Chapter 5 – Sister's quarrel

Mrs. Tonia smiled faintly at Anita, as Anita stepped aside to let Glory pass with the tray of soup in her hands.

Anita then walked into the kitchen without uttering a word to her mother, but the sorrow on her face was evident—something Mrs. Tonia understood well.

"Anita," Mrs. Tonia called her daughter's name softly.

"What is it, Mom?" Anita asked as she stood beside her.

"I just want you to know that your father really loves you, just like your sisters. He isn’t against your success," Mrs. Tonia said, gently holding Anita’s hand.

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

"Anita—" Mrs. Tonia started, but before she could continue, Flora entered the kitchen.

"Mom, where’s the fufu?" Flora asked, eyeing Anita before walking over to the kitchen cabinet.

"Mom, why are you holding her hand and talking to her? Are you begging her for something?" Flora questioned, crossing her arms.

"No, Flora, I was just advising Anita," Mrs. Tonia replied, staring at Flora.

"I don’t care, Mom. That’s not my concern. Anyway, Glory only served us soup without fufu. Where is it?" Flora asked again.

"It’s over there, on the chair beside you," Mrs. Tonia responded.

Flora turned, spotted the fufu, grabbed it, and walked out of the kitchen, leaving them alone.

Mrs. Tonia continued, "As I was saying, Anita, don’t hold a grudge against your father, okay? You’ll never get another replacement for him. He is your father, and I would swear on my life that he is truly yours."

Anita frowned. "Mom, there’s no need for such an oath. Let’s go eat. I still have work to do and need to call Temisa to check if she has gotten home."

"Okay," Mrs. Tonia finally let go of Anita’s hand.

Anita walked over to the sink, washed her hands in the kitchen basin, and then stepped out to join the rest of the family for dinner.

Mr. Joshua finally walked out of his room and silently sat at the dining table, eating the delicious okra soup his wife had prepared.

The dining hall was quiet. After dinner, Glory finished her meal first, cleared her plate, and went to the room Anita shared with Flora to wait for Anita—she wanted to talk to her.

Once the rest of the family was done, Lisa cleared the plates, as it was her turn to wash the dishes. She and Glory alternated kitchen duties weekly.

Anita returned to the room she shared with Flora and was surprised to see Glory standing inside.

"Glory! What are you doing here?" Anita asked her baby sister as she stepped in and walked over to sit on the bed she shared with Flora.

"I came to talk to you, big sis," Glory replied.

Anita stared at Glory for a moment. Her baby sister had grown up—she was no longer the little ten-year-old girl Anita had left behind when she went off to university.

"So, tell me, what do you want to talk about?" Anita asked.

Before Glory could respond, Flora entered the room coldly.

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

"No, Flora. Let her stay. We were having a conversation. I just got back, remember?" Anita said.

Flora flared up. "I wasn’t talking to you! Stay out of this!"

Anita stood up, crossing her arms over her chest as she faced Flora. "I’ve been ignoring you, Flora, but what do you mean by that?"

"You heard me. I have no business with white witches."

Anita smirked and sat back on the bed. "Tell me, Glory, what do you want to ask me?"

She unzipped her box, pulled out her laptop and phone, and placed them on the bed.

Glory looked from Anita to Flora, feeling conflicted. Both were her sisters, and she didn’t like that they were arguing because of her.

"Glory, leave!" Flora commanded again and moved forward to drag her out.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Anita warned as she continued unpacking her laptop and phone.

"Or what? What will you do?" Flora challenged her.

Anita glanced up at her. "Step away. Or if you’re here to rest, the bed is over there. But stay out of my conversation with Glory!"

Flora was fuming. Anita had always been slimmer, with a curvy waist and well-proportioned features, while Flora was chubbier and taller. She believed she could overpower Anita in a fight.

"And what if I don’t?" Flora snapped.

She lunged toward Glory, grabbing her arm to drag her out, but Anita wouldn’t allow such disrespect. She sprang up, grabbed Flora by the hair, and slapped her across the face multiple times before Flora could react. The two sisters began fighting.

"What is going on here?!" Mr. Joshua’s voice boomed as he stepped into the room, forcing them apart.

"Father, she started it!" Flora pointed at Anita, tears streaming down her face.

Anita breathed heavily as she adjusted her clothes. Mr. Joshua had always known Anita to be calm and non-confrontational, so what could have made her fight?

Before he could ask, the rest of the family rushed into the room.

"What happened, Father?!" they all asked.

Mr. Joshua looked from Anita to Flora, then to Glory, who had a worried expression.

"Glory, what happened?" he asked.

Glory hesitated before answering. "Father, I came in here to talk to Aunt Anita, but Flora told me to leave. Anita refused, so Flora insisted, and the fight started."

Mr. Joshua turned to Flora. "Why did you tell Glory to leave while she was talking to Anita?"

Flora’s cheek was swollen, as was Anita’s, though Anita’s was more visible.

Flora, still crying, replied, "Father, she slapped me first!"

"I didn’t ask that. I asked why you told Glory to leave."

"I wanted to sleep, and I couldn’t if they were talking," Flora muttered.

Mr. Joshua sighed, realizing his past favoritism had caused this division.

"Let this be the last time any of you disrespects your big sister. If it happens again, you will all answer to me!"

He turned to Flora. "Pack your bags. You will be moving in with Lisa. From today onward, Glory will share this room with Anita."

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

"You brought this on yourself, Flora. Why disrespect your sister?" Mrs. Tonia scolded.

Flora frowned. "Mom, are you taking Anita’s side? Just because she won two stupid awards?"

"Shut up, Flora! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? Last semester, you had carryovers, yet instead of learning from Anita, all you do is bad-mouth her."

"Mom!" Flora sobbed, while the rest of the sisters folded their arms, frowning at her.

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

"I won’t!" Flora protested.

"I insist! Or you will no longer be my daughter!"

"Mom!" they all gasped in shock.

"Yes, and mark my words. Disobey me, and I will disown you all. Now, Flora, apologize!"

Flora glanced at Anita, then mumbled, "I’m sorry, Anita."

"Say it louder!" Mrs. Tonia demanded.

Flora hesitated. "Fine! I’m sorry, Anita. Please forgive me."

"It’s okay, Flora. You can leave," Anita replied, her focus still on her laptop.

Flora angrily packed her things and stormed out, leaving the others speechless.