Chapter 8

At the Daxon residence, the atmosphere was completely chaotic. Claudia stood in the dining room, her face flushed red. The floor was covered with broken plates and scattered leftovers. Ghani sat in the middle of the room, crying loudly while stomping his feet.

“Enough, Ghani!” Claudia snapped in frustration. “Stop crying like a baby! What do you actually want?”

Ghani sobbed, his face red with anger. “I want that ugly woman’s cooking! I don’t want to eat food made by this maid! Everything tastes awful!”

Claudia stared at the child in disbelief. “Do you even realize what you’re saying? That ugly woman is gone, Ghani! She’s not coming back to this house!”

But the boy screamed even louder. “I want her! I want Sheena! I don’t want anyone else! If she doesn’t come, I won’t eat!”

Claudia pressed her temples, trying to hold back the rage that was about to explode. Two maids stood in the corner, too afraid to move.

“What a stubborn child!” Claudia muttered as she walked toward the table. “If this keeps up, I’ll lose my mind!”

Ghani suddenly threw a glass against the wall. “I want food cooked by Sheena!” he shouted hoarsely.

Claudia flinched. She stared at the boy with wide, furious eyes. “GHANI!” her voice rose sharply.

Ghani didn’t answer. He kept crying while kicking the chair in front of him.

Claudia let out a deep sigh, then quickly walked to the living room, holding her phone. With an irritated expression, she dialed Gevan’s number.

As soon as the call connected, Claudia spoke rapidly, “Gevan! Come home now! I can’t deal with your son anymore!”

From the other end, Gevan’s voice sounded alarmed. “What happened this time? I was just about to enter a meeting, Claudia!”

“Your son is throwing a tantrum!” Claudia yelled. “He threw plates and kept screaming for that ugly woman to come and cook! I’m losing my mind, Gevan! If you don’t come home right now, I swear I’ll leave this house!”

Gevan fell silent for a moment, then replied in a worried tone, “Alright, I’ll come home right away. Please, just try to calm him down for now.”

“I’ve tried!” Claudia almost cried out of frustration. “He won’t listen!”

The call ended. Claudia dropped the phone onto the sofa and covered her face with both hands. She felt she could no longer handle a child that wasn’t her own blood.

About thirty minutes later, Gevan arrived home, panting heavily. As soon as he entered, he found the dining room in chaos and Ghani sitting on the floor with a red face and swollen eyes.

“Ghani…” he called softly. He knelt in front of the boy. “Why are you like this, son?”

Ghani immediately hugged his father and cried. “I want Sheena, Dad. I want that ugly woman to cook for me…”

Gevan looked at Claudia, who stood at the doorway with an annoyed expression. “See? He’s impossible to talk to!” Claudia said, her voice trembling with emotion.

“Enough, Claudia,” Gevan sighed. “I’ll talk to Sheena. Maybe just for a while, until Ghani calms down.”

Claudia’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? You’re going to beg that woman? She’s nobody now, Gevan!”

“She’s still Ghani’s mother,” Gevan replied firmly. “If it can make my son stop crying, I’ll do it.”

Claudia scoffed bitterly. “Go ahead if you want. But don’t expect me to welcome her back into this house.”

Gevan didn’t respond. He stood up, walked to his study, then picked up his phone. His hand hesitated for a moment, but finally, he pressed Sheena’s number.

Meanwhile, at the Muller residence, Sheena had just sat down in the living room after playing with Alea. The house was so peaceful that the ringing of her phone startled her. She looked at the screen and saw Gevan’s name appear.

Sheena was silent for a few seconds, considering whether to answer. But eventually, she pressed the green button.

“Hello,” she said coldly.

“Sheena,” Gevan’s panicked voice came from the other end. “Please, Ghani… he’s refusing to eat. He’s screaming for you to come. The house is a mess. I beg you, just come for a little while, just to calm him down.”

Sheena gripped her phone tightly. “Gevan,” she said softly but firmly, “isn’t Ghani’s mother now Claudia? Why isn’t she taking care of him?”

“Sheena, please…” Gevan’s voice turned pleading. “Do you want Ghani to get sick from starving?”

Sheena’s eyes grew warm, but her voice remained cold. “He’s your son, Gevan. He’s no longer my child.”

“Sheena, don’t say that. Poor Ghani—”

Click.

Sheena ended the call without hesitation. Her hands trembled. For a few seconds, she just stared at the now-dark screen.

“No,” she whispered faintly. “I’ve been hurt enough.”

Tears fell without her realizing it. At that moment, small footsteps came from the stairs. Alea appeared, holding her doll.

“Aunt Sheena…” the little voice called softly. “Why are you crying?”

Sheena quickly wiped her cheeks. “No, dear. Auntie’s fine.”

But Alea came closer and hugged her tightly. “Auntie, please don’t be sad anymore.”

Sheena smiled faintly, holding back the sobs that threatened to escape. She gently stroked Alea’s soft hair. “Thank you, sweetheart. Auntie’s lucky to have you.”

Julio, who had just entered from the terrace, saw the scene. He didn’t ask anything; he simply walked slowly and sat on the chair beside them.

“Sheena,” he said gently, “if something’s bothering you, you can talk to me.”

Sheena nodded, lowering her head slightly. “I know. Thank you, Mr. Julio.”

Julio looked at her with an expression that was hard to read.

“Get some rest, okay? Tomorrow we’ll start the program. I want you to focus on yourself.”

Sheena gave a faint smile. “Alright. I’ll try.”

Julio stood up, patted her shoulder lightly, then walked toward his room.

Sheena gazed out the window. “I’ll change,” she whispered softly. “I’ll show them that I’m no longer the old Sheena, no longer that ugly woman.”

At the Daxon residence, Gevan stared at his dark phone screen. He knew Sheena wouldn’t come. Behind him, Ghani was still crying, calling for his mother.

Claudia watched them from the stairs, her face cold and full of hatred. “If this keeps going,” she said quietly, “I’ll be the one leaving this house.”

Gevan said nothing. He simply sat on the floor, watching his son wail endlessly.

“STOP WHINING, GHANI!”