Mandume grew weary of the dull game and decided to head downstairs to the living room. As food was dished onto plates, Star arranged them meticulously on the dinner table.
"What are you doing?" Maria's voice cut through the quiet as she entered the room. "Take the food to everyone in their rooms."
Star paused, looking up, a hint of confusion in her expression. "What? Why?"
"Because that's how we do things here," Maria explained, her tone matter-of-fact. "I cook, and then I take the food to my children in their rooms. Go on, I'll take mine; don't bother about me."
Star shook her head in disbelief, her voice laced with curiosity. "You're not serious, are you? I mean… do you really feel okay with this? You've got this amazing family, but it feels like you're separated by something… wrong. Where I come from, we always eat together. Different plates, sure, but the same table. We share opinions about the food, talk about how it tastes, how we could make it better... And as a woman, you'd know when to improve your cooking."
Maria bristled, her eyebrows knitting together. "You're not trying to teach me how to run my house, are you? What's the big deal about serving food in their rooms?"
Star's hands trembled slightly as she spoke again, trying to keep her tone respectful but firm. "I'm not teaching you how to run anything, ma'am. I'm just telling you what's right… If I've said something that upset you, please forgive me, but could we at least try this while I'm here? After I leave, you can go back to your usual routine. Please?"
Maria's gaze hardened, her patience wearing thin. "Hmm, so now you think I'm wrong in my own house?"
"No!" Star quickly corrected herself, heart racing. "That's not what I mean. I just think… we could eat like a family."
"You're not part of this family!" Maria snapped, her voice rising in anger, but before she could continue, Mandume stepped into the room, cutting off the escalating tension.
"Mom, since Dad left, we've been eating like roommates," he said quietly, his tone softer but filled with a yearning. "Can we at least go back to the way things were when Dad was here? I miss him."
Maria's fury seemed to dissipate, her expression softening at the sight of her son. It was as if the storm had passed with his words.
"How long have you been standing there?" Maria asked, her voice now tinged with unease.
"Just a few seconds," Mandume replied, his hands casually rubbing his neck. "I came for some water and saw the table set up. I heard you two talking, so I came in."
Mandume's voice became more earnest as he continued, his plea gentle but firm. "Mom, let's use the dinner table like we used to. For Dad's sake. Maybe… maybe he'll come back to us."
Maria paused, clearly conflicted, before nodding reluctantly. She turned on her heel and went to summon Tiffanie and Bonita, her anger simmering beneath the surface. As she walked, she muttered under her breath, "Enough is enough. Today's the last day Mandume's wish will be granted. I've been too nice, but it's been 20 years, and it feels like my game is falling apart. I need to change my method."
Bonita appeared from her room just as Maria entered the hallway, muttering to herself.
"Talking to yourself now, Mom?" Bonita said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I told you, Star's bad news."
Maria's expression darkened, and she abruptly stopped her muttering. "I'm just tired of this 'winning him with love' thing. I'm not that kind of person. All I want is the signature I've been after for 20 years."
Bonita's brow furrowed. "What signature, Mom? What are you talking about?"
Maria quickly backpedaled, her mind racing for a distraction. "Um… Did I say signature? Ah, I'm just confused and tired. Let's go eat."
Bonita, sensing something was off, didn't relent. "Mom, I'm not a child anymore. Ever since Dad left, I've been suspecting something's going on with you. What's really happening? Don't lie to me."
Maria quickly shushed Bonita, then pulled her into the room, closing the door behind them.
Once inside, Maria sighed heavily, as if releasing a long-held breath. "You're right. You're not a child anymore. I'm doing this for you. You see, your dad and I aren't actually married. We've been engaged for 20 years, but I feel like he's been using me. I've been planning to transfer his business ownership into my name, so when he's done with me, I won't be left with nothing."
Bonita's shock was palpable. Her mouth hung open, the truth sinking in like a stone. "Mom, are you crazy? This is about Dad. Why would he use you like that?"
Maria's face grew even more tense. "Yeah, he's your dad, but when he left, I went to his lawyer. I saw the will. Everything belongs to Mandume. Not to you, not to me. Mandume gets it all. Even if he dies, we'll get nothing."
Bonita's heart shattered. "What? Why would Dad do that?"
"I don't know," Maria confessed, her voice shaking. "I tried to find out, but the lawyer wouldn't tell me much. All I know is that, since David's nowhere to be found, everything goes to Mandume. He's the one who controls it all. He's the only one with the right to everything."
"Gosh, this can't be happening. What about me? Why didn't he leave me anything? What's going on?" Bonita's voice broke as tears welled up in her eyes.
Maria stepped forward, pulling her daughter into a tight hug. "Don't worry, darling. Mommy's here for you. We'll fight for your share."
Bonita clung to her, torn between disbelief and anger. "Mom, am I not his daughter?"
"You are his daughter," Maria reassured her, though there was a coldness in her tone. "Maybe he made a mistake, maybe there's been some misunderstanding. But your father is the only one who can answer all these questions. And right now, we don't know where he is. So, now that you know what's going on, can we team up and fight for what's rightfully yours?"
Meanwhile, Star, who had been waiting for them to join dinner, felt the tension rise as she overheard their conversation from just outside Maria's room. Her heart raced when she heard Bonita's chilling suggestion.
"Maybe we can kill her, poison her, or kill the baby in her womb," Bonita had said with a twisted grin.
Star gasped, her heart pounding in her chest. She hadn't expected such a dark turn. Her voice trembled as she pushed open the door, feeling the weight of their words crushing her from every direction.
"Did… did you just say that?" she stammered, her voice shaking with disbelief.
Maria and Bonita froze, their expressions shifting from surprise to panic. The calm, calculating façade Maria had built began to crack as she realized the full extent of her daughter's involvement in their dark plans.