Unsual visit

As the darkness dipped down the earth, it wrapped around the sky over the city. Alexia and Joan were together in the living room, watching the kids having their dinner after the wonderful firecracker night. 

The atmosphere around the table was warm, lively as the kids talked excitedly about their day. Alexia and Joan glanced at each other, smiling from chin to chin for the moment.

“Mummy, the soup is delicious,” Rhoda screamed, licking off the plate with her bare hands. 

Joan's face watched them with concern, grinning so hard.

“Alright, I'm glad you do love it. It's time to sleep.” She kissed them on the forehead as they ran upstairs to the room, though the mysterious messages still had left her on edge. 

She knew that she had to take precautions about how to uncover the identity of the person behind the threats.

“I'll start digging into some past documents, to see if I can find any connections to Sonita.” Joan said, standing up from the chair as her eyes narrowed slowly to a few notes on his phone.

“I'll also do some background check about the class teacher,” Alexia muttered, her voice low and firm.

The tension in the air was so dissolved by the determination they both had to find the culprit behind it. Alexia wanted to get to the bottom of it, and also put Sonita behind bars for the riot she had caused in her life.

Meanwhile, Sonita's face gave out a heavy sigh, as it was twisted in a scowl, and she walked into the study room to see Bruce still up and awake.

“How could you stoop so low to let Rhoda go and spend the night over there?” She spat, her words were venomous.

“Are you trying to act like a good dad? I thought you never liked her.” She paused, clutching her hands.

“I thought she would be a pawn to our game. Or you suddenly started to have feelings for Alexia.” She rolled her eyes.

“Using this as an opportunity to go…”

“Enough!,” Bruce growled, unmoved by her statement.

“It's not a big deal, Sonita. Alexia needed to spend time with her daughter.” 

Bruce's voice was a rumbling sound, each word felt like an order that appeared to push through the waves itself. 

His face stiffened, ready to defend every last word.

Sonita reached out and touched Kael’s arm, though shaking in it, “Bruce, this is not the time for both of us to fight,” she whispered, her voice trembling with hope and desperation.

“The secret… we have to reach them. Maybe we can achieve this altogether.”

“I could not stop her this time,” he swallowed hard, closing his eyes as if they were heavy with sleep.

Sonita's face darkened, her eyes mixed with anger and fury. 

“You're just like everyone else, Bruce. What about my permission? You always dismiss my feelings, my voice. But I won't be ignored.”

“It's either her or nobody. Trying to please her,” she spat, but he was silent, unmoved by her words, 

“I need some sleep, not today.” He said, walked out of the door, leaving her behind.

“Bruce! Bruce” Her words echoed the passage of the second floor, piercing into the wall like wails.

The next day, Bruce arrived at the estate as early as the morning set at dawn.

Bruce's voice, cold and sharp, echoed in their  ears as Alexia woke up, to see shadows whopping around the compound. Every step further from Bruce felt like tearing away a piece of Alexia's peace of mind, but she tried to remain calm though her heart, pounding, her lungs burning.

“Why are you here?” Joan asked, leaning against the door.

Rhoda, your new daddy is here,” he repeated once more, waving his hand at the window. Alexia looked through the window, gave a deep sight as she closed the window shutters.

“I will bring her home, Bruce,” Joan said, his voice low and urgent. 

“I'm not someone to be trifled with like Sonita. Bruce, let me in” he said, his voice low despite being mean and determined.

“Bruce, I told you to go!,” Joan's eyes flashed with both frustration and worry as Bruce stood tall, unmoved.

His figure's gaze fixed, never wavered. “Do you understand their life is at stake, Bruce?” He asked, his voice dripping with command.

“You are using her for your narcissistic game. It will consume you soon and very soon, it will be exposed. Either way, you lose.”

“What about the hidden secrets you are involved in?,” Joan announced, still blocking the way.

"What are you talking about, Joan?"  Bruce asked, confused. But Joan could respond, Alexia walked towards the doorway, her eyes widened with curiosity.

“What's going on?” She asked, staring at the two men.

Joan's eyes locked on Alexia, and moved closer to her with a kiss on the forehead. Bruce's eyes flicked with anger while watching them both. 

He turned to Alexia, “nothing, Alexia. Just a disagreement between brothers.” But she looked at his face, searching for answers, as Bruce could sense her curiosity about their discussion.

"Nothing, Alexia. Just a disagreement between brothers."

But Alexia's eyes lingered on Joan's face, and Bruce could sense her curiosity, her desire to uncover the hidden truth.

Rhoda ran out of the house, hugged Bruce tightly. “I knew you will come back for me, Dad.” She looked up to me.

“Rhoda!,” his voice came through, filled with urgency. Alexia could have the feeling, he was trying to keep the relationship from her daughter, trying so hard to win her over.

“I can’t leave you here alone, Rhoda! He shouted, his voice trembling with excitement.

Bruce smiled back at her, “I miss you, baby girl.” He said as he jerked her up to his shoulders.

“Hope you had a great night with your sister?” He asked, still smiling as she nodded quietly.

“Alright Rhoda!” He said, his eyes meeting Alecia with a look both filled with fierce and hope. “Go and get things. I'm here waiting.”

As they left the house, Rhoda followed reluctantly behind Bruce. Alexia couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about Rhoda's attitude towards Bruce's visitation.