Chapter 2

Libby didn't think much of it. She eyed Tiana up and down, her brows furrowed in utter disgust. "Tiana, you're a young lady now. You shouldn't be running around in that ugly school uniform every day. How embarrassing. Come on, I'm taking you shopping for new clothes."

Tiana gave Libby a distant look before replying flatly, "My studies come first right now. Besides, the stuff Dad buys me isn't cheap at all."

Pointing to a branded hair clip in her hair, she added, "Take this hair clip, for instance. It cost three—"

"Only three bucks?" Libby cut in loudly with a contemptuous sneer on her face.

"Kyle, you cheapskate. Buying your own daughter a three-dollar hair clip? You ought to be ashamed of yourself."

Libby thought that I was still the same pathetic loser and that I was dragging Tiana down with me.

Tiana rolled her eyes in frustration and corrected her. "Mom, it was 300 dollars. Dad's always treated me really well."

Libby refused to buy it. "No way! He's lying to you! Your dad barely makes 300 dollars a month. How could he drop 300 dollars on a hair clip? Come on, let me take you out for some high-end Harvellian food. I bet you've never even had it before."

Tiana shot her down without a second thought. "I don't even like Harvellian food. Local food tastes way better. And for the record, Dad isn't poor at all!"

That only stoked Libby's temper, and she turned her venom on me. "Nice going, Kyle! Broke as a joke and still playing the big shot in front of your daughter! What is wrong with you? You're feeding her nothing but local food? No wonder she hasn't seen anything beyond the world you live in!"

After saying that, Libby turned to Tiana.

"When Zac and I were in Harvelle, we had five-star meals every day."

Tiana felt deeply hurt. "Mom, you don't understand Dad or me at all. He's the one who's taken care of me all these years. He's always been good to me!"

Libby scoffed. "So what if he takes care of you? Can he give you a better life? Look at what you wear and use. Now look at Zac and me. We're the ones who can give you a better future."

Just then, my neighbor, Macie Stout, happened to walk by and overheard Libby. She couldn't help but speak up. "You're Libby, right? Don't say that. Kyle's been raising Tiana all by himself. He's always done his best for her."

Libby rolled her eyes at Macie and said disdainfully, "What would you know? You're not family, so stay out of it."

Macie shook her head, clearly annoyed. "I was only trying to help. Kyle has done a great job raising Tiana, and you come back after all these years just to criticize everything he's done."

With that, she walked away.

Libby still wasn't done. She turned back to Tiana. "Tiana, don't let your dad fool you. He's got nothing going for him. When you need something in the future, you'll still have to rely on me."

Tiana didn't want to argue anymore. She turned and went into her room, slamming the door behind her.

Libby stared at the closed door and continued grumbling, "You've really spoiled her."

Zac tried to calm her down. "Libby, forget it. Let's go."

Libby finally gave up. Before leaving, she yelled at me, "Kyle, just you wait! Sooner or later, I'll make Tiana realize that staying with me is the right choice."

With that, she stormed off with Zac in tow.