Maya's P.O.V
I watched Mary drag her bag into the hallway. Great. She's back.
Mom hovered around her like she'd been waiting all day. "Mary, grab the juice."
Of course.
I slumped into my chair, resting my chin on my palm. Mary walked in a second later—plain blue gown, hair loosely falling over her shoulders. Simple. Quiet. Like she hadn't just walked back into a house she once turned upside down.
Mom placed the chicken on the table with a small smile. "Dig in."
I glanced at Mary. "So… how was Dubai?"
She shrugged, reaching for a glass. "Hot. Normal."
Right.
Silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable.
"Mom," I said after a moment, my voice calm, "you didn't think to tell me she was coming back?"
Mom hesitated. "It was sudden."
"Mm." I nodded slowly, my eyes drifting back to Mary.
She didn't even look at me. Just calmly picked at her food like none of this mattered.
That annoyed me more than it should.
"I just don't see the point," I added lightly.
This time, Mary looked up. Her expression didn't change, but there was something in her eyes—something steady.
"I'm here, Maya," she said. "You'll get used to it."
I let out a soft laugh. "We'll see."
Mom sighed, already tense. "Can we not do this right now?"
No one answered.
The clink of cutlery filled the silence, but it didn't make things better. If anything, it made everything feel louder.
I pushed my food around my plate, not really hungry anymore.
This dinner was going to be long.
I leaned forward slightly, my gaze fixed on her. "You really think you can just come back like nothing happened?"
Mom froze. "Maya—"
"No, Mom." My voice stayed calm. "Let her answer."
Mary set her fork down slowly. Too calmly. "You're still stuck on that?"
A small, humorless smile touched my lips. "Should I forget it?"
Her eyes flickered—just for a second. There it was.
"You never understood anything, Maya," she said quietly.
My fingers tightened around my fork. "Then explain it."
Silence.
Heavy. Suffocating.
Mom pushed her chair back suddenly. "That's enough!"
Neither of us moved.
The air felt sharp, like one wrong word would cut through everything.
I let out a soft breath, pushing my chair back as I stood.
"Yeah," I muttered, grabbing my phone. "This is exactly why she shouldn't be here."
No one stopped me this time.
And honestly?
I didn't want them to.