After a grueling night shift, Matilda returned home one sunny Sunday morning. The moment she opened the door, the house erupted in giggles. Her small cousins, Zach and Sarah, had fashioned a makeshift fort out of couch cushions in the living room, while her parents were busy in the kitchen.
"I'm home, guys!" Matilda announced, her tiredness evaporating at the sight of their happy faces. Matilda smiled at the scene, always thankful for the gift that God had bestowed upon them.
Startled, they looked at her with smiles. "Welcome home, Matilda," they greeted in unison.
Matilda placed her lunch bag on the counter and kissed her mom's cheek. "How are you doing, Mom?" she inquired. Her mother, Evelyn, was a radiant woman in her late fifty, her short blonde hair and bright blue eyes reflecting her inner vitality.
"I'm doing well, Matilda. And you?" Evelyn responded, her arms enveloping Matilda in a comforting hug.
"I'm good too, Mom. How's your day going, Dad?" she asked, embracing him.
Matilda was the main provider of the family, as her dad was hindered by a disability in his right leg and had a hard time walking. Despite his physical challenges, John, her 56-year-old father, carried an air of quiet dignity. His shoulder-length black hair and piercing green eyes further added to his charismatic persona.
"It was good, Matilda. Nothing too hard on your shift, right?" her dad asked. "Yep, no problems. A few more days to go, and then I'll be leaving that job for good."
"OK, good, good," her dad replied, smiling. She kissed him on the cheek in response.
"Matilda, Matilda, come see our castle!" Zach cried, his hazel eyes sparkling with excitement.
Guided by Zach and Sarah, Matilda crawled into their fortress, filling the room with laughter. Her mom looked on from the kitchen, her blue eyes twinkling as she cooked breakfast.
Upon exiting their playful fortress, Matilda noticed a milkshake on the counter. She teased Zach by taking a sip. "Hey, that was mine!" he exclaimed, trying to look stern but failing miserably.
She laughed heartily, ruffling his hair. "Alright, you tiny warrior, take your reward." She handed back the milkshake, her heart swelling at the wide grin on Zach's face.
Sarah, not wanting to be left out, ran to Matilda and wrapped her small arms around Matilda leg. "Matilda, can we play dress-up after breakfast?" she asked with a hopeful look in her eyes.
"Absolutely, princess," Matilda replied, lifting Sarah up and twirling her around, filling the room with more laughter.
Zach and Sarah were Matilda's cousins, who were 5 and 6 years old. Unfortunately, due to their mom's passing 5-6 months ago, they had to live with Matilda family, as they were the only relatives left.
"Are you drinking their milkshake? Don't bully the children, Matilda," Eva joked as she descended the stairs. Eva, only seventeen, bore a striking resemblance to their mother with her long blond hair and green eyes. Matilda, unable to resist the infectious cheerfulness, lifted her in a hug, spinning her around amidst the chorus of laughter.
Observing the bustling activity in the kitchen, their father gently intervened, "Alright, guys, let's move this party outside. There's not enough room for such grand adventures in the kitchen."
"Yeah, yeah, sure, Dad," they agreed. "I'm the dragon! Run!" Eva roared playfully, chasing Zach and Sarah out into the garden.
"I'll be right back," Matilda said. "I need to go up and change. See you guys in a bit." She went upstairs to her room, she stripped off her clothes upon arriving at her room, Matilda went straight and began a long, hot shower that eased the stress in her muscles.
After washing up, she donned a bra and long black pants. She leaned on the balcony of her room, pulling a cigarette from her pocket. She took a puff, gazing at the sky, contemplating what she would be doing for the next few days when her phone rang.
Matilda looked at the incoming call and connected. She spoke in a cold, emotionless voice, her entire demeanor altering. "What?"
"Boss, everything is good so far. The boy who was bothering and sexually harassing your sister has been taken care of and is in a vegetative state following a car accident. No one will connect it to you," the voice replied.
"Good. Keep doing your job and make sure my family stays safe."
"Yes, boss," the voice agreed before the call disconnected.
As Matilda finished her cigarette, basking in the bright sunlight, there was a knock on the door.
"Can I come in, Matilda?" Eva asked.
"Sure." The door opened, and Eva slid inside. She looked at her sister smoking on the balcony, her toned muscles on display, her beautiful blue eyes reflecting deep thought. Eva loved her sister, but there were times when Matilda intimidated her. She had an uncanny ability to see through everything, and it frightened Eva.
"What's up?" Matilda asked, glancing affectionately at her sister and ruffling her hair.
"Nothing much, but I have a surprise for you. So, don't be surprised when it happens. I want you to please, please, please do me a favor, OK? It's only for a few weeks. And then you can go back to work, OK?" Eva said, her mind abuzz with anticipation.
"A favor? Sure, for you, princess, as long as it is reasonable," Matilda said.
"Really? You promise you won't get mad?" Eva asked timidly.
"What's the hesitation, princess?" Maya criticized her sister, taking in her appearance and noticing how nervous she was.
"I want to go to the Capital of Nadir for a vacation before the college exams come up, and I want you to go with me," Eva said shyly. "It'll be just the two of us sisters having the best time, and I want you to enjoy life since you're always hardworking."
Matilda wanted to say no, but before she could respond, Eva said, "Please don't say no because Mom and Dad already agreed and bought the tickets." Before her sister could reply, Eva ran out of the room.
Unknown to Eva, the moment she mentioned Nadir's capital, her sister's eyes turned cold for a few seconds.
Matilda didn't know what to do. She wanted history not to repeat itself. She'd been hiding a secret from her family: she was reborn again one year ago. Everything in her past life started to fall apart when they went to Nadir for a vacation.
To ensure that the accident didn't happen again, she'd been accumulating power in the gangster world. She could confidently say that she controlled Barchester city's underworld, but if she went to Nadir, there was no telling what might happen. But things have changed a lot in the past few years. She now had the power and confidence to protect her sister.
"I will kill that bastard for sure this time," she whispered.