Maya's POV

I helped my granny settle down on the couch, placing her walking cane beside her.

Looking over my shoulder, I said to Kim's mom who was still looking around with her head held high like a proud peacock.

"You're free to stand, after all, I don't have any seat befitting your honorable status "

The sarcasm beneath my words was so obvious that even the maidservant snickered quietly at the side.

"You disrespectful chil-" The rest of her words died off when she realized I purposely incited her to anger.

Kim's mother humphed and sat down grumpily, crossing one leg over the other with a posture only socialites would be able to pull off flawlessly.

"Make yourself comfortable " I patted granny affectionately and left to get her a drink.

Grandma Octavia was an ardent drinker notwithstanding her age and because I spent half of my childhood with her, inherited her great drinking prowess.

But I had to consider Eden's words, Granny was already stricken with age and drinking was not going to help her so I opted for fruit juice instead.

"What is this? " She asked as soon as I served her a glass of freshly made citrus juice.

"Grandma" I sat beside her, threw my arms around her shoulder, and began to coax her, "Don't you want to see me get married? "

"What's this brat talking about?" She gave me the look, "Of course, I want to see my cute grandchildren and carry them in my strong arms "

I gave her a confused look, "If your arms are as strong as brick, then why is your waist as fragile as an egg?"

Bingo, I caught my granny in her lies but I should've known by now she was one tough fighter.

She hit me hard at the back of my head causing me to throw an exasperated tantrum.

"What did I do now? " I asked with a mean moue, rubbing the back of my head aggrieved - this old woman still had enough strength in her hands.

"Are you trying to say I'm a liar? " She threw the question at me with a straight face to which I shook my head while eyeing her hands raised in the air- dodging her hit should be my next option.

"Such an unfilial granddaughter " My grandma began to wail loudly.

Wonderful, I forget this foxy old woman was a drama queen - no wonder, Kim's mother and her daughter must have inherited their pretense skill from her.

She continued to complain "You left home for years and didn't even bother to check up on me, now my hip is suffering the consequences of your neglect "

My eyes twitched and I facepalmed mentally, suffering from negligence my butt!

Though granny and her daughter Angela aka Kim's mom, don't see eye to eye on a lot of issues but she takes care of this cranky old woman well.

Few years after I was brought out from the countryside, Angela eventually took her mother to the city but settled her in another property with enough care and amenities.

Kim's mother was ashamed and scared that her mother living with us then, will prompt her wealthy friends to search into her ugly background she had worked hard to cover for years.

It was no secret that Angela was a country pumpkin whose luck shined when she earned the chance to study in a prominent school through scholarship.

There she met her darling husband who fell in love with her at first sight and though she faced many challenges from his family over the years due to the differences in their status, succeeded in getting married to him.

But no matter how capable and gifted Kim's mom was, her background was always a thorn in her side. Which was why she didn't want her first-class friends to catch sight of her old-fashioned mother.

My blood boiled when I remembered Kim's mother denied granny the day she came for a visit and coincidentally met her friends.

"Who is that woman dressed in that hideous outfit " One of them had asked, pointing at grandma derisively with her long manicured claws - there was no way on earth that was her fingers.

Though I was young then, I could never forget the way Angela turned against her mother.

"Don't worry, she's one of my employees, " Kim's mother answered without batting her eyelids.

The other one laughed, "Angela, I've told you to stop taking in people like that, they would only lower your status "

Angela laughed nervously, "What can I do? Am too compassionate " she vomited from that hose called her mouth and in the guise of sipping her drink, signaled grandmother to leave right away.

I watched grandma swallow the shame and did as her daughter wanted her to.

Granny Octavia loved her only daughter to the extreme and because she had the view that the rich bullied the poor, complied with Angela's whimsical requests just so she could have a better life - what mother would not want her child to surpass them?

I couldn't do anything then; couldn't speak up on the maltreatment; was powerless to defend grandma. But it aches my heart that Angela had forgotten it was this same woman who made her what she was today.

If Granny hadn't eked out a living from whatever she could get hands-on, would she have gotten the chance to study or meet her rich husband?

But that was the past. Now, no one would bully my grandmother anymore - not on my watch!

I brought up the juice, pouted my lips a bit while prodding her slightly in the rips, "Granny, I'm sorry for neglecting you all this time but just take a sip alright? This is better than drinking alcohol "

It was obvious she did not believe me but took the juice from my hand nevertheless while I smiled up at her and made an okay sign.

An irritated snort came from behind and I smirked, Kim's mother couldn't take my snubbing anymore.

"Such a poor reception, you're truly a disrespectful child! " Angela stomped her feet.

Kim's mother dared to scold me in my own house?.

"I'm sorry for the unintended disrespect, you see I was not trained up by a responsible mother which is why I turned out this way," I said innocently but hinting she was never a good mother.

"Y-you! " My ex-mother sprang up to her feet angrily, " How dare you! "

I purposely trembled and turned to granny with a scared look, "Granny, I didn't make her angry or disregard her purposely but I didn't know what to serve her - my teas and drinks are not par with her status.

"Moreover, it is said, ' You should never deny a guest a cup of water ' but my water is too impure and not up-to her taste; I didn't serve her any so she doesn't get water poisoning "

Angela almost spat blood, her face was livid with veins almost bursting but she was tongue-tied.

Though each of my words was meant to taunt her, there were atoms of truth in it. She was a sophisticated lady, how could I serve my low-grade drinks to her?.

Grandma knew I provoked her intentionally but didn't say anything, the both of us had always been partners in crime.

"Angela, the girl is right so there's no need to get angry for nothing, " Grandma said to her calmly while taking occasional sips of the juice.

A hidden smile tugged my lips to the side, I could always rely on her for support.

Kim's mom glared at me in particular, she was a smart lady so it wasn't difficult to figure out granny and I was playing her.

"You're no different than your father!" She spat at me.

A cold chill entered my eyes and I glanced up with a murderous look, does she always have to remind me that I was fertilized in a disgraceful way?

I drawled," I can take everything but there are just two things I can't take it "Feeling grandma trying to pull me back to my seat when I stood, I broke free from her clasp and walked towards my so-called mother.

Looking her straight in the eyes, I said out these words with every anger in my vein," Hurting the people precious to me and comparing me to that animal? Push those buttons again and I'll show you how crazy I can get " I warned her sternly.

Yes, Kim's mother was taller and her heels added five more inches to her height, I stared her down. My eyes were wide and red; raw with emotions.

A slight fear flashed across her face but Angela was a woman who had gone through many trials, she quickly covered it up.

"Whatever " She huffed and sat back down.

I strode back to grandma with an apologetic expression and began to massage her arthritis hands while struggling to contain my anger.

"By the way granny, why are you both here?" I asked.

It was strange, this old woman could have visited me alone if she wanted, so why bring this woman along?

"Maya " Grandma called my name tenderly which tingled my sixth sense, why was this sly old woman suddenly gentle with me?

"Come back home "

Oh hell.