Chapter 4 I'm not the Ayna I used to be

Footsteps sounded from behind the door leading to the living room. I turned, ready. Lani's figure appeared, elegant in a maroon silk dress, her hair pulled up high, sparkling jewelry on her neck and wrists. Her smile was wide, until she saw me.

The smile instantly faded, replaced by an expression of shock that quickly turned to coldness.

"Ayna?" Her eyes scanned me from head to toe, as if I were trash blown into the house by the wind. "You... what are you doing here?"

Instantly, every muscle in my body tensed. This was it. The first battle had begun. In the house that should have been my home.

I looked at her directly. My face was expressionless. "I'm home, Mami. Is there a problem?"

Mami Lani smiled. A fake smile, of course. I knew this kind of drama all too well.

"Welcome back, Sweetheart," she said softly, as if there had never been any distance between us.

I glanced at her. "Thank you, Mami Lani," I replied flatly. My tone was polite, but my gaze remained wary.

Porcelain plates clinked softly as they were placed on the long dining table. The crystal chandelier cast golden light, reflecting off the cold marble walls. I sat at the head of the table, directly opposite Papa.

Davina sat next to her mother, leaning back lazily as she played with her long hair. "Did you shower, Sis? You look so grubby, messy, and... ugh. Oops, sorry, I'm just being honest." Davina covered her mouth with her fingers. Her face was mocking.

I turned my head slowly. "This house has never changed, everything is still in its place. Except for the occupants who sometimes forget their place."

My smile was small, only lasting 3 seconds but it managed to make Davina's eyes widen in annoyance. Mami Lani's expression changed to one of forced pleasantness immediately.

Papa, seated in the middle, cleared his throat. "Ayna, you just arrived, don't speak too much unnecessarily. Please appreciate the food on the table. We are gathered together to celebrate the return of Alyssa Ayna Anastasya, my daughter."

Papa's voice was deep, like before, still commanding, but this time it felt protective.

Davian, my half-brother, let out a small laugh from the end of the table.

"Enough, Vin. Sis Ayna just got back, are you going to attack her right away?" He raised his glass to me, his eyes sparkling mischievously. "Besides, I'm actually glad the house has a new atmosphere again. It's been too quiet without drama."

I looked at him, then replied flatly, "That's part of the reason why I left, the drama in this house."

Davian leaned in, his half-smile teasing. "If Sis Ayna is the one playing drama, I'm sure the ratings would be high."

Mami Lani gently reprimanded, "Davian, we should eat."

But I just offered a thin smile. "Let him be, Mami Lani. At least he's honest."

The air at the table felt stiff, but everyone tried to pretend to enjoy the dinner. Papa occasionally spoke lightly about the family business and his happiness that I was back.

Mami Lani cut a piece of meat and offered it to me.

"Try this, Sweetheart."

"Thank you, Mi, no need to overdo it. I can get it myself. Don't try too hard to look like a sycophant!"

"Ayna, Lani, can we just eat peacefully?"

Davian chuckled again, resting his head on the chair. "I like this, our new family atmosphere. Tense but interesting."

My gaze swept over him briefly, and for some reason, his faint smile only made Davina feel challenged.

The dinner ended in silence. Papa excused himself first to his study, leaving the three women at the table, now only filled with unspoken tension.

As Papa's footsteps disappeared behind the door, I stood up. "I'm going to my room."

Mami Lani looked at me, the smile on her face almost cracking. "The master bedroom is being used by Davina now, Sweetheart. Papa allowed it because the room was empty for so long. We thought you wouldn't be back."

I turned slowly. My gaze was sharp, as if time had stopped between us.

"That is my room. And tonight, I will sleep there."

Davina snorted. "Are you serious, Sis? All my stuff is in there. Just use another room."

"Move it," I replied flatly. "Now."

"Ayna," Mami Lani tried to calm me, "how about tomorrow morning? Mami doesn't want any arguments tonight. The maids will sort it out later."

I looked at her sharply. "Mami Lani, I've been away from this house for too long. I won't wait another night to return to my place. The master bedroom isn't just an empty room; it's part of my rights as William Anastasya's first child."

My voice didn't rise, but every word cut like a sharp blade.

Mami Lani swallowed, then turned to her daughter. "Vin, listen to Mama. Let Kak Ayna use it first. Mama will buy you a new dress later, okay?"

Davina stood up with a look of anger hidden behind a bitter smile. "I can't, Mami. I don't want to give in. Sis Ayna should be the one to give in."

Papa, who had returned, took a deep breath. "That was always Kak Ayna's room, I allowed you to use it because you said you were borrowing it, Davina."

I just stared coldly. Davina pouted in annoyance. At the top of the stairs, Davian leaned against the banister, observing the scene with an expression of half-admiration. "I forgot how scary Kak Ayna can be when she's serious," he murmured.

Mami Lani looked at him with annoyance but couldn't say anything. Meanwhile, upstairs, I opened the door to the master bedroom, the room that had once witnessed my childhood and my pride. Davina's perfume still lingered, but I didn't care.

I stood in the middle of the room, looking at the soft-colored walls that had changed, the curtains that had been replaced, and the photo of myself that had vanished from the vanity.

My hand touched the wood of the headboard. "I'm back, and this time, I'm not leaving again."

Downstairs, Davina gripped the edge of the dining table tightly. The sound of plates trembled.

"Mama, I hate her."

Mami Lani gently touched her shoulder, but her gaze was cold. "Be patient, Sweetheart. Everything that seems to be hers can be yours, as long as you play nicely."