The Kiss that Sparked it All

“Your sister was just venting earlier, you know? Don’t take it to heart,” Elton said to his younger daughter, his voice carrying a warmth that belied the stern facade he often wore. “When she cools down, I’ll have a chat with her. But like you said, she’s under a lot of pressure too. From now on, maybe it’s best not to tag along to school with her on the weekends.”

Elton sighed deeply, unaware of the cunning smile that spread across the face of the little girl sobbing in his arms.

Dinner was a no-go for Mara. She just couldn’t stomach it.

“Dad, you go ahead and eat. I’m not really feeling it, so I’m gonna head to my room,” she muttered. Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

Elton waved her off, left to sit alone at the dinner table, the weight of his exhaustion palpable in the silence. Raising two kids on his own was proving to be a Herculean task.

Once in her room, Mara flopped onto her bed with a contented bounce, her face alight with an unstoppable grin.

“Ah, nothing beats the comfort of your own bed,” she mused to herself.

Of course, she wasn’t hungry; she had already eaten her fill outside, all part of her little scheme.

Poor Victoria. How does it feel to be overlooked by Dad? To be wronged and accused? I’ve borne that burden for so long; it’s only fair you taste it now, thought Mara.

The slap from Dad earlier only made Mara feel exhilarated. It was as if years of pent-up frustration had been released in one go. This was all Victoria’s just desserts.

Victoria, utterly perplexed, couldn’t fathom the turn of events. She had been at the school for over two years; surely, she knew the layout better than Mara. How could it be that she searched but didn’t find Mara?

And yet, Mara had definitely come back after her.

Victoria began to doubt her own memory. Had she really not checked every corner of the library that afternoon?

With this nagging thought, she texted the friend who had helped her search.

[Found my sis. She said she was in the library the whole time. Did we really search that thoroughly?]

The friend replied with a skeptical emoji.

[Impossible. We combed through every inch of that library more than twice. You were so frantic; you would’ve turned the place upside down if you could. She couldn’t have been there without you finding her-unless she wasn’t in the library at all.]

Victoria instinctively wanted to reject that notion, but it didn’t add up in her mind.

Her friend continued. [Don’t stress about it. Maybe your sister just found a good hiding spot. Kids her age can be crafty, and who knows? Maybe she got sidetracked by an online game at some café? Probably too scared of getting chewed out by your dad, so she made up the library story.]

[She’s not that young, just a bit younger than me. But if that’s true, then I’m legitimately upset. I panicked and searched the whole school multiple times, and she’s just off playing somewhere? I hate to think it, but it’s looking like the only explanation.]

Victoria tossed her phone aside, but her mind was far from at ease. If Mara wanted to go out, why didn’t she just say something? It’s not like Victoria would have stopped her.