Pressing my ear to the door, the silence was deafening until suddenly, Aunt Frisca swung it open, catching me off guard. I stumbled, sheepishly meeting her gaze as she gently scolded, "Giselle, it's not polite to eavesdrop. Please go to the living room with your cousins"

With a resigned sigh, My cousins and I went to the living room, where we awaited Aunt Frisca and our parents' return. The air was thick with unanswered questions, and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over us.

When Anco finally entered the livingroom, a wave of surprise rippled through us. Without hesitation, I and Saori rushed to her side, eager for answers. "What happened in there?" I implored, my voice tinged with concern.

Anco's silence spoke volumes as she met my gaze with a guarded expression. I reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, urging her to confide in us. "Please, tell me," I urged gently, my grip tightening slightly.

But Anco remained tight-lipped, her resolve unwavering. "You'll have to ask your bestie," she muttered, brushing past us. My heart sank as I watched her retreat, knowing that whatever had transpired had deeply affected her.

"Give her time," Saori reassured me with a comforting smile before returning to her book. I then took in what Anco had suggested, I would go to look for Abby and hear what she had to say, determined to hear the truth straight from her lips. If she was no where to be found then I would turn to my parents for answers.

Ascending the grand staircase, with Urie trailing behind, I scanned the scene ahead and spotted Abby, encircled by Chad and Dominca. Summoning my courage, I called out her name.

Abby and her parents turned, but before I could reach her, Chad intervened himself between us, his words cutting like a blade. "Stay away from my daughter, you wild animals," he declared, his tone laced with venom.

Confusion clouded my mind as I struggled to comprehend his accusation. "Wild animals?" I repeated, bewildered.

Dominca wasted no time in adding fuel to the fire, labeling my family as reckless and unjust, building up tension that hung heavy in the air. Desperation tinged my voice as I pleaded, "I just want to talk to Abby."

But Chad's retort was swift and harsh, shutting down any hope of reconciliation. His words pierced through me, leaving behind a profound sense of sadness and injustice. Deflated, I spoke up, defending my family against his unfounded accusations. "My parents and siblings aren't wild animals," I asserted, my voice quivering with emotion. "I just wanted to talk to Abby. She's my friend and cousin, and I would never harm her."

"Friend? You're not Abby's friend; you're her nemesis, along with your family, intending to cause her harm," Dominca accused, her words laden with accusation and hostility.

Shaking my head in disbelief, I stood my ground, refuting her baseless claims. "No, we don't. Stop spreading lies about my family," I retorted, my voice firm with conviction.

Turning to Abby for support, I hoped she would intervene, at least to defend me or one of my sisters. But to my dismay, she remained silent, cowering behind her parents.

"Daddy, I'm scared," Abby whimpered, her voice barely above a whisper.

With a sudden burst of aggression, Chad shoved me to the ground, his actions fueled by anger and misplaced protectiveness. Before I could regain my bearings, Urie's voice cut through the chaos.

"Young miss!" She exclaimed, coming to my aid.

Just then, Aunt Frisca appeared, her authoritative presence diffusing the tension in the room. "An adult bullying a child? Chad Emblyn, aren't you ashamed? It's disgraceful to harm your own family," she scolded, her tone unwavering.

Coming to my defense, Aunt Frisca and Urie helped me to my feet, providing a semblance of support amidst the chaos. But Chad's rage remained unabated as he lashed out with accusations, his words dripping with venom. "Family? Don't talk nonsense, Frisca. That child's damn ugly sister, harmed my child," he spat.

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"It was just a childish quarrel, and we've already sorted it out. I'll even be helping Anco with some anger management techniques to ensure this doesn't happen again," Aunt Frisca interjected, her voice calm and diplomatic, attempting to defuse the tension.

But Dominca wasn't about to let it slide. "Of course, that's all you'll say, because you're only ever concerned about that little brat, Giselle. Everything revolves around her and Henry's kids," she accused bitterly, her words dripping with contempt.

Undeterred by Dominca's outburst, Aunt Frisca remained composed, choosing to ignore her as she turned her attention to me. "Giselle, come along," she beckoned, extending her hand to me.

With a silent nod, I followed Aunt Frisca, leaving behind the furious trio of Dominca, Abby, and Chad, their anger strong in the air.

As we walked, Aunt Frisca guided me to my parents' room, stopping outside the door. "Your parents are inside," she informed me before preparing to depart.

Grateful for her intervention, I spoke up, expressing my appreciation. "Thank you, Aunt Frisca," I said softly as she smiled and walked away, leaving me to confront my parents.

Before I could enter the room, Urie, ever the loyal guardian, approached me with a heartfelt apology. "Young miss, I'm sorry for my inability to protect you," She offered, her sincerity shining through her words.

"Don't worry, Urie. If you stood up for me, they'd just make more trouble. So, it's better if you stay put" I reassured her, knowing how tricky things could get.

Urie nodded, showing her loyalty. "I'll wait here for you," She said, showing her commitment.

With determination, I headed to my parents' room, feeling nervous. I knocked softly, waiting for them to invite me in.

Inside, my dad looked tense, and my mom seemed sad. "Hi, Mom, Dad," I said, feeling a mix of nervousness and a desire for answers.

Dad looked relieved but worried. "Why are you out of bed? Are you okay?" he asked, coming over quickly.

Mom joined in, sounding gentle but sad. "What's wrong, sweetie?" she asked, searching my face.

Gathering my courage, I told them what was on my mind, wanting to understand what happened between Anco and Abby. "I want to know what you guys and aunt frisca discussed within her office" I said, determined.

Mom gestured for me to sit with them, and as I did, she began to explain what happened. I listened closely, feeling the seriousness of the situation weighing on me.

"My dad started talking, sounding sad. 'Aunt Frisca came just in time,' he said sadly. 'Abby was in a bad way, bleeding and all. It upset my sister and her husband a lot, and I'm worried they will hate us forever

. But Aunt Frisca fixed things, and both Abby and Anco are okay now.'"

Listening to my dad, I felt sorry for everyone involved. "It'll be okay, Mom, Dad," I said softly but firmly.

Feeling a sudden urge, I hugged them tightly. "Anco probably feels bad about what happened," I said, trying to offer some comfort.

As I let go, I saw the worry on my parents' faces, their hope for family peace clear. With a heavy heart, I said goodbye and left the room. I then decided to stop by the bedroom where the altercation had taken place.

Going in the bedroom, with Urie following. Everything was back to normal thanks to Aunt Frisca using her restoration magic, according to my parents. Closing the door, I went back to the living room, lost in thought.

Thinking about what happened, I couldn't shake the strange feeling in the air. Abby's reaction when she saw me was confusing. Saori's suspicions about her felt more believable now, and I wondered if Abby had a reason for acting that way. After all, hating bugs is one thing, but wrecking a room over them felt like too much. And why did she seem scared of me? I thought we were friends but she didn't even deny anything her parents said it was as if she liked what was happening before her.

Fatigue washed over me, relentless as a crashing wave. Though only a week had passed, it felt like a lifetime with the whirlwind of events that had unfolded.

As I returned to the living room, I found Anco engrossed in conversation with Saori, Jenny, and James. Notably absent were Cion and Harry, their absence casting a shadow over the gathering.

Taking a seat among them, I couldn't contain the frustration welling up inside. "I reached out to Abby, but she shut me out, painting herself as the victim, as though I were a threat," I sighed, the weight of disappointment evident in my voice.

Anco's response was sharp, devoid of empathy. "I'm sure she's always been like that you've just been blind" she remarked, her tone cold.

Saori and Jenny echoed similar sentiments, their indifferent agreement exacerbating my frustration. "It was bound to happen," Saori commented, her words cutting through the air like a knife.

Guilt gnawed at me, prompting me to confront Anco for her actions. "Anco, you can't keep behaving like this. You've already caused enough trouble for Mom and Dad," I scolded, hoping to appeal to her sense of responsibility.

But Anco remained defiant, deflecting blame onto Abby without a trace of remorse. "It's not my fault. Abby thinks she's superior to everyone else so I just gave her a lesson," she shot back, her defiance unyielding.

Reflecting on the conversation, a wave of realization washed over me. Perhaps my eagerness to have companionship had clouded my judgment of Abby's true character. Saori and Anco had seen through Abby's facade, their intuition was sharper than mine.

A pang of self-awareness struck me, acknowledging my own shortcomings. "I suppose I've been naive," I admitted, realizing the importance of honing my intuition, learning from Saori and Anco's perceptiveness.