Mannat's P.O.V.

"Mannat! Where have you been?! I have been trying to call you since last night, is everything all right?" Ronnie asked panicked as I called from Vallie's phone, "And why are you calling from Vallie's phone?"

"Slow down," I said taking a deep breath "A-lot of stuff happened last night, Ruby and Gage...they both are dead, you know how he was associated with Gangs and stuff. Ruby got stuck with the wrong person and they even came to find Gianna...I am at the Cloud Mansion right now, for safety reasons. They helped me find a shelter last night, and make the both of us comfortable." Kinda, Gianna loved it here because she got to play with Adira. I on the other hand was still cautious of everyone expect Vallie and Blue. "I had to throw my phone away so they couldn't find me."

"Fuck...Ruby is dead?" Ronnie asked quietly, "What's going to happened to Gia?"

"Ronnie-"

"And you are at the Cloud Mansion, do you have any idea how mad Dad and Mom are going to get?? Mahi...how is everything going to sort itself out?"

Clearing my throat wanting to be secretive I began to speak in Punjabi, our first language, English being our second. "Roshni, menu nahi pata ni si , enna kush ho janna. Per please, kiss nu kush nahi dassi. haaje leeya...bas kedi ke me koi last minute trip the chaligi school de lee." (Roshni, I didn't know that all this would happen. But please, don't tell anyone anything just yet. Just say that I left for a trip regarding school purposes.)

"Gia, de naal?" (With Gia?)

"Roshni, please when everything calms down then I'll come back."

She inhaled sharply, "I'll say you went out for a business trip, a job opportunity came for you and you had to take Gia with you because you had nowhere to leave her. But keep calling me, otherwise, I'll show up with cops at the Cloud Mansion."

"Got it, I'll talk to you later."

"Bye,' Hanging up the phone I hand it to Vallie who had an impressed look on her face.

"What's up?"

"How many languages do you speak?"

"English, fluently, Punjabi, fluently, Hindi, fluently and Urdu, I can understand more than I can speak, but I can carry a conversation in it as well."

"Wow, and what were you speaking to her?" She asked again as we walked towards the kitchen.

"Punjabi, our family is Punjabi so we lean more to that language than the others."

Vallie nodded, "Amazing, but the situation is handled for now right?"

I nod as well offering her a small smile, "So...is Gia just with Addi right now?"

"I'm right here Mahi," Gia said showing off her breathtaking smile, handing Addi her small snacks. "Granny Dia, made a really good breakfast, better than yours."

I gasp, "Gia! I try really hard to make those special pancakes okay? I'm hurt."

She giggled as we all sat down at the table, settling in comfortably I brush away some hair from her face, clearing my throat I thank Dia as she handed me a plate, my mouth began watering licking my lips I poured syrup on them but then my gaze caught Addi, she was almost looking at us longingly, furrowing my eyebrows, I stood up, "Do you want to sit with us Addi?"

She slightly shied away, I looked over at Dia who simply shrugged, inhaling I gently moved her seat towards Gia and I's, pouring her food the exact same way I did for Gia, cutting them up into small squares for her so it would be easier for her to eat. Addi kept watching me admiringly, "Thank you Mahi,"

Offering her a soft smile I gently move her hair back as well, "Wouldn't want those to get sticky now would we?"

I didn't notice everyone was watching us until I sat down ready to devour my pancakes, Dia's eyes were shimmering with tears, "I-I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?"

"No," Flynn said softly, "She just got a little emotional to see how you are with kids. I mean, you do run a day care, it's just-" His voice faded off,

"We take care of Addi," Sophie cut in, "But, she never had a mother figure in her life. She cares for love, she doesn't get it from her father that often, so seeing how you were treating her equally, I guess Mom just got emotional."

I cautiously nod, "I am sorry for prying, but what happened to her mother?"

"None of your business." Hunter' voice boomed from the doorway of the kitchen, Sophia physically tensed up, my gaze shifted towards Addi who had her gaze pointed down to her food. Turning towards him I raise an eyebrow, "You are a guest here, nothing else so don't try to noisy your way into our lives."

"Hunter!" Dia snapped at him,

"Like I said Hunter," I say firmly, "I was just curious and I respect everyone's privacy...but you alienating your daughter is not appropriate."

"Alienating?! My family is here to take care of her I am busy with work and-"

I scoff, "You don't need to explain anything to me Hunter, after all I am just a guest." Clearing my throat I begin to eat my food, but the once mouthwatering meal, became a struggle to eat. How can someone be so cold and cruel towards their own daughter? She doesn't have a mother, and she has a non existing father...I grew up craving the love of a parent, of a mother and a father, I promise Ruby I would take care of Gia and I promised myself I would never let her feel the way I once did...but now there was another child right in-front of me, being treated horrible by her father, while the whole family loves her. What had happened so bad that he wouldn't even try to be affectionate towards her?

Keeping my head down I heard him scoff sliding a chair out, the table was dead silent, "Mahi," Gia whispered tugging my shirt, I turn my attention towards her. "Why aren't you eating? The food is so yummy."

Swallowing harshly I take a bite out offering her a fake smile, tortuously chewing the food. I excuse myself after a couple of minutes leaving Gia to enjoy her breakfast along with the family, as I try to push away horrible memories resurfacing from my own childhood.

"Why is she sitting at the same table as us?" Aunt Rani snapped at Uncle Akash, he sighed,

"Rani, she is 6 years old. She is not eating alone in her room."

"And she is not sitting with my children. Have you seen the way she eats? It's like she's never seen food, my children eat like proper human beings and being around her they will lose their manners."

"So teach her how to eat proper Rani, but I am not going to change my decision. I promised Sunny and Abadat I would take care of her and that is final."

Aunt Rani scoffed, "You and your promises, we already have two stomaches to feed and you added a third. Can we even afford it?"

"Rani," Uncle Akash exhaled deeply, "I'll figure it out...you don't have to worry about the expenses all you have to do is love all three of them equally, I treat her like my daughter and I expect the same from you."

"Talking to you is like banging my head against the wall." She said angrily, I heard the door slam shut, panicking I hide in the small closet in the hallway, "Why doesn't he understand that is is ill-fated? She is a curse on this family...I will never love her, never."

"Mannat?" Vallie gently put her hand on my shoulder snapping my out of my thoughts, jumping slightly I look back at her. "You're okay right?"

"Yeah," I say quietly, "I am fine."

"Listen, Hunter isn't always like that. He just-" She began to explain but I shook my head,

"There;'s no need to explain Vallie. Like he said, I am only here for a short amount of time...I am thankful for everything your family is doing for Gia and I."

Her eyes scanned my face, "You know training along with the boys, there were some perks...you can figure out when a person is lying, and you are lying right now Mannat. Look, I know this house is new for you, the people, the dynamics, but know that I'm always here if you ever want to talk."

Smiling at her I nod, "Gotta be careful around you,"

Vallie giggled, "That you do, but mostly around Hunter...he's a bit different from all of us."

Inhaling sharply I shrug, "That he is."