"Claudette, he isn't a good man!" Laurette shouted at her, "Don't you see how he treats you! The way he treats us?!"

"He just doesn't see me yet!" Claudette yelled back, "This plan will work! He will get tired of her and realize I am the better choice!"

Paulette switched her eyes between her sisters, a worried gaze on them. She fidgeted under their glares, though it wasn't directed at her. She quickly occupied herself with the wet glasses in her sight.

They sat at the back of the late-night bar, attendees of their savoring beers still the same as ever. The boisterous laughter of gentlemen filled the air. Their glasses clanged as they made a toast. The girls took their time with their task of drying and washing the used beer glasses.

Ever since their encounter at the restaurant, they have been going at it for a while. What started as a small discussion soon turned into a screaming match. Though they were far from them, some consumers gave them a few glances while Paulette responded with a sheepish smile at the noise.

"Are you serious?! This is going too far!" Laurette huffed, soothing her temple, "To use those poor kids in this plot?! Do you think their parents will stand by and do nothing?!"

Claudette scoffed, flipping her hair, "It's not like their kids are in any real danger. We are just taking them for a little while." She wiped the drips of water from the glass as her air became smug, "Think of it as borrowing the little brats."

The eldest peered an eye as Laurette scoffed at her words while murmuring, "Borrow my foot." She whistled a tune as she wiped away the extra liquids on the glass. Everything was coming together like she wanted, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

Not like they could anyway, Claudette told herself with a smirk. On this island, the marine captain was the highest authority. Whoever crossed him immediately would have their livelihood turned into misery.

Even if they were to get caught, what could be done when she had the marine captain backing her up?

Absolutely nothing.

Plus, it wasn't anything horrid. They would take the kids and hide them somewhere for a few hours. Giving Alex enough time to run around town and act concerned for the children's safety. Then, his team will find them in a designated location, and he gets to play hero for the day to impress the foreign woman.

Then, he is praised by the silvered-haired woman, and he can toy with her until the boredom simmers in, and she willows in her sorrows from being dropped like a hot tomato. Claudette sighed, unable to understand the problem with the plan in mind.

Laurette shook her head at it all. She couldn't believe her ears. After all that had happened, she realized that maybe Alex wasn't as great as she thought.  Though handsome and had the highest position on the island, she was certain he wouldn't make a great partner. The way he disregarded his sisters, the way he spoke about women like they were objects and not people, was disgusting.

Now, with clear lenses, she saw him for who he really was.

Alex was a certified jerk if she had to say this in the nicest way possible.

Wiping beer glasses with her apron, Laurette carefully dried the drips of water on them as she thought about the man. She frowned at today's events. Despite the captain seeming "in love" with the foreign woman, he doesn't treat her any better. Manipulating her into dating him when she clearly wasn't interested in the first place, accepting his demands was beyond her, yet she also understood why the silvered-haired woman went along with it since she had no choice.

She wondered what she saw in him and why the other sister would even want to continue to give that man their affection after he hadn't treated them with any decency. He had his eyes set on the foreign woman; why bother?

"You need to give up him," Laurette's tone softened, and she grabbed her sister's hands, rubbing circles on them. "Sister, please reconsider-"

"Did you see what she was wearing?!" The man gobbled his beer, taking in big gulps. With a satisfied sigh, he placed his glass on the wooden counter with a blush coating his cheeks, " I thought I would pass out."

His friend could only sigh dreamily at the thought of the foreign woman, his heart thumping rapidly in his chest.  He leaned his head on his hand, "I thought I saw an angel sent from heaven."

"If only I had a night with that-"

Laurette and Paulette flinched as their elder sister slammed her hands on the table; it trembled at the force as she gritted her teeth.

Rue this and Rue that! Everything was always about that wretched woman!

Claudette left the pub with a heel spin, seething at these men's comments.

Both Paulette and Laurette's gazes lingered on her sister a moment longer. Her mind was etched with worry at the predicament, only hoping her sister would change her mind.

She should have known better that a heart filled with envy would be poison.

As she finished her story, Laurette glanced back at the group nervously. Her pupils slightly shook at the silver-haired woman's blank and unreadable expression. Though they stood on the side of the road, nausea stirred in the pits of her stomach at the aroma of tropical fruits that no longer seemed tasty to her. The air thickened every second, passing at the silence that filled the atmosphere.

With a watchful narrowed gaze, Zoro folded his arms together. He sighed in frustration at their predicament, all this for someone who wanted nothing to do with that marine's creepy ass. He felt like he was a part of some drama he wanted no part in. He may not know why the kids were taken, but he had a hunch it wasn't anything good.

Johnny began to sweat from his temple, "W-what a weirdo! To kidnap these kids all f-for this!"

Yosaku gulped as he nodded in agreement with his friend, "Who knows what he's doing to them!"

Hesitant to meet their gazes, Laurette bowed her head as she squeezed her eyes shut, "I-I..." She began, her voice trembling, "I apologize on behalf-"

"Where is she?" Rue cut off, her gaze on the blond.

The blond flinched at the slight sneer in the silver-haired woman's tone. She gulped as her palms got sweaty, "I...I don't...." Her words got caught in her throat, "I don't know where the children-"

"Your sister," The blond became silent at the hostility in Rue's voice. The temperature rose despite the sun that blazed on them. Even the swordsmen were taken aback by the chill in the ambience, "Where is she."

Laurette slightly raised her head; her pupils dilated somewhat at the look in the woman's eyes. Her bright tints of blue dimmed, yet there was an electric glow. She staggered as she unconsciously stepped back at Rue's hardened gaze. Just by how she spoke, Laurette knew she wasn't asking, but demanding to know.

Though she knew her sister to be responsible for the mess, in a way, she still wanted to protect her somehow. The foreign may have seemed feeble, but her presence said otherwise.

She did not want to find out what the woman could be capable of and potentially put her sister in harm's way.

None of them missed the way her eyes glimmered a striking hue. Zoro grasped Rue's shoulder, brushing a light squeeze to calm her down. He sensed her shoulders slumped slightly as she inhaled deeply to simmer the escalating anger within her.

"Forget about her for now," Zoro said as his gaze shifted to the road ahead. "Let's focus on finding them."

The silver-haired woman repeated her mantra once again. Think, don't feel.

Rue sighed at the plight of the situation. The captain had to go this far all because she wanted nothing to do with him; not only that, but one of his admirers had to place herself in something she had nothing to do with in the first place. She guessed it must have been the one from yesterday since this one seemed familiar.

She was ready to move on from all this once she got the intel needed, yet here she was stuck because of a numbskull of a captain who kept chasing her despite the numerous rejections. She scolded herself that she should have kept that with her in case something happened, but who would have known her fears would come to fruition?

Thankfully, it wasn't for the reasons that she thought, but nonetheless, this was troublesome.

The silvered-haired woman shot the woman a look, making the blond jolt again. Her eyes roamed her attire, taking note of the white apron with her small apron, the yellow dress, and the odor of booze off of her.

Alcohol...Rue pinpointed the location.

Without another word, Rue hunted for her prey, leaving the group behind as the duo swordsmen called out for her. Her eyes focused on the road ahead, everything around her falling on deaf ears as her mind focused on one thing.

Getting the children back.

And to punish the ones responsible.

Meanwhile, Aisha hummed a tune, happily swaying to the melody. Though she wiggled around tied up, that didn't stop her from dancing to her tune. Ayame stared deadpan as her friend acted silly in their captivity. Both roped up looking like earthworms, yet this kid sang like a sailor enjoying his trip on the seas without a care in the world.

The winds echoed in the dim cave as tight ropes enveloped her body. The sun was still high on the horizon, warming the land with its heat, and became their only light source. Small rocks stumped in water as small waves brushed it. As the marine symbol flapped gently in the breeze, a tall building decked in ivory stood far away.

Ayame shivered at the water's slight chill as it pushed towards her. She wondered when they would be found; she slumped her shoulders as a deep frown settled on her features at their predicament. She hoped her mother was safe. However, guilt bubbled in her stomach that she was forced to get her friend dragged into this mess. Who would have thought she was being followed? Yet they used her mom against her to betray her only friend. She sighed as her eyes landed on her enthusiastic friend, "I'm sorry, Aisha."

The raven-haired child tilted her head to the side cutely in confusion, observing her friend's bashful demeanor. "Why?"

There was a slight pause as if she was trying to find the right words or excuses for her actions. However, Ayame knew that if her mother weren't threatened, they wouldn't be in this mess if she let the green swordsman stay with her for a moment longer. Though she might have never known this would happen, she should have considered it.

The brunette shook her head, leaning backward to prevent tears from escaping. "I..." Ayame sniffed, attempting to keep it together, "I did this...I should have never...." She began to sob, everything overwhelming her at once. Her body shook as sadness came crashing on her. Why did this have to happen? Why did what did she do wrong? Life was unfair!

Instead, Aisha smiled brightly at her friend, "S'Ok, Yame!"

Ayame almost scoffed at her response, not believing a word; she chuckled dryly, "It's ok to be mad..." She looked down to the rocky floors, water heaving up and down her feet, "I understand."

"No worry, Yame!" The ravenette wiggled her way to her friend, a smile still plastered on her features, "My mommy will save us!"

Her friend only responded with a small smile at the child's hopeful spirit, yet hers hadn't arisen. What could her mother possibly accomplish? No offense to her, but Rue didn't seem ideal for this situation. Sure, she was a beauty in the face and kind, but she didn't seem capable if she was honest with herself.

Though she couldn't announce such a thing to her friend, she didn't want to crush the kid's enthusiasm.

"Sure..."

"No!" Ayame jumped from the child's outburst, "She's coming!"

The brunette frowned slightly, not believing her friend, "How do you-"

"Mommy's strong!" Aisha said as her tiny giggles echoed through the cave. While her lips spread into a mischievous smile, "She's really strong!"

At the bar, Paulette served her customers with her usual smile. As she turned back to the counter, her features scrunched into a frown. Her green eyes shifted to her sister Claudette, who whistled as she carried a tray filled with beer glasses ready to serve to the customers.

Though the room wasn't crowded, it boomed with voices of laughter and clang of glasses. Sunlight outpoured through the window, brushing the atmosphere with its warmth. However, the only warmth was one of anxiety that twisted in her stomach. Paulette roamed her eldest sister's face, not a blemish of fear on them as she strolled around the shop and acted like nothing had happened.

Or as if nothing was about to, at least.

Paulette wondered if she was probably worried for nothing. Claudette didn't seem anxious about the events she had set in stone. Though she may secretly not agree to the plan and wanted no part, she couldn't help but think about what transpired yesterday. This was the first time her sisters ever disagreed with anything. Ever since childhood, they did everything together, liked the same things, and worked at the same place. Hell, they had a crush on the same man and rarely argued about it. They would have been happy if either of them ended up dating him.

Until now.

She walked over to the wooden counter and prepared more glasses to fill up with beer; deep in thought, she would have never imagined that a single person would end up tearing them apart. Their sisterhood was tested by a single poke in their bubble by some woman who just arrived on the island. They used to be the prettiest flowers on the island. However, that title was snatched by another flower that bloomed, much more beautiful and rare than everyone wanted to pick from its roots. Paulette pouted as she aggressively slammed the glasses on the wooden table, making a customer at her side jolt at her actions. Things were just unfair.

As the youngest sister became lost in her thoughts, she didn't take note of the group that appeared before her. She took note of the silvered-haired woman who stared holes into her head. Though she smiled at Paulette, the blond could tell it wasn't anything nice behind it.

"Is your sister here?" Paulette flinched at the tone in Rue's voice; though it was low, she could tell she met business.

Everything came to a standstill as other customers turned and began to admire the foreign woman's beauty once again while others noticed the rising tension in the air. Paulette tried setting her eyes on her sister, Laurette, who panted and hunched over to catch her breath.

"May I help you with something," everyone directed their attention to a smiling Claudette, " You seemed to be in a hurry."

"Sis,..." Laurette began attempting to warn her sister," She-"

"There's no need to keep the act up," Rue observed as Claudette only shrugged with a smug look, " Where have you hidden my daughter and Ayame."

"I don't like your tone," Claudette told her, looking at her nails with a keen interest instead, "and who says I-"

"Your sister said it," Zoro pointed to Laurette.

Claudette gave her sister a nasty glare as Laurette looked away. As the eldest sister looked back to Rue, she took note of the three swordsmen behind her again. She scoffed as her mind plundered deep into her dislike for the woman.

Again, why would he choose her over herself? She was a better match.

"I think it's funny that the captain is still interested in you. You should be grateful someone like him asked out a harlot like you."

The room grew quiet at Claudette's words; chatter immediately ceased as the atmosphere froze, the temperature dropping by the minute. The sun slowly hid itself in the horizon as the light grew dim. All eyes shifted to the silver-haired woman, awaiting a reaction.

Zoro narrowed his eyes at the woman; though this wasn't his battle, something within him boiled at the term she used as a description. However, this wasn't the main source of his anger. He may be unable to view her face, but Rue's lack of reaction to it all confused or frustrated him.

Though Rue said nothing and remained blank, this encouraged Claudette to continue, "You have no shame showing up with your toys." She turned away, carrying her small tray, and headed to the counter. She swirled back her red dress, following the flow as her lips lifted into a smirk, " are they previous clients of yours?"

Laurette gulped, running towards her sister. She placed her hands on her shoulder, "Claudette, please-"

A slap rang as Laurette widened her eyes at her sister's actions. Their hands were red and burning from the collision as Claudette's furious gaze landed on her.

Never in her life had Laurette thought her sister would look at her with so much anger.

"I'm just calling it for what it is!" Claudette continued while pointing a finger to them. "Don't you see them following her like a bunch of horny dogs!"

"Shut up!" Zoro's veins pulsed as anger kept rising from the pits of his stomach. A deep frown etched on his features at the situation, and he was beginning to get too tired of this. They were wasting too much time here while the kids could be in danger. "Just tell us where they are already."

Claudette chuckled deeply at this, "See! Look how quickly they are ready to defend her! They're dogs indeed!" At that comment, Johnny and Yosakue held back a fuming Zoro to prevent him from cutting her up like sushi.

"Claudette, stop!" Laurette attempted to calm her down while Paulette could only stare in shock at the situation.

Rue blankly stared at the girl, her words registering in her mind. She took note of her attitude and her whole demeanor. One obvious cue was her eyes, the way she gazed at the silver-haired woman throughout this ordeal. It was clear that Claudette deeply disliked her, though she concluded that dislike was an understatement since she was willing to humiliate her publicly.

However, the eldest sister didn't consider that eyes are the window to the soul.

And the window to one's weakness.

Though she tried not to show it, Zoro examined Rue's features, returning to her usual smile. His veins pulsed deeper, "How the hell can you smile at a time like this?!"

"Zoro," Rue gave him a closed-eyed smile as he raised a brow at her behavior, "I apologize in advance."

Everyone got at the edge of their seats as Rue turned back to a smug Claudette. She strolled to a nearby seat and sat on the chair, her usual smile still plastered on her features to the eldest sister's annoyance.

The silvered-haired woman knew she was pressed for time. However, she couldn't search aimlessly without a lead either. She would have to force an answer out of her if she wanted to know the location of her daughter and her friend as soon as possible.

And she wouldn't let Claudette insult these swordsmen like they're lowlives like that. She kidnapped the children and insulted her and Aisha's father; enough was enough.

Just like a predator, she will tear her apart limb from limb, little by little, so that it can pierce her prey, not allowing it to escape.

"It seems we've been caught," Rue started, gazing at the Zoro and the duo swordsmen, who tilted their heads in confusion at her words.

Johnny scratched his head, "I don't understand what you-"

"Don't you guys remember?" Rue's voice simmered, almost turned away, her hair swerving in motion. She seemed breathless as she fidgeted bashfully in her seat while twiddling her thumbs. Her tone gradually got louder, as if she wanted the whole room to hear, " Our hot night together was truly unforgettable."

There was a long pause in the room, every breath ceasing her words. They processed every last syllable as their eyes fixed on the smiling woman.

A hot night. Together. Unforgettable.

Hot night. Together. Unforgettable.

...A HOT NIGHT TOGETHER!

"EH!?" Their voices erupted as red hues dusted the cheeks of everyone in the room. Eyes wide as saucers, jaws dropping to the floors in disbelief at the revelation.

"The hell, woman!?" Zoro shouted, a furious blush on his cheeks as his eyes turned white from shock, "What are you saying?!"

"S-see, I told you she was one!" Claudette as she pointed an accusing finger at her with a red hue on her cheeks.

Her sisters were in a daze with heated cheeks; they never expected, hell, they never could have imagined that she would respond this way. Rue seemed so...so...unlike what they perceived.

Well, they should have known never to judge a book by its cover.

Meanwhile, Rue shivered on the inside from her words and cheeks heating up, though she tried not to show it. Ok, this might have not been the best plan, but if she wanted to make her crack, she had to do what she had to.
She continued to push forward, to push Claudette.

"Yes, how could you forget?" Rue stared at Zoro in sadness as the red hue on his cheeks became darker, "It was...hard for me." Johnny and Yosaku passed out from a nosebleed from these storming events.

"How could you!?" Many customers, mostly men, yelled out in anger at her words. How dare they hurt this beautiful flower and taint her like this! How could they forget

"Shut up!" The green swordsman barked, teeth as sharp as a nail while a vein popped near his neck. He didn't know what the hell this woman was thinking in saying something so outrageous as this. What in the world was she going to gain? What was she planning?

Zoro swirled on his heel and approached the silver-haired woman. He placed his hand on Rue's shoulder with furrowed brows whose face didn't turn to him, which annoyed him even more. "What the hell are you doing wasting time!?"

Rue focused on Claudette, whose body shook as a shadow covered her eyes. Again, their eyes met, eyes narrowed with furrowed brows, "I don't know what he sees in someone as dirty as you!"

Laurette attempted to stop her, but was pushed away. Claudette continued on her small rampage, calling her all sorts of names while Rue remained as cool as a cucumber with a smile that kept the fire lit within Claudette's heart. A fire that didn't burn her opponent in the slightest. She went on and on about Alex's greatness and all.

Zoro brought his gaze down to the woman in question. He took note of Rue's smile becoming dim, completely wiped away from her face. He wondered why he would even allow this woman or anyone to insult her the way she did, the way the weird captain did.

The way anyone did.

Either this woman was weak-hearted or just didn't care enough about what others thought about her to defend herself. However, overall, something bubbled within him at the thought of it.

Watching Claudette with a blank expression, Rue's mind went elsewhere as those words brought her back to a place she had thought she had left behind long ago.

A place she could no longer return to.

Claudette's attitude and her whole demeanor reminded her of someone she once knew, someone she was once close to, someone she called a sister. The image of her friend differed from Claudette's fiery personality compared to a soft and sweet one.

Though Rue knew sweet wasn't the best description for her old friend.

Rue almost let out a scoff; to think to this day she would call her a friend.

A snake would be fitting; a snake that bit its victims unexpectedly. Rue laughed dryly at that because she knew she was no better than one. That place was full of them, after all.

"What's so funny!?" The silvered-haired woman was pulled out of her thoughts by a seething Claudette, who now stood in front of her while Zoro furrowed his brow behind her.

Rue gently slapped her mouth; oops, she was lost in thought for a moment.

Recollecting herself, she crossed her right thigh on the other; Rue lifted her head to face the mad blond. "Nothing, I just thought it was funny that you hold the captain in such high regard."

Claudette pulled Rue by the collar; the silver-haired woman remained unfazed under the blond, heated gaze. "Shut up! You don't know anything!" She spat out, her heart filled with envy, "I bet you're going to use him for his money!"

Rue gently placed her hands on Claudette's, releasing herself from her grasp. She walked forward to the counter and spotted a glass half-filled with beer. She gently took the glass in her hands, "You know, I'm not the one doing the chasing." She traced the rims of it at the top, "but I get it. Men like women with a bit of experience."

Many customers felt heat through their veins at her words. Paulette and Laurette gasped with a slight red hue dusting their cheeks. On the other hand, Zoro grunted at the silver-haired woman's antics at this point, yet heat rushed to the tip of his ears.

Claudette scrounged her features in disgust, "You're just a toy to him anyway." Her lips lifted into a smirk, "once he's done with you, he'll just move on to the next."

Rue's lips lifted into a smile, "Is that so?" She continued to trace the shape of the glass. Soon, she took it in her hands, her thoughts coming up with the best possible scenario to trap her prey. "He was begging for me to go home with him."

She watched as the room froze at her words; Claudette's mouth slightly hung in shock, but tried to recover," He was just-"

"He confessed his feelings for me like he always had." From the corner of her eye, Rue watched as Claudette's cheeks flushed as anger coursed through her. "We also kissed."

Rue knew her statement was a half-truth. Though Zoro was the only one who knew, However, she kept going with her charade.

"I don't blame him; a harlot like me knows what she's doing." She noted Claudette flinched as she emphasized the insults the girl had shouted at her earlier; however, Rue wasn't done with her just yet.

"I know a man's weakness," the silvered-haired woman's voice changed. It became melodic, almost hypnotizing, tickling the ears of the crowd like a whispering siren. Rue poked the booze in the glass, and the liquid slowly dripped from her fingers; people gulped at the seduction of it. The lights shimmered her curly locks and gave a glimmer into the ocean in her eyes.

Someway, somehow, Zoro became trapped in a small trace of his own at her words. His breath hitched at the woman in sight as his heart drummed in his chest.

Though composed, Rue became bashful on the inside at the numerous eyes on her. She knew enough that what she said was a complete lie. However, the show had to continue if she wanted to keep convincing. "I know where he likes it," again, she traced the rims at the top of the glass, gently gliding the tip of her finger. "I know things an inexperienced girl like you wouldn't know."

She watched as the room kept their traces on her every move while Claudette kept fuming. Steam escaped from many men's ears while others became faint at the beauty, openly confessing how to pleasure.

Rue's lips slightly tugged upwards at Claudette's shaking form; she knew she got her, but she decided to poke the bear again until she burst. It was all coming clear; this whole ordeal wasn't about herself.

But to gain some points with the captain.

How pitiful.

Placing the glass back on the wooden counter and walked back to Zoro's side. "Though I think it was a bit cute; how he crawled like a dog."

She witnessed Claudette grow rigid; Laurette's eyes widened slightly in worry, "S-sis-"

"What did you say?" The eldest sister's voice became low, almost dangerous.

"Oh, pardon me," Rue said, covering her mouth with her hand as if she attempted to prevent a giggle from leaving her lips. "I meant to say that since you called my friends a bunch of dogs, I found that inaccurate."

The room remained quiet, awaiting her next move. Zoro never expected or predicted what would come next. However, he did miss the part where she acknowledged him as her friend.

"It only took them one night to snatch me," Rue continued, "While Alex had to chase me around town wagging, pleading for a date with him."

Though her back was turned, Rue witnessed Claudette's hands shaking as her voice got caught in her throat. She knew she was at her wits' end; all the predator needed was to give her prey one final push.

"It seems to me that your precious captain is the biggest dog here."

The air trembled at the force of the skin collision. There was an audible gasp from both her younger sister as Rue's face jerked to the side with Claudette's hand in a red hue.

Fire in her specks as she panted from the overflow of anger. Satisfied with her work, Claudette huffed, "Leave! I have nothing more to say to you!"

Zoro gave the blond a heated gaze, his hand gripping the blade's sheath, "Oi-" A hand held him back from his shoulder; his eyes shifted to Rue, whose face was shadowed. His gaze lingered on her as she walked forward, approaching the blond once again.

Claudette noticed this and rolled her eyes. "What do you want-"

The eldest sister's head jerked to the side at the force while she stumbled backward and fell to her feet. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at the silver-haired woman whose features shined with a smile.

Though Claudette was certain, it wasn't a friendly one.

"You hit me first," Rue implied in a matter-of-fact tone, "I only responded in self-defense."

Recovering from the unexpected, Zoro's lips spread into a smirk as he crossed his arms; finally, she was taking some real action.

A bit concerned for her sister, Laurette attempted to comfort her, but her hand was slapped away by a furious Claudette.

"You-"Claudette lunged forward to attack the woman; however, her wrist was caught by Rue's hand, which held her in a firm grip. Claudette gritted her teeth with narrowed eyes of hatred, "let go of me!"

For some reason, the room grew cold for her; the atmosphere began to choke her as her gaze fixed on the woman whose features gave her a gracious smile. Yet, for some reason, it was more chilling as her eyes glowed.

Laurette's hair stood up from her arms to her tailbone. An uncomfortable feeling twitched as her hands trembled while sweat built on her brow, the same sensation she had earlier when she confronted the silver-haired woman.

The eldest sister flinched as pain coursed through her wrist at the force of Rue's grip. The more she squeezed, the pain increased making tears blur her vision. Sweat built at her temple at the silvered-haired woman's cold gaze though she still kept a smile as cool as the winter.

"You waste your breath on that man all you want," chills went up her spine as Rue's docile smile dropped, leaving her face as blank as a canvas. "However..."

Claudette flinched at the look in the foreign woman's eyes. Her legs began to lose strength as she felt herself slip from the woman's grip, slumping on the wooden floors.

"Leave my daughter out of your little love affair." Rue began to walk away, her steps echoed through the bar, all eyes on her.

Laurette and Paulette quickly went to their sister's aid, attempting to snap her out of it ashore Claudette kept her shaken pools to the floors.

Their bodies jolted as caught Rue's giggle in the atmosphere. Turning to her, she gave them her usual docile smile, though it held a slight mischief to it.

"Should it even be called a love affair," Rue continued the light from the sun shining through the opened door. "When he doesn't even know you exist."

Silence responded as Rue made her exit. Now, knowing the location of her daughter's whereabouts, she headed to the marine base.

Where she would sadly have to face the captain.

꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂

Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!

Happy Holidays! Enjoy the break cuz I know we all need it!