Other family members

It was now a week since Lee arrived at her father's house. Nothing had changed much, she still distanced herself from them. She had gotten a job these past few days.

She made a few dollars each day working the evening shift at a cafe.

Today,she was tired and frustrated because she was no longer needed at work. The worker she was filling in for came back from her leave.

"Big sister, give me something," a little voice sounded.

Lee stopped walking and looked down at the little girl tugging her dress. The young girl was a little dirty and her clothes were party torn.

Lee got a money note and gave it to the girl, she smiled and said"thank you" before running off.

In the country, not many employed children because it was illegal and even though they were employed, they weren't paid well.

The employers took advantage of the children's situation and even gave them a huge workload or mistreated them.

The child made her see a little of herself back then. It was tough to survive on your own at a young age. She also faced difficulties. All this was deeply engraved in her mind.

She found herself walking back home to save money.

When she went back to her father's home, she realized that there was much tension for some reason.

The workers looked scared and Lynn didn't welcome her like she usually does. Lynn persistently welcomed her each day and invited her to dine together but Lee rejected strategically. The lady must have realized but she continued doing it.

It seems she has given up already.

It turns out, they had visitors, the visitors were two middle aged people, a male and female. They looked so beautiful and handsome, rich too. They could be her father's associates.

She found herself staring at them for a long time, they resembled someone she knew

.

"Welcome home dear,"the lady spoke as she came to Lee. She opened her arms anticipating a hug. Lee was confused by the sudden action.

She glanced at the smiling lady before looking around for Lynn. "Where was Lynn?" In this house, she only trusted her. Even now, the first person that came to her mind was her stepsister.

The lady withdrew her arms after waiting for a while with no response and chuckled.

"I am your grandmother and this is your grandmother," she said pointing at the man seated at the dinning table.

Lee let out a long breath. She now noticed their resemblance was to her father.

The blue eyes from her grandmother and brown hair from her grandfather. She imagined what her grandparents looked like in the past whenever she saw an elderly person. She hadn't imagined this day would come.

For the first time, Lee nearly rolled her eyes at them. Who could be shameless enough to consider this a reunion?

17 years of her life, she knew nobody. They must also know why she grew up without a father and alone . The least they could do is start with an apology speech or something but just like her father, their son, they want to ignore it and start a new. Did her family perhaps have memory issues?

"Good day to you, am I allowed to leave," she spoke patiently and calmly. Though she grew up alone, she had manners.

" Dear, we are supposed to get to know each other," the lady replied.

Ze Li was seated next to his father and he also said, "You should get to know your grandparents."

Lee almost walked out but she saw Lynn, Lynn looked at her as though she was telling her to do it.

With that, Lee didn't know how she ended up sitting with the strangers on the same table.

The man, specifically her grandfather, smiled at her from across. He introduced himself as Nicholae. Her grandmother is Victoria.

Briefly explaining, she had two uncles and four cousins. She didn't want to meet them. Just like she didn't wish to be with these people.

"Lynn, bring in the main course," Victoria said.

Lynn went into the kitchen and brought chicken casserole. Mai brought the soup and salad later on.

From a close angle, Lynn looked very tired. Lee wondered why she was doing all this. It wasn't much a surprise because Lynn always did this.

Ze Li watched the interactions between everybody. He was happy to see his family in one place.

Her grandmother and grandfather spoke in hushed voices about something.

Dinner was so slow. Lee looked everywhere and her eyes rested upon Lynn's slender figure. She was wiping the sweat of her forehead.

Lee couldn't help but realise something. They were treating Lynn like a slave. Whatever they needed to eat, they simply told her to go get it despite the number of servants in this house. Lynn hadn't even sat down for a second since she arrived. However much Lynn did this at dinner, this was too much.

"It's too bad Lynn can't have siblings anymore,"Victoria said suddenly.

Lee turned to face her grandmother after she heard that. Surprisingly,she was the only one who looked curious.

Lynn had lowered her head down after that was said and tried not to panic.

"Lynn, go bring another glass," Victoria ordered.

Lee suddenly felt like questioning the old woman. What gave her the right to order Lynn around like this?

Lynn was feeling anxious and her hands were trembling. She broke the glass she had brought.

Lee rushed over to Lynn when the lady tried to pick up the broken glass. "Are you ok?"she asked. "Why don't you have a seat?"she said as she brought Lynn to sit on the chair.

Lynn was reluctant but followed Lee.

Lee now didn't know whether this woman was good or bad. She behaved like she owed something. Why did this lady follow everybody's orders?

If someone told her to die someday,will she take her life.

"Lynn, when will you ever do something right, ?"Victoria said sarcastically.

"Isn't it San Lee?" Victoria asked.

Lynn tried to stand up immediately she heard that but she was stopped by Lee.

"Sit down" Lee said.

Lee turned over to her grandmother. In a flash, the evil look on Victoria's face turned into a smile.

"Look, I don't like any of you at all, neither you, your husband or son," she said.

"And, Lynn isn't your servant to do anything for you,"

Unfortunately,she was unable to say any of that.

Victoria and Nicholae gave her a bad feeling. They weren't as simple as they behaved. Victoria's constant smile was laced with venom while her Grandfather's silence was surrounded by calculative ness.

Maybe if you were bad, it was easy to identify another bad person.

It was like a mechanism in your inner self.