can’t just let them walk all over me."

Diego remained silent, but I could see his body tense slightly.

I bit my lip, feeling exhausted by all of this. If Diego wouldn’t defend me, then I would have to protect myself.

Frustration coursed through me, and I knew I needed to take steps to stand up for myself. With renewed determination, I decided to talk to Marian and the others, explain my position, and express my feelings.

As I thought about my next steps, I felt stronger. This was my time to stand up and fight, even though the road ahead might be difficult.

Diego was still standing by the window with his back to me. I could sense the tension in him, but I was too tired to argue any longer.

Then, without turning around, he said in a cold voice, "Change your clothes. We’re leaving."

I frowned, staring at him in confusion.

"Leaving? Where?"

Diego finally turned around, his gaze sharp and authoritative.

"No need to ask so many questions, Nova. Just change your clothes and get ready."

I scoffed, feeling annoyed by his commanding attitude.

"And what if I refuse?"

He didn’t answer, but his eyes spoke volumes. There was a threatening tension between us, and I knew he wouldn’t back down.

Feeling trapped in this situation, I considered my options. There might be things to think about before I refused. However, my curiosity about where he was taking me also nagged at my mind.

Diego then stepped closer, standing right in front of me with an intense gaze.

"I’m not asking you, Nova. I’m telling you."

I looked at him, trying to find hints in his cold expression. But as usual, Diego was a stone wall that was hard to penetrate.

I took a deep breath, realizing that arguing with him wouldn’t get me anywhere. Frustration and uncertainty clouded my mind, but I knew I had to make a decision.

Finally, I nodded slowly, trying to suppress the anger boiling inside me.

"Alright, I’ll change my clothes."

Then I walked toward the closet.

Although my heart was still full of questions, I realized there might be a reason behind all this. Perhaps by following Diego's lead, I could find answers to all this uncertainty.

I opened the large wooden closet in the corner of the room and saw a row of mostly neutral and elegant clothing. There was no choice but to comply. Quickly, I chose a simple cream dress that was comfortable and not too flashy.

As I was about to change, I glanced at Diego, who was still standing there, staring at me impassively.

I raised an eyebrow.

"I need privacy."

Diego nodded slightly, sighing as if I were a bother, but his gaze remained sharp. He stepped back a few paces, giving me a bit of space, although I could still feel the tension in the air.

He then walked out without saying anything. I stared at the closed door behind him, still incredulous at how annoying the man was. It felt as though I was trapped in a game I hadn’t chosen, and all of this was frustrating.

Standing there, I tried to calm myself. Why did he always feel the need to control everything? Maybe there was a reason, but right now, it all felt so unfair. I just wanted to be acknowledged and heard, not commanded like a child.

After a moment, I took a deep breath and tried to shift my thoughts. I looked at the cream dress I was wearing, feeling that at least I could be comfortable in my appearance. This was a small step toward regaining control over this unpredictable situation.