The worst wasn't over because as soon as Arianna went into her room, it was kicked open literally five minutes later.
Arianna took a deep breath knowing trouble just came knocking on her door. Even with her back turned, she didn't need a prophet to tell her that was Claudia, and from her heaving, she didn't sound happy at all.
"What now?" Arianna turned to her with a sigh. Honestly, she wasn't in the mood for Claudia's drama. She needed a break.
"What now?" Claudia snorted in disbelief. Did that bitch just speak to her in that manner?
"Claudia, I have to prepare for work," Arianna said, trying to bypass her so she could get to her bathroom.
However, as soon as she walked past Claudia, the girl grabbed her by the arms and whirled her around.
"You really have the guts," Claudia fired at her.
Arianna tucked her hair behind her ear, "What now? What did I do wrong?"
Claudia laughed hard, "What you did wrong? You're asking me what you did wrong?"
Before Arianna had a chance to say a word, a sharp slap met her across the face. Her face whipped to the side, her cheek stinging from the assault.
Arianna remained in that position shocked - as if this was the first time Claudia hit her. She reached out and wiped the bloody spot at the corner of her lips.
Her eyes shone at the sight of the blood, however, Arianna controlled herself. This wasn't the time to react, she had a job to attend to.
"You must have been so happy watching those rascals maltreat us!" Claudia yelled at her.
"Yes, I was happy, so what?" The words came out of her mouth before Arianna could stop it.
"What?" Claudia was dumbfounded. Clearly, she had not expected that bitch to say such words.
Arianna went on, "How is it my fault then? Was I the one who borrowed the money? Was I the one who asked your father to borrow money from a loan shark? Was I the one who asked them to gag you?! Was I -"
"Hey!" Claudia cut her off, "You must have finally lost your mind!"
"Yes! I've finally lost my mind!" Arianna retorted, staring at her straight in the eyes. She was done putting up with their bullshit! Yes, she has had enough!
"Anyone who has lived with you devils in this hell hole should have lost their minds already!"
"How dare you!" Claudia shouted and tried to slap her once again, but Arianna grabbed her hand and instead, slapped her on the face. Twice.
Claudia saw her world swirl and she almost stumbled to the ground. The instant she recognized where she was, the girl let out a high-pitched screech that was capable of even waking the dead from the grave.
"Mother!!!" She howled, clutching her face.
As expected, no sooner had she screamed, her mother rushed into the room as if she was being chased by the devil himself.
"Claudia!" the woman shrieked, rushing over to her daughter, "What happened?"
"She slapped me?!" Claudia pointed at Arianna with tears-filled eyes, clutching one of her cheeks, "Arianna slapped me!" She howled like a kid.
"What?!" Arianna watched a look of shock cross her aunt's features. The woman turned to her with red, wide eyes, "You hit my daughter,"
"She hit me first, I was just defending myself," Arianna told her firmly. What did the woman expect her to do? Sit still and watch her assault her? Oh please, she wasn't that same kid they maltreated because she couldn't defend herself. She has grown. She was an adult.
"You witch!" Her aunt bellowed like an injured beast, "Why don't I just kill you today?!"
And just like that, the crazy woman pounced on her, grabbing her hair with the intention of pulling out her roots. She was going to teach that witch a lesson.
"Aunty, stop it!" Arianna cried out, trying to loosen the woman's vice hold on her hair. Her scalp stung with sharp pains and her head throb.
Meanwhile, Claudia who had been crying moments ago now had a smile on her face. She made no efforts to separate nor calm her mother, that bitch deserved whatever comes to her. Who does she think she is? In this life, Arianna would always remain beneath her!
"I should stop it?! When you wanted to kill my daughter? I'm just showing you how murderers are treated! They're not supposed to live!" the woman grabbed a fistful of Arianna's hair, increasing the pain.
Unable to take the pain anymore, Arianna pushed at her aunt with all her strength, the woman bumped into the wall and fell.
"Aiyo!" her aunt screamed dramatically, "You now want to kill me as well?!"
"How dare you hit my mother!" Claudia rushed at her.
However, before Claudia could touch her, Arianna had already grabbed her baseball bat on the wall and pointed it threateningly at them.
"Touch me and I'll beat the life out of you!" Arianna roared a warning to them. She looked like a madwoman as her head was disheveled; her eyes completely red and wild; her body was taut with tension. Like a cornered animal, she looked ready to attack for her survival.
Claudia took a step back, she was not a fool to run into danger - she could feel the murderous intent reeking off of Arianna. The bitch must have lost it.
"Come on! Come and touch me!" Arianna dared them. This battle has been held off for a long time and right now, she is ready for war. She had endured long enough.
None of them dared to take a foot further, instead, her aunt wailed further, "I said it! This is why you shouldn't raise another person's child! They end up as ingrates!"
Arianna turned a deaf ear to her aunt's hysterics, her aunt has always been a drama queen. Even though those words stabbed her, she ignored them.
"Now, get out of my room this instant!" She ordered them.
"Hey, Arianna! Don't be so cocky! This house belongs to us! You don't get to tell us -"
Claudia didn't get to finish her words because Arianna swung the bat violently at them and both mother and daughter fled for their lives. That stupid girl has finally lost her mind!