Chapter 5 - Aftermath - Battles Within and Without.

Mrs. Tonia smiled faintly at Anita, and Anita stepped aside so Glory could pass with the tray of soup. Anita entered the kitchen, not speaking to her mother, but her face held a sorrow that Mrs. Tonia understood all too well.

"Anita," Mrs. Tonia called softly.

"What is it, Mom?" Anita asked, walking to her side.

"I want you to know that your father really does love you, like the rest of your siblings. He isn't against your success," Mrs. Tonia said, holding Anita's hand.

"Hmph," Anita sighed. "I know, Mom, but I don't care. If Dad likes me, fine; if he doesn't, fine. I'll always see him as my father, and that's all."

"Anita..." Mrs. Tonia started.

"Mom, where's the fufu?!" Flora interrupted, stepping into the kitchen. She glanced at Anita and walked to the kitchen cabinet. "Mom, why are you holding her hands and talking to her? Are you begging her for something?" Flora asked, crossing her arms.

"No, Flora, I'm just giving Anita some advice," Mrs. Tonia replied, staring at Flora.

"Whatever, Mom. Anyway, I came for fufu. Glory only served soup without it. Where is it?" Flora asked.

"It's over there, Flora. Check the chair beside you," Mrs. Tonia responded. Flora turned, grabbed the fufu, and walked out, leaving them alone.

"Like I was saying, Anita, don't hold a grudge against your father, okay? You can't replace him. He's your father, and I can swear on my life that he is." Mrs. Tonia insisted.

"Mom," Anita frowned. "You don't have to swear. Let's just go eat. I still have things to do and some calls to make to Temisa to see if she got home too."

"Okay." Mrs. Tonia let go of Anita's hand. Anita washed her hands in the kitchen basin, then went to join the rest of the family for dinner. Their father finally came out, silent as he ate the okro soup.

The dining hall was quiet. After dinner, Glory finished first and cleared her plates to the kitchen. She went to the room Anita and Flora shared, wanting to talk to Anita.

Later, the rest of the family finished eating, and Lisa cleared all the dishes, as it was her turn to wash them. She alternated dishwashing duties with Glory each week. Anita walked back to her room, finding Glory standing inside.

"Glory! What are you doing here, baby sis?" Anita asked, surprised, as she stepped in and walked towards the bed she shared with Flora.

"I wanted to talk to you, big sis," Glory replied. Anita stared at Glory, realizing that her little sister had grown up. She asked a question, unlike the ten-year-old girl she had left behind before entering the university. "So, what did you want to talk about?" Anita asked. But as Glory started to reply, Flora stepped in.

"What are you doing here, Glory? Go back to your room now!" Flora commanded.

"No, Flora, let her be. We were just about to talk. As you can see, I just got back," Anita replied, but Flora flared up. "I wasn't talking to you! Stay out of this!"

"Meaning?" Anita stood up and crossed her arms, facing Flora. "I've been quiet for too long, Flora. What do you mean, 'You're not talking to me'?" Anita asked coldly.

"You heard me. I have nothing to do with white witches. Now, Glory, leave. I want to rest," Flora repeated. Anita smirked and sat back on the bed.

"Tell me, Glory, what did you want to ask me about?" Anita asked, opening her box to remove her laptop and phone. Glory stared from Anita to Flora, confused. Anita was her big sister, as was Flora, and she didn't like them arguing over her.

"Glory, leave!" Flora commanded again, walking closer to drag her out.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Anita warned, opening her box, pulling out her laptop and phone, and placing them on the bed.

"Or what? What will you do?" Flora asked, and Anita stared up at her.

"Step away! Don't you dare touch Glory!" Anita warned.

"No, big sisters, I'm leaving. I'll ask you later," Glory said nervously.

"No, Glory!" Anita glanced at Glory, and she shivered. "Step away, Flora! If you want to rest, the bed is over there, but move away from my conversation with Glory!" Anita warned, and Flora stared at Anita angrily. Anita was slim, with a sexy waist and big breasts, while Flora was fatter and taller.

"What if I don't?" Flora quickly walked towards Glory and grabbed her arm, dragging her out, but Anita wouldn't allow such disrespect. She stood up and attacked Flora, pulling Flora's hair and slapping her face repeatedly, not giving her a chance to breathe. They both began to fight.

"What's going on here?!" Mr. Joshua demanded as he stepped into his eldest daughters' room, making them separate.

"Father, she started it first!" Flora pointed to Anita, who breathed heavily and adjusted her clothes. Mr. Joshua knew Anita wasn't a fighter, so what had prompted this?

He stared at Glory. The rest of his daughters and his wife rushed into the room too. "What happened, Father?!" They asked, staring from Anita to Flora, who was breathing heavily, and to Glory, who had a worried expression.

"What happened, Glory?" Mr. Joshua asked. Glory stammered, "Father, I came in here to talk to Aunt Anita, and Flora told me to leave. Aunt Anita refused, and Flora insisted, and the fight started."

"Flora, why did you ask Glory to leave when Anita was still talking to her?" Mr. Joshua asked coldly. Flora's cheek was already swollen, and Anita had a red mark too. Flora began to cry. "Father, she slapped me first!" Flora pointed at Anita.

"I didn't ask that. I asked, why did you send Glory away?" Mr. Joshua questioned.

"I wanted to sleep, Father, and I can't sleep if they're talking," Flora replied.

"Hmmm..." Mr. Joshua hummed, knowing it was mostly his fault. He warned, "Let today be the last time any of you disrespect your big sister. If it happens again, you'll all have me to deal with. Flora, pack your bags and clothes, as you'll be sharing a room with Lisa from now on. Glory will start sharing this room with Anita from today onwards. And if I hear any more reports or complaints, you'll all regret it."

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

"You caused all this, Flora. Why disrespect your big sister?" Mrs. Tonia asked, but Flora frowned.

"Mom, are you picking on Anita's side too? Is it because she won those stupid awards?" Flora asked.

"Shut your mouth, Flora! Aren't you ashamed of yourself?! Last semester you had carry-overs, and you can't even read or learn from your big sister. All you're good at is badmouthing people," Mrs. Tonia retorted.

"Mom!" Flora sobbed. The rest of her sisters frowned, crossing their arms.

"Now, apologize to Anita before you start packing!" Mrs. Tonia instructed.

"I won't!" Flora refused.

"Then you're no longer my daughter!" Mrs. Tonia warned, while Flora was speechless as she stared from her mother to the rest of her siblings and to Anita, who sat on the bed, switching on her laptop. She swallowed and stared back at her mother.

"No, Mother!" They exclaimed in shock, and Mrs. Tonia turned to face them all.

"Yes, and if you dare to disobey me, I'll disown you, too. Now, Flora, apologize!" Mrs. Tonia insisted, and Flora stared at Anita, sitting on the bed, and mumbled, "I'm sorry, Anita."

"Repeat it loudly," Mrs. Tonia said.

"Mom!" Flora stared back at her mother.

"Now!" Mrs. Tonia was serious.

"Fine! I'm sorry, Anita. Please forgive me," Flora pleaded.

"It's okay, Flora. You can leave," Anita replied, not looking away from her laptop. Flora packed her bag and dragged it out of the room, leaving them all speechless.