Chapter 6: Exiled
Should I tell Dad? So he’ll know everything,” Yasmin thought. She hesitated, but the longer she stayed silent, the more she felt she couldn’t keep quiet.
That afternoon, a car stopped in front of the house. Mona had just returned home. As soon as she stepped out of the car, her eyes darted around as if making sure no one was watching her. Both hands were full of paper bags and shopping bags.
Mona hurried into the house.
“Siti!” she called loudly. “Please take all of this to my room.”
Siti immediately came over and took several items from her hands.
Before Mona could get far, the sound of little footsteps running from the living room reached them.
“Mom!”
Rayya ran over to Mona and immediately wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist.
Mona smiled and patted the girl’s head.
“Oh, Rayya. Look, I brought you a present.”
Rayya’s eyes lit up.
“A present?”
“Yep.” Mona deliberately lifted one of the paper bags in her hand. “This is especially for Mom’s little girl.”
Yasmin, who was sitting not far away, silently watched them. Her gaze briefly fell on the paper bag Mona was carrying.
Mona noticed.
Her smile only grew wider.
She deliberately pulled a small box from the paper bag and opened it in front of Rayya.
“Look at this.” Mona held up a beautiful bracelet. “I bought you a bracelet. Pretty, isn’t it? Try it on.”
“Wow!”
Rayya immediately took the bracelet. Her eyes sparkled as she admired it.
“It’s so pretty, Mom!”
Mona chuckled.
“Of course it is. My little girl should wear only pretty things.”
She shot Yasmin a quick glance.
Yasmin remained silent. But the hand resting on her lap slowly curled into a fist.
Mona deliberately held the bracelet closer to Rayya.
“Put it on now. Let everyone know Mom just came home with a present for her favorite child.”
Rayya beamed as she fastened the bracelet around her wrist.
Yasmin simply watched them in silence. There was something in Mona’s gaze that convinced her this wasn’t merely a present for Rayya.
Mona had shown it off on purpose. From the way she spoke and displayed the bracelet, Yasmin knew the woman was waiting for her reaction.
But before Yasmin could say anything, the sound of little footsteps came from the direction of the bedrooms.
“Mom!”
Raina ran toward Mona with a cheerful expression.
“Mom, you brought me a present too, right? Where’s mine?”
Mona immediately turned around. Her smile widened again.
“Of course I did.”
She reached into the paper bag she was still carrying and pulled out a small box.
“I bought this for you.”
Raina’s eyes lit up.
She accepted the box with both hands. She opened it quickly, then broke into a wide smile when she saw the necklace inside.
“Wow, it’s so pretty!”
Mona chuckled.
“Of course it is. It was expensive—it’s real gold, you know. Come here, let Mom put it on.”
Mona took the necklace and fastened it around Raina’s neck. The girl immediately spun around in front of Mona, holding the necklace.
“Looks good, right, Mom?”
“It looks beautiful. You’re even prettier now.”
Raina smiled with satisfaction.
On the other side of the room, Yasmin remained seated in silence. Her gaze was fixed on Mona and the two girls.
Mona glanced in her direction.
Their eyes met.
It lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough to make the lively atmosphere suddenly feel different.
Mona gave her a faint smile, as if she wanted Yasmin to know she was aware of being watched.
Yasmin looked away.
She tried to remain calm, even though her chest was beginning to feel tight.
I can’t let her provoke me, she thought.
Not long afterward, the sound of a car stopping in front of the house filled the air.
Anton came home. As soon as he entered, his gaze immediately fell on Raina and Rayya, who were busy admiring their respective presents. The shopping bags were still scattered around them.
Anton frowned. “Wow, went shopping?” he asked as he set down his work bag.
Mona quickly smiled and walked over to him.
“Yes, honey. They’re nice, right?” she said, pointing to the bracelet on Rayya’s wrist and the necklace around Raina’s neck.
Anton examined the two pieces. At first, he seemed indifferent, but a few seconds later, his brow furrowed.
“Where did the money come from? I haven’t transferred your monthly allowance yet,” he asked.
Mona fell silent for a moment. Anton stared at the gold bracelet and gold necklace his daughters were wearing.
“Things like these aren’t cheap, are they?”
Mona chuckled, trying to brush off the question.
“Why are you asking that? I only did a little shopping.”
“A little?” Anton glanced at the several paper bags in the room. “You call this a little?”
Mona’s smile began to fade.
“I used my own money.”
Anton stared at her.
“Your own money?”
The living room suddenly grew much quieter. Raina and Rayya, who had been busy playing, turned to look at their parents.
Yasmin, who had been silent all this time, finally raised her head.
She watched Mona, who was beginning to look uneasy.
Several seconds passed.
Then, unexpectedly, Yasmin spoke in a calm voice.
“Maybe another man gave it to her.”
Everyone fell silent. Mona froze.