Chapter 1 SHE MOCKED ME

Ava's POV:

The loud sound of someone knocking repeatedly on my door woke me from my slumber.

At first, I thought it was a dream, so I stretched my body and took a different position on my bed, trying to go back to sleep. I heard another loud bang on my door, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Is there a burglar in this house?" I muttered.

"Ava!" I heard my name. It was Eleanor's voice.

"Ava, get up this instant."

"If you don't have a job, don't you think you should at least get up early and make breakfast," Eleanor yelled as she banged on my door again.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes instantly, looking at the phone at my bedside. It was barely 4:30 a.m. It took me a few seconds to process what was going on. A week after I bid my parents farewell, I moved in with my sweet mother's friend, who had never yelled at me until this morning. I was almost certain someone had gotten on her last nerve.

"Why did she have to wake me up this early?"

"Ugh!" I yawned as I got up from my bed and went to open the door for Eleanor who was still yelling and banging at my door.

"Good morning, Mum," I greeted.

"You fool! Who is your mother?" I was confused by that question because she told me I could call her mother when I moved in with her, she also promised to offer me motherly love and care for as long as possible. What changed?

"Why did you lock your room door? "

"I'm sorry, I..."

"Be sorry for your pathetic self, were you drunk last night or something? Because only a drunk person will pass out the way you did. I've been knocking and calling you for the past 30 minutes. Why did it take you so long to wake you up?" Eleanor yelled at me and I sighed heavily.

"I'm sorry," I said, still wondering why she was so upset that early.

"Go make breakfast," Eleanor said waiting for me to head to the kitchen immediately.

"What!"

"You heard me."

"But It's barely 4:30 am, and..."

"Shut your mouth, Ava. I know what the time is, go fix something for me to eat now!" She walked away after giving me a bad eye.

I didn't have the time to ponder why her attitude towards me had changed. But I knew that it was either she had been pretending all along, or she got possessed by the devil himself.

Who changes from a nice to a mean person overnight? I dragged my feet to the kitchen to prepare something for her.

"I want a sunny-side-up egg." I heard her say from the passage leading to the living room.

While I was on it, she came to the kitchen and asked me to prepare something enough for everyone at home.

We used to be four until her husband, Mr James went to jail.

Eleanor hated it when we mentioned his name, so we barely talked about him.

I made a breakfast of fried eggs, bacon, and toast bread with tea.

I wasn't hungry but I had to eat my breakfast at once and also prepare for work, I had received enough shock for the morning and didn't know what to expect next.

"Ava, you're eating all these?" She said looking at the food I served myself on the dining table.

"When you start making real money and supporting me in this house, you can eat this much, but for now, I won't let you eat like a glutton." She grabbed my plate and halved the food in it. I was angry about that, but I ate what was left.

I didn't know what response to give her without sounding disrespectful, but she was already getting on my last nerve.

She had the guts to mock me, but she used to eat over at our home when my parents were still alive. I had walked in on my Mum on three occasions giving her a few good-looking clothes too. My parents were not the wealthiest, but they were generous; they liked to share what they had, especially with family and friends.

It's funny how some people forget the good deeds done for them as soon as they stop receiving them, right? Maybe I should add "ungrateful" to that description.

It was over a year since I graduated from college but I was yet to get my dream job. I had to make do with the ones I got, even though the pay wasn't encouraging. Before my parents passed on, I had zero responsibilities, so I wasn't under much pressure to get a better job. They gave me all the assistance I needed.

I knew I had to continue applying and not give up. With the sudden turn of events, I had to start planning for the worse, I didn't have to wait to be thrown out.

I could only hope for the best, even though I didn't graduate from a prestigious college.

I sighed heavily and went back to the kitchen. I put Lydia's meal into a smaller plate to keep it warm for her while I got back to my room to get dressed for my job at the bakery.

I worked at the bakery in the morning and the library in the evening.

My jobs were not so bad after all, if not for any other thing, they kept me occupied, so I had less time to think about my parents who were no more. I loved the smell of freshly baked bread and enjoyed reading books, especially romantic novels.

After preparing for work, I heard Eleanor call me again.

I went to the living room, where she was watching a sitcom. She was still eating the breakfast I served her.

Once she saw me, she threw the cup of tea I made for her at me.

It hit me on the head, fell to the ground, and made a shattering noise.

I was stunned by that. It was the last thing I expected to happen amidst the frustration she let out since she woke me up. My next instinct was to defend myself, but I heard a small still voice say, "Don't do it."

"What kind of coffee did you make for me?" she spat. I had no idea what she meant.

"Is there no milk in the house?" She yelled at me angrily.

I sustained an injury on my head from the impact of the cup that she threw at me.

"I'm sorry, I'll make another one," I said to her and she scoffed.

"Never mind, just get your filthy self out of my sight," she said to me and I nodded and walked into the kitchen to get a broom. I swept the pieces of broken glass carefully.

"Replace my teacup."

"I will," I responded as I went into my room to change my dress. I felt bad but didn't want to give her the satisfaction of seeing me broken.

I took off my clothes and went to take my bath for the second time that morning. I changed into a new set of clothes, grabbed my bags, and was ready to leave the house.

It was already 7 a.m., and I was supposed to clock in at work by 7:30 a.m., so if I didn't leave immediately, I'd be late.

"Ava," Eleanor called out when she saw me heading toward the front door.

"Give me some money! I need to go shopping for the house today, what I have on me won't be enough," she said and I frowned.

It was now clear to me that this woman was after my life, I didn't know why. What was my crime?

"I don't have any," I responded and she laughed.

"I guess that's a joke, Ava." She said to me and I sighed heavily wearing a more serious face, hoping she would believe me this time.

"I honestly don't have any money to give you, all I have is my transport fare," I said and turned to leave.

But I made the wrong decision because she pulled me to face her and gave me a dirty slap.

"Give me the money you have now!"