Chapter 5

“Grandfather?” Monique Xander’s heart ached, even more, when her grandfather was mentioned. Images were flooding in from her deepest memories and getting clearer. He had been by her side since she could remember. She only got to know about her parents through other people. Her mother, Miranda Xander was a beauty, but she was lazy and an overreacher. She intended to get married to a wealthy man but she ended up having a matrilocal marriage under her father’s match. Her mother had always looked down upon her father and they were constantly fighting. She eventually found another man. They got a divorce and her father left with all the assets following that. Her mother left the country after the divorce and never returned. Monique Xander was still young at the time. She was only two. Her grandfather had been really kind to her, so kind that she thought that it was fine to not have parents, so kind that Yvonne Xander was jealous of her. Her food and clothes were of the best quality. She could have any fruits or snacks that she wanted. However, the kids around the neighborhood despised her and called her an orphan who got abandoned by her parents. She was often involved in fights with the kids because of that. “Don’t listen to them, grandpa loves you.” Her grandfather always told her those words while looking at her bruised and swollen face with sadness in his eyes. “It’s fine, I have you.” She could not bear to see her grandfather upset so she always gave that same reply with a smile. Monique Xander’s eyes grew moist when she thought of him. She replied as she wiped the corner of her eye, “I’ll see about that.” She missed her grandfather dearly, but she was reluctant to visit him for his death anniversary. She did not want him to know how difficult her life was and she was also scared to face her uncle. Her uncle was still clueless that Yvonne Xander drugged her. “Okay then, take care of yourself. Come and visit whenever you have the time. Your uncle’s home is also your home.” Zephyrus Xander emphasized. “Okay, I will.” Monique Xander felt warm and fuzzy inside because of her uncle’s words. Monique Xander hung up the phone and thought that her uncle must have been extremely furious to bring up the painful reminder to her. She had been feeling uneasy after the call. “Monique, what’s the matter with you? This mug isn’t clean enough,” said her manager, Sacha Long with a displeased tone, her brows furrowed. “Sorry, I’m sorry.” Monique Xander apologized the moment she heard that the dishes were unclean. Indeed, her mind had drifted off. Monique Xander looked up and extended her arms to take the white coffee mug from Sacha Long. The mug’s handle had a small stain on it, it was not visible if not looked at carefully. However, since the café was one of the best luxury cafés in City B, everything had to be spotless. “I’m sorry.” Monique Xander lowered her head apologetically. She appreciated her job at the café, and she really needed it too. It had been a long day for her. On top of that, there was her uncle’s call, which caused the oversight. “Right now…?” Monique Xander frowned, apprehension visible on her pale face. Intending to say something, she opened her pinkish lips slightly. She wanted to ask whether she could go home to prepare lunch for her daughter, Little Nomi before returning to wash the dishes. “Chop chop.” Sacha Long frowned, the anger on her delicate face was pronounced enough to stop Monique Xander from asking. She proceeded to wash the mugs and cutlery from that morning hurriedly. How about Little Nomi? Monique Xander was panicking internally. “Mommy.” A childish voice extremely similar to Little Nomi’s came from behind. ‘Am I having delusions from thinking about Little Nomi too much?’ “How did you get here?” Monique Xander turned behind in shock. It was indeed Little Nomi! Her jaw dropped in surprise. Little Nomi was standing at the café entrance in a cream-colored dress, her chubby hand was held by a plump modest-looking middle-aged woman. Little Nomi held a lunchbox in her other hand and she gave her mother a sweet smile. “Hi! You are…?” Monique Xander stared at the woman and asked with astonishment. “This is Aunt Winnie, our neighbor. I asked her to take me here.” Little Nomi introduced joyfully, her eyebrows raised with excitement. Aunt Winnie, their neighbor? Monique Xander had never seen this lady before! She was getting even more astonished. “Yes, I live next door. I just moved there not long ago.” Aunt Winnie noticed her astonishment and said happily, “Little Nomi came and knocked on my door. She mentioned that you’re busy today and you won’t have time to come back to prepare lunch. She was hungry, so I invited her to have lunch at my place.” Aunt Winnie looked around 60-years-old and she had a plump figure. She had a warm and friendly smile. “Thank you so much. The café’s busier than usual today so I couldn’t make it back on time. I was just worrying about Little Nomi not having any food. Thank you so much.” Monique Xander looked at Aunt Winnie and smiled with gratitude. “Come in and have a seat.” Monique Xander served Aunt Winnie enthusiastically with a bright smile on her pale face. “It’s fine. Little Nomi said that you must not have had your lunch yet and begged me to take her here. I didn’t have the time initially but she’s been such a sweetheart. I just had to agree when she looked at me with those huge bright eyes. Quick, have your lunch. I’m heading back.” Aunt Winnie said gently. She genuinely liked Little Nomi as she was pretty, adorable, and smart. The girl even said that she wanted to give her a massage. Although it was a child’s promise, she was still glad to hear it. Monique Xander wanted Aunt Winnie to stay to have something to eat, but she insisted on leaving because she had something to do at home. Monique Xander did not persist. She thanked her once again and sent her off before she carried Little Nomi inside. She gave her a murderous glare. “I went to Aunt Winnie’s because I was too hungry. She gave me a huge bowl of rice because I’m cute. Look at my full tummy.” Little Nomi pointed toward her stomach as she explained. She blinked her huge bright grape-sized eyes as she raised her head to meet Monique Xander’s gaze. Monique Xander could almost feel her heart melt. Little Nomi was actually afraid that her mother would get angry as she never liked Little Nomi to ask for favors from others. However, her hunger aside, she was more concerned that her mother did not have the time to get lunch. Her mother had been going home to prepare lunch every single day. Since she did not go home that day, she must have been so busy that she could not find time to go back. Therefore, she must not have even had the time for lunch. That was the reason she knocked on her neighbor’s door. “Mommy, you haven’t eaten, right?” Little Nomi jumped off her mother’s arms and pulled her to a seat like an adult. She then opened the lunchbox and took the food out. Warmth washed over Monique Xander’s heart, her heart was struck. How could she bring herself to scold her? Monique Xander carried Little Nomi onto her lap, took a piece of meat, and ate. “This is delicious, I love it, but you can’t do this anymore. What if you meet bad guys?” Monique Xander’s gentle and melodious tone was loving but strict at the same time. “I’m not like you!” Little Nomi mumbled softly. Although Monique Xander was her mother, she was dim sometimes.