Chapter 6
671words
Mom jumped in. "Exactly! Katerina told me everything. It's work. Just one deal over there can bring in over $500,000!"
I let out a short laugh. "With that kind of money, you'd think she could afford a few maids."
"Maids? Absolutely not! Doesn't matter how rich you are, that's just wasteful. I WANT to watch my grandkids myself!"
The way she flipped her script like that? Honestly impressive.
I shut my mouth and let it go.
If she wanted to play maid, fine by me.
At noon, Dad made lunch. The moment Mom saw it, she started up again. "You call me the maid? Your dad's the real 'maid' around here!"
Dad rushed to explain. "No, no. Pavel usually cooks—he's just busy today, so I figured I'd help."
Somehow, we all ended up eating together for once.
At the table, Mom couldn't stop bragging about Amiraka—how massive the mansion was, how wide the pool, how pricey everything was.
Eva's eyes lit up. "Mom, I wanna go to Amiraka too."
Before I could say a word, Mom cut in, sneering. "Your mom? Forget it. Amiraka's way too expensive for her. She couldn't even afford a meal there."
Eva went quiet. Even at her age, she could feel the venom behind it.
I frowned and gently patted her head. "When you're older, we'll go wherever we want."
Then I turned to Mom, voice cold. "Don't talk like that in front of my daughter. If you love Amiraka so much, maybe don't come back."
Mom flushed but wouldn't back down. "You think I WANTED to come back? Katerina insisted we visit. I wouldn't waste my time on you people!"
Katerina gave a weak smile but stayed quiet.
Yeah, right. Like it was her idea.
In the last life, Dad didn't come back once in ten years—we were always the ones flying out.
I looked straight at her. "So, when are you planning to leave?"
Katerina hesitated, then pulled me onto the balcony.
"Anya, I think we should let Mom stay here. I'll take Dad with me."
***
I couldn't help asking, "Why? Can't Mom take care of you guys?"
Katerina let loose. "You have no idea. She's constantly yelling at us to take her on vacations and buy her designer bags just to show off to YOU.
"Even if we had the money, we can't just blow it like that. And she can't cook—the kids have already ended up in the hospital a few times. The medical bills alone are insane!"
I nodded slowly, then asked, "What about her money? Can't she use that?"
Katerina looked away, mumbling, "How would I know? Maybe she's just too stingy to spend it."
My eyes narrowed. She was definitely hiding something.
Mom said she gave Katerina the money to invest, but Katerina wouldn't admit it.
If she was just dodging conflict, whatever. But if they actually burned through that cash... Mom was going to explode.
Katerina grabbed my hand. "You're the only one who can handle Mom. You can't leave me like this!"
She lowered her voice, panicked. "If this keeps going, Chris might even divorce me."
"That's a bit much."
It slipped out—but then I remembered that call from last time.
I corrected myself. "Actually, maybe not. You should keep an eye on him. If he cheats, it won't end well."
Katerina scowled. "Anya, you really don't know how to talk. Chris isn't like that. You should be watching Pavel—he's out all the time. Who knows how many girlfriends he's got?"
Right. She flipped it on me just like that.
I don't sugarcoat, sure. But I don't lie, either.
Katerina pouted and tugged my sleeve. "So it's settled then. Mom stays, and I'll take Dad."
I slipped my arm free. "That's not my call."
Then I pulled the curtain open and called into the room, "Mom, Katerina says she's not taking you back to Amiraka. She wants to take Dad instead."
