e back seat and told the taxi driver he

river repl

ma as the only passenger, arriving at the e

before alighting from the taxi and rushing t

red at Olima, wondering what w

orgeous young lady, mostly running about

continued with their jobs. The

late father's mansion gate. She knocked h

hin, pulled open the small gate, and asked her

and apologized, "I'm sorry, sir

d made her way toward the mansion front a

ansion. Pulling the doorknob open, she walked into the living r

's big brown eyes quickly traveled to the living room wall clo

their dinner, knowing her stepmother would soon come downsta

er mercilessly for wasting so much time in

she had bought from the local market nearby. She washed th

stockfish from the rubber band

it neatly while switching on the gas cooker and placing

lock, Olima was sweaty all over as she

when she heard the ki

nd asked, "What took you so l

Olima stirred the large pot of soup with a big spoon, tasting

right hand and said, "Please taste the soup first to

a dropped a few drops of soup from

s. She licked her right palm but frowned, wanting h

"Add more salt

as her brows f

again on her right palm. "But the

ontainer, opened it, and pou

creamed

open, and Mrs. Gina walked into the

t from the gas cooker, as she hadn't prepared the s

ere? It's already after 9 p.m., yet

Nothing, ma. I'm almost

e semolina, and Mrs. Gina shifted her gaze towa

ed, "Mom,

r feet on the ground as sh

the dining table first, Mia.

rd the kitchen door, shouti

athed a sigh of relief as she saw her st

switched off the gas and wiped her sweaty forehead with her light b

dished out their soup into smaller plates, placed everything on

her mother as Olima walked up to the

ining table to start eating, and Olima serv

nds first, follow

ina, "Ma, do you n

replied, "No, go and

She walked away, but just t

at Mia and aske

the kitchen door and

om, the soup

iciously, and she stared at the soup

her face twisting in irritation as she immediately stood up from her dining chair an

ep back and rep

ir and rushed toward Olima. She asked, "

ma... Mia added more sa

a hot, resounding s

, and bending her head into her small soup plate saying, "Here is

ollow you and prepare the soup? Aren't you the only one w

tried to expla

her hot slap on her right c

eating Olima while

illed your parents, and now you wan

innocent; I didn't spoil the

here again! Nathan!" Mrs. Gina called out to the gate man, and he ra

s witch out of this house; I ne

please. I didn't touch Mi

word from you, and I will have you arrested tonight, you witch. Nathan,

m and dragged her outside the mansi

at belonged to her late parents, taking h

s happy that she had rid herself of Olima

e to find out if Nathan h