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__ Cha Mansion __
Vivian walked toward the kitchen and leisurely leaned on the counter. " That's not how you do it, Lucy, whip harder! " she snapped and strode toward the girl who was painstakingly whipping the batter with all her strength.
Lucy sighed exasperatedly as she snatched the whisk from her sore hands. " Sis Viv, I'm tir__"
" How can you be a proper lady if you can't even bake,!" Vivian cut her off while whipping the batter.
' Hmph, proper lady.' Lucy scoffed inside and pouted her lips. This had been the same thing she had been saying to her for the past month by making her do different types of chores including styling her hair to painting nails.
" Why are you standing there, quick bring me the pan, " Vivian snapped again and Lucy quickly retrieved the pan and gave it to her.
After putting the batter inside the oven, Vivian started whipping the cream. " Now pour the Vanilla flavor," she instructed.
" But I like strawberries " Lucy whined.
" This cake is for Big bro, not yours so shut up and hand me the flavor!".
Lucy looked down and quietly handed her the Vanilla flavor. Thankfully, her big bro would return today, she had to do her best to convince him to take her with him.
" Lucy!, what are you thinking about. " Vivian looked up after some minutes and Lucy quickly broke out of her stance.
" Sis Viv, I need to use the restroom, " Lucy quickly said, wanting to escape from the kitchen.
" Come back here!, and bring me the cake.". Vivian dragged her back, knowing her intentions.
" Turn it off first, not like that, Lucy! don't tell me you don't know how to operate the oven".
Lucy walked around in circles and Vivian sighed exasperatedly then strode toward the oven and retrieved the cake.
____
Zach sauntered inside the living room, feeling happy that he was finally out of that den. He noticed that nobody was home with a frown then suddenly caught a very sweet aroma from the kitchen.
He strode toward the kitchen with a wide smile and shouted, " Mum what are you__ what!!!?". He stared down at the girl who had suddenly embraced him with astonishment.
" Huh?," Lucy looked up and quickly shove him away with pouted lips. She had thought he was her big bro in her confused state when she spotted him from a distance.
" Vivian!, What did you do to my sister!." Zach glared at her after glancing at the confused girl in front of him.
" What are you doing here, " Vivian turned back and raised an eyebrow with a smirk." Didn't big bro send you to the basement, " she added scornfully then turned back to the cake.
" You, how did you know.". Zach pointed his fingers at her back and Vivian scoffed.
Lucy had already sneaked out of the kitchen when she noticed that their attention was not on her as they started bantering. She rushed toward the living room then spotted her big brother and ran into his arms. " Big bro, I miss you so much, " she whined while clinging tightly to his arm.
Carl chuckled and slightly ruffled her hair." Where's mum, " he asked and walked upstairs toward his room with Lucy sticking beside him.
" Father and Mummy had gone out. Big bro, will you take me with you this time,? please please please.".
" Mm." Carl nodded and decided to wait as he needed to discuss something with his father. And Lucy squealed excitedly seeing that her brother did not object, then ran toward her room and instantly start packing her clothes.
David sighed at the door. He shook his head at the spoilt princess as he entered while dragging the big bag that contains her presents.
" Hey David, what's up.". Zach sauntered toward him with a slice of cake in his hand.
David looked up and instantly heaved a sigh of relief then quickly dragged him to a corner, outside the room. " Hey what happened to your phone, I called you several times but it went to voicemail.".
Zach made an ' Oh ' sound while munching on the cake before his eyes dimmed. He remembered that he had removed that sim card and changed it with another one to call Mira, who had completely switched her phone off. He sighed and threw the remaining cake away, as he had lost his appetite.
" Zach, Zach. . . what happened?" David's brow knitted when he sensed the gloomy atmosphere around him.
" Huh?, what were you saying?" Zach broke out of his reverie and looked toward David.
" Hmmm, It's boss, I think__"
" What!, what happened to my big bro,? where is he?" Zach shook him anxiously with wide eyes?
" Argh, let go of me.". David groaned and freed his crumpled collar then paused and slowly said, " His weird behavior had been worsening day by day. . . can you believe he even went to the bar and got drunk."?
Zach's eyes widened and he covered his agape mouth." R..Really, ?" He said, not knowing that his brother's condition would escalate in such a manner.
" Yeah, I think his sickness might act up again if he keeps on working tirelessly. . ." David nodded with a sigh.
Zach ran a hand through his hair and wondered what was wrong with his big brother. Knowing his brother well, even though something was bordering him, he wouldn't tell anyone. " Okay, leave it to me, " he said while thinking of a way to make his brother speak.
David slapped his shoulder with a nod and left, then Zach also went back inside.
_____
Meanwhile, Carl walked down from his room, now wearing simple home clothes. He frowned and wondered why his parents were not back yet, as he needed to discuss something with his father.
" Big bro!.". Zach greeted enthusiastically as he walked toward him from the entrance.
Carl walked past him and sat down on the couch." Any progress, ?" he asked and placed one leg atop the other.
" Yeah, our men had followed them and found out that they were under the Mambas organization, just like you said. But, they haven't made any movement.".
" Mm, tell them to keep an eye on them.". Carl nodded and rested back on the chair. He was afraid that the mysterious man was behind it. He sighed and wished he could remember his face.