5. "Was That Papa, Mom?"

"And how was your night..." Grace entered the kitchen, following her brother as soon as she came back.

"So, what's with the sour look?" Her brother asked instead, throwing her a side glance. Grace let out a sigh and took a bottle of water from the refrigerator. "Had a fun night?" Her brother added mischievously.

"Not now, Derrick... I see you are doing your uncle duties...she's becoming unbearable," Grace remarked and picked up some plates and both proceeded to the lining room.

"She only wants answers, she's a brave, intelligent girl," her brother said between chuckles. Derrick was undeniably a handsome man, with rugged features that displayed his strength and charisma. But beyond his physical appeal, he possessed an even more captivating quality - his unwavering role as a protective older brother to Grace.

"I know you baby sis...that look screams you saw the hated devil," Derrick added, making air quotes with his fingers, seeing how quiet his little sister was. Grace let out a sigh and shoved a plate on the table.

"You know what Derrick...it would be great if you helped me with keeping Stella in check" she simply said with arched brows, her brother stared at her for a while as if pondering over her words when he burst into laughter.

"I don't even see the reason you chose this shitty town of all places...that bastard...you know how Stella is...she won't rest until..."

"I'm not afraid Derrick...this city is for everyone, Stella is my daughter...she's a Monroe," Grace cut him off, she knew exactly who he was referring to, and she had no reason to hide anymore. Stella, at just five years old, was a bundle of joy and vitality. Her cheerful demeanor and infectious smile lit up the room and brought a sense of warmth to those around her. Despite her young age, it was clear that Stella possessed a remarkable intelligence and curiosity that far surpassed intelligence and curiosity that far surpassed her peers. Which worried Grace.

"In that case, my baby sis comes first," Derrick remarked with a smile and fed Grace when suddenly there was a light knock on the door.

"I'll get it... I'll get it!" Before Grace could do anything, her little daughter came running and shouting from her bedroom.

"Ella, slow down, don't open it," Grace was already rushing towards the door. Her daughter was something else.

"Mommy, I'll get it," Stella quickly pulled the door open, only for Grace's heart to skip a beat. Standing like some Greek God in his black tuxedo was none other than Caesar. It was hard to overlook his domineering aura.

"What are you doing here?" Grace asked sternly, her smile turned sour at the sight of the man she didn't wish to set her eyes on.

"You left without..." Caesar, who happened to be shifting his gaze from Grace to the beautiful little girl, staring intensely at him, said.

"What is he doing here?" This time it was Derrick who came into view, pushing his way to the front and standing in front of Grace protectively.

"Sweetie, go to your room,"

"But mommy, I wanna," her daughter pouted, wanting to stay, but Grace shot her a death glare not to argue.

"Go to your room now," Grace made a low yell and her daughter quickly left from there.

"Bastard...who the fuck let you here!"

Derrick growled.

"I'm not here for you jerk," Caesar spat out sternly and turned to Grace. "Is this your husband...did you disappear and marry this worthless bastard?" Caesar said, sounding angry, Grace couldn't believe his odds.

"You have no rights Caesar...how dare you come here!" She coul understand his words. After all these years, he was still a shameless person.

"What? Am I right? Or were you two lovers even before we divorced," the man made a low growl, his eyes shone with rage. Derrick's anger flared upon hearing Caesar's vile words toward his sister.

"How dare you talk to her like that!"

Derrick's anger got the better of him, and he lashed out, throwing a powerful punch towards Caesar.

"Derrick stop it" Grace tried to stop her brother from causing a scene, but Caesar already responded as he punched Derrick back.

"Don't fucking touch me!" Caesar growled as he shoved Derrick against the wall, but Derrick countered back.

The two men erupted into a heated brawl, their fists flying and tensions escalating. Grace watched in shock as the altercation turned ugly, with both men consumed by their desires for revenge.

"You fucking jerk divorced her..."

"She's my wife!" Caesar, who was now on the floor wiping blood from his mouth, yelled, shocking Grace even more. As the confrontation continued, Derrick's relentless fury propelled him forward, his blows landing with precision. He unleashed his frustrations on Caesar, determined to make him pay for causing his sister so much heartbreak. Blow after blow, his anger drove him, leaving Caesar battered and bruised, a physical manifestation of the pain he had inflicted upon Derrick's sister.

"Get out!" Derrick shoved Caesar out the door, both men breathing heavily, "You don't deserve her..."

"I'll make you pay... I'll make you suffer!"

Caesar yelled as he tried to get hold of himself.

Grace felt tears lingering in her eyes.

It was a dark and bitter battle that unfolded on that doorstep, neither party willing to back down until their thirst for revenge had been quenched.

"That's enough!" Grace yelled, having had enough of Caesar causing a scene, she glared at her brother to keep away when she stepped forward.

"You have no right to come here...so what if I'm married...get lost Caesar..." she said disdainfully and slammed shut the door causing a loud deafening sound. Caesar felt his knees weaken as he took a step backwards. With anger, he stormed away from there while wiping blood from his face.

It didn't take a while for Caesar to arrive at his mansion. It was late at night. He went straight to his study room after grabbing some bottles of vodka.

"What the heck are you doing here?" Caesar asked as soon as he opened the door and found someone he wasn't expecting. Turning around, the person tossed some darts away and adjusted his coat. Caesar ignored his best friend Aiden and proceeded to his chair.

"Well, you disappeared from your party... I drove your wife back to the safely...you're welcome," Aiden remained with a frown and watched as Caesar sat down on the chair angrily.

"You disappeared for years...only to show up and throw lectures at me...you never change, Aiden," Caesar scoffed and slammed the bottle on the table. The bitter vodka burned his throat, but it did nothing to ease his rage.

Seeing this, Aiden stared at his friend when his brows knitted together.

"We both know she's back...you went after her..." Aiden started as he shifted closer to the wooden table where Caesar was sitting. With displeasing in his eyes, Caesar looked at Aiden sternly.

"And what does that have to do with you?"

Caesar asked, wondering why Aiden would say that to him.

"You fucking know what I mean...you humiliated her beyond repair, and now you have the guts to go after her," this time Aiden's voice carried anger as he locked eyes with Caesar. Aiden was alw' calm and rarely let his emotions get the of him. Caesar frowned as he rose to his feet.

"I'll pretend as if that didn't come from your mouth...this is my house...you might be my friend but..." Caesar remarked while pointing his finger at Aiden, his eyes were already blurry as he tried to look sober.

"I won't stand and watch you cause her more harm...you had your chance and blew it... she's no longer your wife," Aiden said, knowing full well his friend made a big mistake when he divorced Grace. Caesar saw a different spark in Aiden's eyes. It wasn't just of care for Grace, but something more intimate.

"Get the fuck out!" Caesar yelled, showing Aiden the door. Aiden didn't waste time, but simply turned away and left the study. Caesar's anger flared up even more as he smashed the bottle of vodka against the wall. Even the woman standing outside the study was startled but soon her expression darkened.

Meanwhile, Grace frowned as she cleaned Derrick's bloody nose.

"Picking a fight in front of Stella...you should be ashamed," she scolded her brother for letting his emotions get the best of him.

"The bastard won't leave you alone... especially when he sees Stella," Derrick said with a frown.

"Keep quiet..." Grace said with a glare. And continued her work. Derrick knew her too well,

"I know you... Grace...don't let that man fool you...I won't let you go through that again... even if...you still love him," Derrick muttered the last words, it was obvious he didn't want Stella to hear their conversation.

"Get some rest..." Grace didn't reply but simply shoved some cotton in Derrick's hands and rose to her feet.

"Goodnight," her brother said but Grace was already out of his room. Immediately she was out of sight, and her knees weakened. Placing her hand on her mouth. Grace leaned against the wall trying by all means to keep calm.

Without knowing her daughter was watching her secretly.

"Was that papa," little Stella muttered to herself. "Why was Mommy sad when she saw him?" She saw that man's photo in one of her mommy's boxes. Her mommy put on a sad face each time she looked at that picture. Little Stella wanted to know more about the man.