His Painful Desires

We were all surprised by Thunder yelling at his wife. For me, I wasn’t stunned at all. If I were him, I would also feel embarrassed with how Stephanie is behaving. Without knowing what happened first, she just accused someone and it was literally a red flag.

“Thunder, can’t you see? I am just defending our daughter.” she scoffed.

Thunder seemed to be very tired that I could see. I pity him.

“Are you even thinking? Accusing her without knowing the truth first? Why don’t you ask me first, huh? Yeah. Shantalle spoke badly about Mia, okay? Mia just wanted her to know her lesson, but she talked back angrily and left. That was why I scolded her.” he said, catching his breath.

Stephanie swallowed hard. She just looked at us and walked out. I know she got shy. She thought they would side with them.

“Thunder, can I talk to you in private?” Dad asked him.

Thunder looked at me and he nodded.

“Come on, Ava.” we left them.

As we walked away from Thunder and Dad, the tension in the room still clung to the air like a thick fog. I glanced at Ava, her expression unreadable as we moved further down the corridor. The muffled echoes of Thunder’s voice faded behind us, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was unfolding.

Ava stayed silent, her hands clasped in front of her. I wanted to ask what she thought about the argument, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I focused on the intricate patterns of the carpet beneath our feet, trying to make sense of the chaos that had just erupted.

“Do you think grandpa’s upset with dad?” Ava finally broke the silence, her voice soft.

I shrugged. “Maybe. But I think it’s more about what’s happening with Stephanie. Dad doesn’t like drama, especially not when it’s unnecessary.”

Ava nodded, but her eyes lingered on the door we had just left. “I hope they figure it out. It’s exhausting watching them go at it all the time.”

Before I could respond, a sharp, echoing crash reverberated through the hallway. Ava and I froze, our heads whipping back toward the room where Thunder and Dad had stayed behind.

“What was that?” Ava whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

“I don’t know,” I replied, my pulse quickening.

We exchanged a look before darting back toward the room. The door was slightly ajar, and as we pushed it open, the scene before us made my blood run cold.

Shantalle broke my mom’s beloved vase. My eyes widened in horror. The vase isn’t that expensive, but I know how my mom treasured it before.

“What did you do?!” I yelled at her.

Shantalle got scared, trembling. I knelt down picking up the broken pieces, not even minding the pain.

“Mom... your hands are bleeding.” Ava was very worried.

“No... no... no... this is your grandma’s most treasured vase, Ava. I need to fix it.” I know I am stupid, but I love my mom.

Dad, Thunder, and Marga arrived at the same time. All of them were stunned.

“Mia! Your hands.” dad walked and helped me.

Thunder pulled me away from the broken pieces. I struggled but Marga asked the maids to clean it up.

“Don’t throw it away.” I told them.

“Mia, what are you thinking? You just hurt yourself.” dad sighed.

“Dad, that’s mom’s beloved vase. How come it was here? I thought it was locked up inside the room filled with our memories?” I know and I was the one who put it there before leaving this place before.

Dad looked at Marga and Thunder. I know they are asking each other who displayed it out.

“I... I don’t know how it came out, dear.” Marga answered.

“Me too. I haven’t seen that in here.” Thunder said.

All I thought was Stephanie. I looked at Shantalle who was hiding behind Thunder’s legs. I knew her mom must have told her to break it.

“Shantalle, where is your mom?” I asked her.

She shook her head.

“I know you hate seeing me mad, Shantalle. I am not asking you once again.” I am so angry right now. I even want to pinch her nose even though she’s a kid just to tell me the truth.

All of us are looking at her.

“Why are you accusing my daughter? Huh? Why? Have you seen what happened first?” Stephanie, coming down the stairs, looking so fresh from the bath.

I know she was doing this because of what happened earlier. And now, she wanted it to the same back to me.

“I knew it was you, Stephanie. You knew how much that vase means to me and my mom. Is that how you really hate me?” I scoffed.

I don’t care if I lose much blood as long as I can find out who did it. She just grinned and rolled her eyes.

“Come on, Mia. Think before you talk. What if my Shantalle accidentally bumped into it that was why it fell? It wasn’t her fault, okay? In fact, she’s just a kid. She can make mistakes.” she smiled.

Shantalle ran toward her evil mother. She even asked her if she was fine.

“You didn’t even care if she was hurt.” Stephanie shook her head.

“The vase was locked inside that room. Who would dare open and took it from inside, huh? Maybe it was you, because you are so mad at me.” I don’t care if they will get mad at me.

I just hate her guts making things very hard for me.

“Cut the crap, okay? I don’t know how it gets here too, okay? So, will you stop accusing me and my daughter? If you want to know, why don’t you ask the maids around. Maybe... just maybe one of them took it out and displayed it.” Stephanie rolled her eyes.

But I know she was lying. I have known her for so long, and I can tell if she was lying to me.

“If I found out you are responsible with this. I am not going to think twice breaking your face.” I glared at her.