Chapter 5

Mrs. Tonia offers a faint smile to Anita as she gracefully steps aside for Glory to pass with the tray of soup. Anita quietly enters the kitchen without speaking to her mother, her face reflecting a deep sadness that Mrs. Tonia can empathize with.

"Anita," Mrs. Tonia calls her first daughter's name with urgency.

"What's the matter, mom?" Anita inquired while strolling alongside her mother.

"I just want to assure you that your father genuinely cares about you and your siblings and fully supports your success," Mrs. Tonia reassured, gently holding Anita's hand.

"Hmph," Anita sighed.

"I understand, Mom, but that's not a concern. Whether he has feelings for me or not, it's all good. I will forever regard him as my father, and that's all," Anita said.

"Anita," Mrs. Tonia expressed.

"Mom, where is the fufu?" Flora swiftly entered the kitchen, catching Anita's attention. She went to the kitchen cabinet where their mother was waiting.

"Mom, why are you holding her hands and talking to her? Are you asking her for something?" Flora inquired once more, her arms crossed tightly around her chest.

"No, Flora, I am simply offering her some advice," Mrs. Tonia responded, fixing her gaze on Flora.

"I don't mind, mom. That's incidental. I came here for the fufu. Glory only served us soup without fufu. Where can I find the fufu?" Flora inquired once more.

"It's right there, Flora; look on the chair beside you," Mrs. Tonia replied, and Flora quickly turned and noticed the fufu. She picked it up and left the kitchen, leaving them alone.

"As I mentioned before, Anita, it's important not to hold a grudge against your father, alright? You won't find a suitable replacement for him again. He's your father, and I can assure you of that," Mrs. Tonia said confidently.

"Mom," Anita looked displeased.

"There's no need for you to use profanity. Let's grab a bite to eat before I dive back into work and make some calls to check if Temisa has made it home safely," Anita added.

"Sure," Mrs. Tonia released Anita's hand, allowing her to quickly walk over to the sink and wash her hands in the kitchen basin. Afterward, she promptly joined the rest of the family for dinner. Meanwhile, their father quietly sat down and enjoyed the delectable okro soup prepared by his wife.

The dining hall is quiet, and Glory is the first to finish after their meal. She quickly clears her plates and heads to the room Anita and Flora share to wait for Anita to finish. Glory is eager to discuss something with her.

After everyone finished eating, Lisa cleared the plates and brought them to the kitchen. It's her turn to wash the dishes, which she shares with Glory weekly. Meanwhile, Anita returns to the room she shares with Flora and finds Glory waiting inside.

"Wow! What brings you here, little sister?" Anita asked, her voice filled with surprise as she stepped into the room and approached the bed she shared with Flora.

"I came here to talk with you, big sis," Glory replied, and Anita stared at Glory for a while. As her younger sister has grown, she posed a question ahead of time, unlike the young girl she left behind before entering university.

"So, what's on your mind? Let's get straight to it," Anita inquired, and just as Glory was about to respond, Flora interjected with a chilly tone.

"What brings you here, Glory? Go back to your room immediately!" Flora demanded.

"No, Flora, let her be. We have some matters to discuss. I just returned," Anita replied, but Flora became angry.

"I wasn't addressing you. Just stay out of this!"

"What does that mean?" Anita swiftly rises from the bed and firmly crosses her arms around her chest, confronting Flora.

"I've been staying silent for you, Flora. What do you mean you're not talking to me?" Anita inquired again, her gaze fixed on Flora with a hint of frostiness.

"You heard me correctly; I have no dealings with white witches. Now, Glory, please leave so I can rest," Flora repeated, and Anita smirked and settled back on the bed.

"So, Glory, what's on your mind?" Anita swiftly asked Glory as she unzipped her box to retrieve her laptop and phone, leaving Glory perplexed as she glanced between them.

Anita and Flora are both her older sister. Glory is frustrated by the ongoing arguments that have arisen because of her.

"Hurry up and leave, Glory!" Flora issued her command and approached Glory, ready to pull her away.

"Do not even think about laying a finger on her!" Anita quickly heeded the warning, swiftly retrieving her laptop and phone from her box and placing them neatly on the bed.

"Or what? What are your plans?" Flora asked Anita.

Anita looked at her and cautioned, "Back off, or you'll be the one to lay a hand upon."

"I'm heading out, sis. I'll ask you later," Glory responded with a hint of unease.

"No Glory!" Anita glanced at Glory and felt a chill run down her spine.

"Flora, move aside immediately! If you're looking for a place to relax, the bed is over there. Just give me some space while I'm talking to Glory!" Anita warned.

Flora glares at Anita with frustration. Although Anita has a slender figure, Flora has a different body type. Given her height and weight advantage, Flora believes she can overpower Anita.

"And what if I choose not to?" Flora swiftly walked towards Glory and pulled her by the arms, but Anita wouldn't tolerate such disrespect. She promptly stood up from the bed and confronted Flora. Engaged in a heated altercation, Flora found herself being forcefully pulled by her hair and struck repeatedly on her cheeks by Anita, leaving her little room to catch her breath.

"What's happening here?!" Mr. Joshua interrupted them as he entered his eldest daughter's room, causing them to part ways.

"Father, Anita initiated it first!" Flora gestured towards Anita, prompting Anita to sigh as she straightened her attire. Mr. Joshua has always known Anita as someone who avoids conflict, so what could have caused their disagreement?

He gazed at Glory, and in an instant, his other daughters and his wife hurried into the room as well.

"What's the matter, father?!" As they entered the large room, they directed their attention towards Anita, Flora, and Glory. Flora was breathing heavily, while Glory wore a concerned expression.

"What occurred, Glory?" Mr. Joshua quickly questioned Glory, and she stumbled over her words.

"Father, I entered this room to converse with Aunt Anita, but Flora abruptly instructed me to depart. However, Aunt Anita declined her request, leading to Flora persisting and ultimately causing a heated altercation," Glory recounted.

"Flora, why did you request Glory's departure while Anita still converses with her?" Mr. Joshua interrogated Flora with a piercing gaze. Flora's cheek was already swollen, and Anita also had a swollen red cheek. Anita's was more noticeable than Flora's. However, Flora was crying uncontrollably and seeking comfort from her father.

"Father, she hit me first!" Flora gestured towards Anita again.

"That's not what I asked from you. I inquired about the reason for sending Glory away," Mr. Joshua inquired.

"I want to sleep, Father, and I can't sleep if they're discussing," Flora replied, tears streaming down her face.

"Hmm..." Mr. Joshua hummed, fully aware of his responsibility and the need for caution.

"Let's make today the final instance where any of you girls show disrespect towards your big sister, Anita. When it happens again, you'll all have to deal with me. Flora, please gather your belongings and prepare to move to the room you will share with Lisa. Glory will be moving into this room with Anita starting today. And if there are any additional reports or complaints, I will address them with you later."

"Father!" Flora exclaimed, but Mr. Joshua had already left.

"You're responsible for all of this, Flora. Why would you disrespect your older sister like that?" Mrs. Tonia inquired, but Flora displayed a displeased expression.

"Mom, Do you support Anita as well? Is it because she won two insignificant awards?" Flora asked.

"Please be quiet, Flora. Are you not ashamed of yourself? In your last session, you had some unfinished tasks, yet you seemed unwilling to improve or take advice from your older sister. All you seem to do is criticize, which is not productive," Mrs. Tonia replied.

"Mom!" Flora bursts into tears once more as her sisters in the room scowl and fold their arms tightly across their chests in frustration.

"Apologize to Anita before you begin packing your bags!" Mrs. Tonia said firmly.

"I won't do that, mother," Flora firmly refused.

"And I strongly urge you to do it now, or else you'll have to deal with me right now!" Mrs. Tonia issued a warning again, leaving Flora at a loss for words as she gazed at their mom, her siblings, and Anita. Meanwhile, Anita calmly sat on the bed, preparing to turn on her laptop and patiently waiting for it to start up. Flora's throat tightened as she locked eyes with their mother.

"Mom..." Flora let out a loud scream, catching Anita's attention at last.

"It's fine, Mom; I don't require her apology," Anita said while entering her laptop password.

"No, Anita, she needs to apologize to you; otherwise, she will no longer be my daughter starting today."

"Mom!" They were all taken aback, and Mrs. Tonia swiftly turned to address them.

"Consider this a clear warning moving forward, and beware that I can sever ties and disassociate myself from all of you if you choose to defy me. Now Flora expresses your apologies!" Mrs. Tonia was insistent, causing Flora to gaze at Anita, who was sitting on the bed again.

With remorse in her voice, she quietly uttered, "I apologize, Anita."

"Say it loudly," Mrs. Tonia instructed.

"Mom..." Flora gazes intently at their mother.

"Immediately!" Mrs. Tonia deadpan.

"Fine, I apologize, Anita; please forgive me," Flora pleads.

"It's fine, Flora, you can go," Anita responded, with her attention fixed on her laptop.

Flora swiftly gathers her clothes and forcefully drags her bag out of the room, leaving the others stunned.