GET OUT OF THE HOUSE

ALEXA'S POV

I woke up to the sound of raised voices outside my room. In the living room, my mother was on her knees, begging and pleading with Steven and Nicole, who sat calmly on the couch. My sister stood beside them, her eyes burning with anger as she glared at them. 

"You can't just kick us out!" Lala exclaimed. "My sister has paid for this house, with everything she has done for you, this house is the least you can give her." Her anger was aimed at Steven.

"I bought this house, my name is on the deed," Steven replied, his tone firm. "And if my wife prefers to live here, then that's exactly what will happen." His gaze lingered on my sister, his eyes cold and unyielding. I laughed at the audacity of his statement.

Lala's laughter was laced with sarcasm as she shot back, "Your wife, indeed your wife?" Her voice dripped with mockery. Steven's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger.

Nicole's eyes welled up with fake tears. "What does she mean?" she asked, her voice trembling. "It looks like she is mocking me." She gazed up at Steven, her expression pitiful. 

Lala laughed at the scene . "Of course, I'm mocking you, loser."

Steven moved fast but before he could lay a hand on my sister I stepped in front of her and looked him directly in the eyes. My gaze steady, daring him to make a move.

He slowly lowered his hands, his eyes roaming over my short nightdress in appraisal. Shameless, this man was really shameless. He really was openly checking me out, right in front of his precious wife.

"Alexa, can I talk to you?" he asked, his voice was unexpectedly gentle, a stark contrast to the anger that had flared up in him just moments before. 

"I think I must have been dreaming," I said, trying to process the previous conversation. "Let's hope that's the case, but I could have sworn I heard you threatening to evict my family just because your wife has taken a liking to our house." I raised an eyebrow, waiting for Steven's response.

"That's not the case, Alexa, you misinterpreted me," Nicole answered then she suddenly burst into dramatic tears as she gazed up at Steven with pleading eyes. "Alexa thinks I am a monster," she sobbed. "Am sorry, Alexa. The media loves following me around, and I just wanted a quiet place to live."

She sniffled, gently wiping her tears. "Your family can live in the mansion," she continued. "After all, all these houses are ours." 

I rolled my eyes at the scene. "Let me make this clear, this house doesn't belong to either you or Steven. Now, get out, this conversation is over."

Steven's face darkened, his jaw clenched in frustration. "Alexa, Nicole is being kind," he said, his voice smoothing, like he was talking to a child. "Can't you grant her a simple request?" The demand was clear in his tone, and his eyes narrowed, as if daring me to refuse.

I stood firm, my voice unwavering. "No, I won't Steven. Greedy people will never be satisfied, no matter how much they are given." I took a step forward, and looked Steven right in the eyes. "I said get out, and I mean it. 

Nicole's cries turned into sobs, her body shaking uncontrollably. "I don't have anywhere to go," she wailed and I laughed at her performance. "The twins need a quiet home, please, Alexa, have mercy. Let's exchange houses. I will return your house to you once everything calms down." She collapsed on the floor. Steven ran to her side carefully wrapping his arms around her, shooting me a look filled with disapproval.

I had had enough of their refusal to leave. With a swift motion, I pressed a switch on the wall, and the sound of barking filled the air. Our security dogs, two massive German Shepherds, burst from their kennels, racing towards the unwanted visitors.

Nicole's screams pierced the air as she ran, dashing towards their car. "Get them away!" she shrieked, yanking open the car door and diving inside. 

The dogs unfortunately jumped playfully onto Steven, their tails wagging wildly, afterall he was practically their owner. Steven's expression softened, he laughed as he scratched the dogs behind the ears. Looking at me, however, he was not amused. 

"What do you want, Alexa? If it's about money, I'm willing to give you as much as you want. But remember if my wife wants something, I will give it to her even if it's your life. " 

"I don't want handouts from you, Steven," I said, my voice firm and resolute. "I want my hard-earned money, what's rightfully mine. Nothing more, nothing less." With that, I turned and walked away, retreating back to the solitude of my bedroom.

The sound of laughter outside my room had me awake earlier than I would have liked. I intended to stay in bed today, afterall I was officially unemployed. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and made my way to the dining room. My sister was slicing apples while chatting with Michael and Michelle. As soon as they saw me, their faces lit up, and they jumped up from their seats. "Mum!" they greated me together, their happiness was infectious.

"Ohhh, you two troublemakers, why are you here?" I asked, pretending to be angry. "Where's your mother?" I added, looking around  for Nicole. Michael and Michelle exchanged a quick glance, their smiles faltering for a moment.

"We wanted to see you," Michelle answered. "We couldn't find you in the office today, so we asked the driver to bring us here," He explained, looking a bit sheepish. 

"Are you sick, Leca? Dad said you are sick," Michelle asked, her brow furrowed with concern. She had never quite mastered the pronunciation of my name. I hugged her and carried her up, she giggled "No, I'm not," I reassured her with a smile. "Come, let me make you my famous noodles," I said, trying to divert her attention.

I had raised Michael and Michelle as my own, with all my love and care, but now I had to part with them. It was a harsh reminder that I wasn't their parent. No matter how deeply I loved them, no matter how much they had become a part of me, I had to let them go.

We sang along to the music while cooking, I was having such a good time I had almost forgotten my worries until Steven walked into the kitchen, my sister trailing timidly behind him. I wondered why she had let him in, my eyes met hers for a brief moment before she hurried off, leaving Steven standing alone in the doorway. The atmosphere in the room shifted slightly.

"I came for them," He simply announced, his voice firm and decisive.

"Dad, can we please stay? Let's stay the night," Michelle and Michael begged in unison, their eyes pleading with him. 

"No, your mother misses you. She wants to spend some time with you," Steven replied, his tone unyielding. Michael's face fell, his disappointment was clear on his face, I pulled him into a tight hug, my tears threatening to fall. 

"Okay, Dad," he said reluctantly. But Michelle wasn't ready to give up. "But can we please eat mum's noodles first," she begged, her eyes sparkling with hope.

"From today onwards, she is called Aunt Alexa, and you have only Mum Nicole. Have you quickly forgotten what we talked about?" Steven addressed Michelle in a stern voice, his words firm but laced with a hint of disappointment. Michelle bent her head and tears formed in her eyes.

I lifted Michael onto the countertop and stepped closer to Steven, my voice low and even. "Don't, don't you ever think about talking to these children like that again," I said. "Are we clear?" I asked, my eyes locked on him.

He laughed, his laughter mocking. "These are my children, I can talk to them how I wish, and you can do nothing about it, Alexa," he sneered. "You were just a nanny who raised them for a short while, and it will remain like that," he added, his tone filled with disdain. I felt a surge of anger and frustration but I kept my composure, my eyes flashing with a fierce determination.