Mannat's P.O.V.

"This is the last box," Uncle Akash said shutting the door behind him, "You have officially moved out."

Smiling I look over at him excitedly but he looked a bit upset, "Are you okay Uncle Akash?"

He shook his head, "I'm fine, just didn't think you would move out so soon Honey, but then why wouldn't you. I've never been able to keep you away from Rani's harsh words."

Inhaling sharply I took his hand comfortingly, "I was only 4 when mom and dad passed away in that car crash, I will forever be grateful for everything you have done for me Uncle Akash...sure Aunt Rani's words hurt me sometimes but the love you gave me made up for it. Ronnie is like my older sister and I would do anything for Mini...you are my family."

Uncle Akash pulled me in a tight hug, "Come over whenever you want okay? And call me not Hope, we all know what she will say."

Giggling I relax in his arms, "Alright," 

"Okay," He sighed heavily, "I will leave you to unpack everything, should I send over Ronnie and Mini?"

"No, Ronnie is busy at the Day Care and Mini is at school. Don't worry, I got it."

Uncle Alex nodded, "See you later,"

"Bye," I say seeing him out the door I let out a big breath...this was the first time I had ever been alone. It was like the walls were closing in on me.  I hated being alone, I never liked the idea because when mom and dad passed away...actually a little while after Aunt Rani had said something to me that I still haven't been able to get over...

"Ow Auntie my arm," I whimpered as she threw me inside the timeout closet, "What did I do?"

"Akash is not your father do you understand?" She snapped grabbed a broom "You do not call him daddy."

Cowering in the corner of the closet I nodd, she hit me with the broomstick hard, "Please stop," I beg, 

"Your mother and father are dead! You are an orphan!" Crying I try to block her hits but it's no use. "Never call me or my husband your mom and dad!"

Nodding weakly I give up from trying to stop her, I laid there until she stopped beating me.."I wish you died with them." She spat at me slamming the closet door shut. 

I was in there the whole night Aunt Hope lied to Uncle Akash that I had gone to bed early, the next morning Ronnie found me laying on the floor. I made her promise not to tell anyone, especially Uncle Akash.

Ever since then, I kept my distance from her...no matter how much Uncle Akash insisted that I call them mom and dad I never did...I was already getting beaten enough for something I couldn't understand I didn't want to get abused more for something she had warned me about. 

Uncle Akash has always loved me like a father, but I craved for Aunt Rani's love but I never got it...if mom and dad were still here I would be treated much much different. 

Taking a deep breath I begin to unpack all of my boxes, this is going to take forever.

Just as I was about to lean down to open the first box I got a phone call, "Hey Ronnie,"

"Hey, um...Hunter Cloud is here." My heart skipped a beat, "He wants to meet you in person to thank you for dropping off Adira at their house."

Speechless I didn't know what to say, "Come down quick Mahi"

Hunter Cloud wanted to thank me for bringing his daughter back? But last night he had gone absolutely ballistic when I had called him. 

"I don't give a fuck, keep her there for as long as you want. I don't want to see her."

And the way he was talking about her to his sister...he was drunk but he was so mean and cruel...letting out a shaky breath I grabbed my purse before heading over to the Day Care. Be brave Mahi...don't be scared. 

Parking in the front I see three big black cars parked and one bright blue Lamborgini shining in front of the building. Walking into the building I straighten my posture, as soon as I stepped foot into our small block all eyes were on me. "There she is," Ronnie laughed uncomfortably before waving me over. It felt as if I was under a magnifying glass with a number of eyes on me. 

Clearing my throat I stand beside her bringing my gaze up to meet the man waiting to see me I lose my voice. I had heard that Hunter Cloud was handsome, but not this handsome. It was as if someone pulled him out of a photoshoot... "Mahi, Hunter, Hunter this is Mahi, she is the one who dropped of your daughter."

Hunter smirked at me putting his hand out for me to shake, "Nice to meet you,"

Slightly afraid I cautious lend my hand in his gently shaking it, "Likewise," Taking my hand out of his as fast as I could I try to ignore the tingle that shot up my arm. I took a step back so I was behind Ronnie a little. "Um...why did you want to meet me?"

"Right, I just wanted to apologize for my behavior last night. Vallie my little sister had told me about the way I spoke to you and I was drunk, not knowing what was slipping out of my mouth."

Crossing my arms, "Being drunk isn't an excuse sir, and not picking up your child on time is a huge deal."

"I hate her, everyone in this house knows I hate her, and I don't want to do anything with her!" He was so harsh. 

Ronnie looked back at me surprised shaking her head at me telling me not to talk back. "Exactly which is also why I wanted to thank you for bringing her to our house. Vallie also told me you were the one who dropped her off in our time of ... need."

"I told that stupid girl to keep the fucking kid,"

All the harsh statements he said last night stormed through my mind, was this apology even genuine? Or was it to cover his harsh and cruel behavior with her at home. I know that if I reported them to child services it wouldn't do anything but...

"Mannat!" Ronnie nudged me, "Are you listening?"

Hunter stood there smirking at me as he pulled out a cigarette pack, "Sir you cannot smoke in here!" I said quickly, "There are kids here who don't need their lungs exposed to the harsh chemicals."

The guy behind him began to chuckle, "She has guts,"

Guts? I was just telling him the Day Care rules. Hunter light up the cigarette anyway looking down at me, "Shut up Dom, anyway is my apology accepted or not otherwise my mom and Vallie will keep riding my fucking ass."

So it wasn't genuine...I drove all the way down here for a stupid ass apology, Ronnie grabbed my hand signaling me to keep my anger in check. I had some anger issues, maybe it was from the abuse or maybe it was from my dad. Uncle Akash said that dad had really bad anger issues, and those genes have been passed down to me...but I learned how to control it at a young age because of Aunt Hope. 

"Accepted," I said through gritted teeth, it wasn't...at...all. "Is Adira going to be here today?"

"Yeah actually I came to drop her off and I will pick her up because of what happened last night."

"What time?"

"7:30ish."

Sighing I nodd, "Sounds good."

Dom stepped forward eyeing down Ronnie, "Is there a number we need to call before we come?"

Hunter pushed him back, 'Keep it in your fucking pants, Dom, we will be back at 7:30." Pushing Dom out of the door the guards piled out of the building leaving it empty.

"What the hell...." Ronnie said letting out a big breath looking over at me. Exactly my thought what the hell...