“I’m very sorry, Mia.” Marga apologized as I was fixing Ava’s clothes.

I am just so curious why Stephanie was very different from Marga.

“It’s okay, aunt Marga.” I smiled at her.

She walked toward me and held my hands. Looking into her eyes, I could see sadness and being broken.

“I knew it was my fault. I spoiled her that much, and now, Shantalle. I am such a bad mother.” she sighed.

Squeezing her hands, I chuckled a bit. She was so honest unlike her daughter.

“It’s not your fault. None of us is not at fault. It’s just that...” I took a deep breath.

I didn’t know how to tell this.

“Our family is very cliche. Don’t get me wrong. I love you as my stepmother, but you know it was harder... she was once my best friend, but everything changed.” I shrugged my shoulders.

Marga touched my face and smiled.

“Don’t worry. I fully understand what you mean. As long as you and Ava are here, I will not let Shantalle nor Stephanie hurt you. I promise.” her smile made me feel safe.

I nodded.

“Ava is in a deep sleep. She must be very tired of the trip.” I can say she was even genuine to my daughter.

I sighed and walked closer her. Ava is really Thunder’s carbon copy. In every angle, you couldn’t miss seeing his face.

“She’s really looked like her dad.” Marga smiled.

I smiled.

“Clearly, she might be like Thunder, but we are not sure if he’s Ava’s dad, right?” Stephanie just spoke behind us.

We didn’t even know how long she was there. Marga and I look at each other.

“Stephanie, will you stop? They are not doing something to you.” Marga sighed.

Steph glared at her mom, shaking her head.

“Really, mom? You’re siding her against me? Is she your daughter?” she scoffed.

Jealousy was written on her face. Marga was just shocked, couldn’t talk.

“Stephanie, if you’ll excuse us, my daughter is sleeping and I don’t want her to be disturb. If you’re here to argue with me again, I am also tired.” I told her.

I was expecting her to give up and just walk away, but to my surprise, she grinned, slapping me.

“Stephanie!” Marga gasped.

I closed my eyes and touched my left cheek. Literally, it hurts, but it would hurt more if I slap her back.

“You know what, ever since you came back, Thunder’s mind went insane, Mia! It’s your fault!” she shouted at me.

I looked at Marga who was stopping her.

“M-Mom.” Ava woke up.

I took a deep breath and walked toward Ava.

“I am sorry if we woke you up.” I smiled at her.

“Mia! Come on! I know you want to fight back!” Stephanie kept on shouting, scaring my daughter.

I sighed.

“Ava, sweetie, excuse us, okay?” she nodded.

I stood up and walked toward them. Marga couldn’t control her, so I decided to control her myself. A hard slap from me to her, Marga couldn’t talk while Stephanie was shocked looking at me.

“I told you my daughter is sleeping. How dare you still shout?” I couldn’t control myself out of anger.

A few minutes later, she wasn’t still speaking.

“Please get out of our room.” I firmly said.

“Stephanie, come on. I am so sorry again, Mia.” Marga seemed very embarrassed about her daughter’s behavior.

Marga held her hand, but Steph slapped her hand away.

“I don’t need someone to hold me. I can leave by myself, but let me tell you this, Mia. You will never take him back from me if that is what you are planning.” she grinned angrily and left.

Marga groaned.

“Mia, I am so sorry about that. Really am I.” she followed Stephanie.

I took a deep breath and closed the door. We came here for my dad, yet, she wouldn’t stop giving me trouble.

“Mom, are you okay?” I almost forgot Ava is watching me.

I smiled at her.

“Yes, dear. Mommy’s fine.” I told her.

The next morning, Daniel called us for breakfast. Good thing, Stephanie was out jogging, or else I would lose my appetite when I missed our maid’s dishes.

“Hmmm, their dishes haven’t changed at all.” I groaned, while chewing.

I don’t care if they think I am so stupid. I just want to enjoy the food. All of them laughed except for Thunder who just smiled, and Shantalle who just scoffed.

“Darling, I know you missed it so I asked them to cook many for you and Ava.” Dad said.

Dad is still weak, but his doctor said he’s recovering for a bit. But I really hope so.

“Awww, you’re the best dad. Ava, how about you try this one? It’s my favorite.” I grabbed the plates of egg with mayonnaise.

“Really? An egg, your favorite? So common. So cheap.” Shantalle laughed.

I didn’t care about it. Shantalle is just a kid. But I heard Marga and Thunder, scolding her whisperingly.

“Shantalle, will you please be nice with them? They are our guests, Mia is my daughter and Ava is my granddaughter and your sister.” Dad couldn’t help but talk as well.

“Dad, you don’t have to. I understand her. She’s still young and needs to realize many things. I know she will do that when the right time comes. Right, Shantalle?” I looked at her.

Shantalle groaned and angrily put down her spoon and stood up.

“I will tell you to my mom!” she yelled and left.

Thunder took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. I just looked at Ava and smiled. Good thing, my Ava is well mannered.

“I am so sorry. I’ll just go and talk to her.” Thunder excused.

I just nodded. Dad just shook his head and we all continued to eat like nothing happened.

As we all finished, we all heard heavy footsteps walking toward us.

“What did you do to my daughter?!” Stephanie with her jogging top and leggings showed up.

I stood up.

“I didn’t do anything to her. I just told her what she needs to know, which you didn’t teach her.” I smirked.

Her eyes widened in horror.

“W-What? Do you really want me to kick you out of this house? I don’t care if it’s your house, Mia!” I was surprised.

But I was more surprised when Thunder showed up. I don’t know, but seems like I am enjoying this family.

“Stephanie! Will you shut the f*ck up?!”

Mia’s POV

Thunder’s voice echoed in my ears, cutting through the tension that hung thick in the room. “No, you don’t need to.”

I turned to him, startled by his words. For a moment, his expression softened, and I glimpsed the Thunder I once knew, the man who would have fought the world for me. But the spell was broken as Stephanie’s sharp intake of breath sliced through the room.

Her glare burned into me, but I held my ground. My daughter, Ava, clung to my hand, her little fingers gripping mine tightly as if seeking assurance. I glanced down at her, my heart aching.

“I don’t think staying here is worth the constant drama.” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, even though my insides churned with frustration. “My daughter deserves peace.”

Thunder opened his mouth to respond, but Stephanie cut him off.

“Peace?” she sneered, stepping forward. “Don’t play the victim, Mia. You waltzed back into this house and stirred up chaos. Don’t act like you’re the martyr here.”

My lips twitched into a bitter smile. Classic Stephanie. She always needed to make herself the center of attention, no matter the cost.

“I’m not playing anything, Stephanie,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “I came here because this house belongs to my family. I’m not leaving just because you can’t handle the truth.”

Stephanie’s face flushed crimson. Her hands curled into fists at her sides, and I braced myself for the inevitable explosion. But before she could say another word, Thunder stepped between us.

“That’s enough,” he snapped, his tone cold and sharp. His gaze flicked to Stephanie, and for the first time in a long while, I saw the strain in his eyes—the weight of trying to keep everything together.

Stephanie shrank back, but her glare didn’t waver. I knew this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

“Mommy?” Ava’s small voice broke the tension.

I crouched down, cupping her cheeks as I forced a smile. “What is it, sweetheart?”

“Do we really have to leave? I like it here. Grandpa and Grandma are nice.” Her big eyes welled up with tears, and my resolve wavered.

Before I could respond, Marga stepped forward. “Mia.” she said softly, her voice a balm against the tension. “This is your home, and we want you and Ava to stay. But we need to figure out how to make this work for everyone.”

I glanced at her, gratitude flickering in my chest. Marga had always been the voice of reason, even when the world seemed to crumble around me.

Thunder sighed, running a hand through his hair. “She’s right,” he said, his tone weary. “We need to stop this... all of it. The fighting, the accusations. It’s not fair to the kids.”

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, silence reigned. But I knew better than to think it would last.

“I don’t care what you all decide,” Stephanie said suddenly, her voice icy. “But Shantalle isn’t apologizing. She’s just a child, and she was defending herself.”

“Defending herself?” I snapped, my calm façade cracking. “She pushed Ava for no reason, Stephanie. That’s not defending herself—that’s bullying.”

“She wouldn’t have done it if your daughter knew her place!”

The words hit me like a slap. I straightened, my fists clenching at my sides. But before I could respond, Ava stepped forward, her little chin trembling but held high.

“I don’t care if Shantalle doesn’t like me,” she said, her voice small but steady. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Pride swelled in my chest, and I knelt to hug her. My daughter was stronger than I’d ever realized.

Marga sighed, her expression tired. “Stephanie, that’s enough. This is a family, whether you like it or not. And if Shantalle can’t respect that, then maybe she needs to learn.”

Stephanie’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, but she didn’t argue.

Thunder pinched the bridge of his nose, his frustration palpable. “Mia, Ava—stay. Please,” he said finally, his voice softer than before. “We’ll figure it out.”

I wanted to argue, to say that staying here would only cause more problems. But when I looked at Ava and saw the hope in her eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to say no.

“Fine,” I said quietly. “We’ll stay. But if this happens again, Thunder, I won’t hesitate to leave—for good this time.”

He nodded, and for a brief moment, our eyes met. There was a flicker of something there—something that reminded me of the love we once shared. But I quickly looked away, refusing to let myself dwell on the past.

This wasn’t about me and Thunder. This was about Ava. And I’d do whatever it took to protect her, even if it meant living under the same roof as Stephanie and her venom.

As I led Ava upstairs, I felt Stephanie’s glare boring into my back. Let her be angry. Let her hate me.

“You're lucky they have your back, but let me tell you this... Not because you own this house means you own everyone as well, Mia. You know me, and you know what I can do to you.” she grinned.

I wasn’t here for her approval. I was here for my daughter.

And I wasn’t going anywhere.

We were all surprised by Thunder yelling at his wife. For me, I wasn’t stunned at all. If I were him, I would also feel embarrassed with how Stephanie is behaving. Without knowing what happened first, she just accused someone and it was literally a red flag.

“Thunder, can’t you see? I am just defending our daughter.” she scoffed.

Thunder seemed to be very tired that I could see. I pity him.

“Are you even thinking? Accusing her without knowing the truth first? Why don’t you ask me first, huh? Yeah. Shantalle spoke badly about Mia, okay? Mia just wanted her to know her lesson, but she talked back angrily and left. That was why I scolded her.” he said, catching his breath.

Stephanie swallowed hard. She just looked at us and walked out. I know she got shy. She thought they would side with them.

“Thunder, can I talk to you in private?” Dad asked him.

Thunder looked at me and he nodded.

“Come on, Ava.” we left them.

As we walked away from Thunder and Dad, the tension in the room still clung to the air like a thick fog. I glanced at Ava, her expression unreadable as we moved further down the corridor. The muffled echoes of Thunder’s voice faded behind us, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was unfolding.

Ava stayed silent, her hands clasped in front of her. I wanted to ask what she thought about the argument, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I focused on the intricate patterns of the carpet beneath our feet, trying to make sense of the chaos that had just erupted.

“Do you think grandpa’s upset with dad?” Ava finally broke the silence, her voice soft.

I shrugged. “Maybe. But I think it’s more about what’s happening with Stephanie. Dad doesn’t like drama, especially not when it’s unnecessary.”

Ava nodded, but her eyes lingered on the door we had just left. “I hope they figure it out. It’s exhausting watching them go at it all the time.”

Before I could respond, a sharp, echoing crash reverberated through the hallway. Ava and I froze, our heads whipping back toward the room where Thunder and Dad had stayed behind.

“What was that?” Ava whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

“I don’t know,” I replied, my pulse quickening.

We exchanged a look before darting back toward the room. The door was slightly ajar, and as we pushed it open, the scene before us made my blood run cold.

Shantalle broke my mom’s beloved vase. My eyes widened in horror. The vase isn’t that expensive, but I know how my mom treasured it before.

“What did you do?!” I yelled at her.

Shantalle got scared, trembling. I knelt down picking up the broken pieces, not even minding the pain.

“Mom... your hands are bleeding.” Ava was very worried.

“No... no... no... this is your grandma’s most treasured vase, Ava. I need to fix it.” I know I am stupid, but I love my mom.

Dad, Thunder, and Marga arrived at the same time. All of them were stunned.

“Mia! Your hands.” dad walked and helped me.

Thunder pulled me away from the broken pieces. I struggled but Marga asked the maids to clean it up.

“Don’t throw it away.” I told them.

“Mia, what are you thinking? You just hurt yourself.” dad sighed.

“Dad, that’s mom’s beloved vase. How come it was here? I thought it was locked up inside the room filled with our memories?” I know and I was the one who put it there before leaving this place before.

Dad looked at Marga and Thunder. I know they are asking each other who displayed it out.

“I... I don’t know how it came out, dear.” Marga answered.

“Me too. I haven’t seen that in here.” Thunder said.

All I thought was Stephanie. I looked at Shantalle who was hiding behind Thunder’s legs. I knew her mom must have told her to break it.

“Shantalle, where is your mom?” I asked her.

She shook her head.

“I know you hate seeing me mad, Shantalle. I am not asking you once again.” I am so angry right now. I even want to pinch her nose even though she’s a kid just to tell me the truth.

All of us are looking at her.

“Why are you accusing my daughter? Huh? Why? Have you seen what happened first?” Stephanie, coming down the stairs, looking so fresh from the bath.

I know she was doing this because of what happened earlier. And now, she wanted it to the same back to me.

“I knew it was you, Stephanie. You knew how much that vase means to me and my mom. Is that how you really hate me?” I scoffed.

I don’t care if I lose much blood as long as I can find out who did it. She just grinned and rolled her eyes.

“Come on, Mia. Think before you talk. What if my Shantalle accidentally bumped into it that was why it fell? It wasn’t her fault, okay? In fact, she’s just a kid. She can make mistakes.” she smiled.

Shantalle ran toward her evil mother. She even asked her if she was fine.

“You didn’t even care if she was hurt.” Stephanie shook her head.

“The vase was locked inside that room. Who would dare open and took it from inside, huh? Maybe it was you, because you are so mad at me.” I don’t care if they will get mad at me.

I just hate her guts making things very hard for me.

“Cut the crap, okay? I don’t know how it gets here too, okay? So, will you stop accusing me and my daughter? If you want to know, why don’t you ask the maids around. Maybe... just maybe one of them took it out and displayed it.” Stephanie rolled her eyes.

But I know she was lying. I have known her for so long, and I can tell if she was lying to me.

“If I found out you are responsible with this. I am not going to think twice breaking your face.” I glared at her.