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“Come in,” she yelled without peeling her eyes from the screen of her laptop. She was too engrossed in her work that she didn’t notice the door nob twist or someone enter her room.

“Is this how you intend to lock up yourself in your room for the whole day?” Yvonne flashed her an angry stare. “I have been in this house for almost two hours and you didn’t bother to come down and say hi.”

Ivory lifted her face and pouted.

“Hi!” She said grudgingly and returned to what she was doing.

Yvonne took in a deep breath to steady her emotions. Her eyes were focused on Ivory’s face and were shooting fiery darts at her.

“Really Ivory, Hi!” Yvonne tone was slightly raised. “You haven’t seen me; your beloved sister and second mother, for two months, and now, instead of a warm hug, all you can say is hi?”

“AARGH!” Ivory yelled in frustration. “Can’t I have peace for a few more seconds to complete this project deadline? Please, Yvonne, I need ten more minutes without any interruption from you or anyone. I have worked too hard this semester to score anything less than an A plus.”

Yvonne felt like picking up something and hurling it at her annoying kid sister’s face. She knew Ivory had been avoiding her ever since their last episode due to Leon’s wife.

.....

In the past, when both Marissa and Yvonne planned to go storm Leon’s house after he returned from his honeymoon with his wife, Ivory begged Yvonne tirelessly not to embark on that journey with their mum. She tried to reason with Yvonne since Marissa was a no-go area. Painfully, Yvonne paid deaf ears to her pleas and Ivory had been beefing her since then.

“If Leon was here, would you cough out that rubbish you just said to me?” Yvonne’s face reddened and her flared eyes were misty.

“Did somebody just say my name?” Leon’s calm and charming voice echoed from behind Yvonne.

“Big brother!” Ivory tossed her laptop aside and jumped down from the bed. She hurriedly ran towards her door entrance and intentionally shoulder-bumped into Yvonne, causing her to stagger to the side.

“Ouch! You little...”

Ivory was quick enough to avert a slap from her elder sister as she ran into Leon’s open arms for protection and hugged him tightly.

Leon chuckled at his little sister’s naughtiness and pleaded with his eyes at the infuriated Yvonne.

“I’ve missed you so much!” Ivory released her firm grip on him but remained in his arms for fear of her sister’s fury. “I’ve been planning to come over but schoolwork has kept me really busy. How is Ella? I’ve missed her too.”

“I miss you more and Ella is fine. She sends her regards,” Leon beamed at Ivory’s childish attitude. He also knew that if he didn’t settle the little difference between his two sisters, things might get out of hand.

“Leon, did you see what your baby sister just did?” Yvonne spoke between clenched jaw. She couldn’t state the fact that the mere mention of her brother’s gold-digging wife’s name was eating her up. Hence, she channeled all her frustration on Ivory.

“I am twelve years older than her and I deserve a great amount of respect.” Yvonne glared at Ivory; who was busy making funny faces at her thereby adding more fuel to her consuming fire.

“Ivory, stop that,” Leon scolded softly. “Yvonne is right. You shouldn’t have bumped into her. She is your elder sister and deserves some level of respect. Please, can you apologize to her?”

“Ugh!” Ivory pouted perkily her cute and irresistible.

“Pretty please,” Leon tickled Ivory on her side, making her giggle uncontrollably.

“Okay, okay!” Ivory screamed breathlessly. “I’m sorry, Yvonne. Can you please forgive me?” She batted her long attractive lashes like a doll and made cute puppy pleading eyes.

Yvonne ire melted at Ivory’s cuteness. She rolled her eyes at her before smiling. “Only if you give me a hug and a peck on the cheek.”

“Done!”

Ivory excitedly left Leon and jumped into Yvonne’s outstretched arm. She hug her and kissed both her cheeks.

“Am I forgiven now?” Ivory quizzed charmingly.

“You know I can’t stay mad at the Treshvire little princess for long. After all, you are the baby of the house and I love you unconditionally.” Yvonne smiled and returned the kiss on both of Ivory’s cheeks.

“Thanks, big sis,” Ivory beamed and freed herself from Yvonne’s hold.

“So Leon,” Yvonne turned her attention to him, “what is this urgent news that made you summon us to Carlpole?”

“You know I just arrived, right?” Leon stared quizzically at Yvonne. “Let’s all have dinner first and then shower before talking.”

“Wait a second!” Ivory’s eyes flashed with excitement. “Are you sleeping over?”

“Yes, I am,” Leon smiled.

“Yipee!” Ivory threw her hands in the air and did her unique victory dance, causing her siblings to laugh out their hearts.

“Oh, Ivory...” Yvonne wiped a few drops of eyes that fell from her eyes, “...you are one hilarious baby.”

“Thank you!” Ivory giggled and bowed spiritedly.

“So can we all move to the dining table?” Leon gestured downstairs.

“Sounds like a great plan to me.” Ivory smiled. “But both of you should give me like ten minutes to round up and submit my project. Afterward, I will join you guys.”

“Okay, don’t take too long. We will wait for you.” Leon said, before leading Yvonne downstairs.

After almost two hours of dinner, showering, and dressing up, Leon and his sisters assembled in their dad’s voice-proof office.

“What’s so secretive about this message that we couldn’t just sit out on the terrace or in the sitting room?” Yvonne asked grudgingly.

All the chatting and laughter at the dining table got her exhausted,- not to mention the warm relaxing shower she just had. She relaxed her back on the couch and yawned out loud. Then she rubbed her sleepy eyes and tried to keep them open and focused on Leon; whose facial features had suddenly turned frigid.

Ivory, who was resting her head on Yvonne’s thigh, also observed the change in Leon’s disposition. She sat up and asked him what the matter was, in her most innocent voice.

“Whatever we discuss in this room is confidential to the Treshvire family alone. I’m not going to beat around the bush with this information but no matter what happens, I want both of you to know that I’m here for you.”

“Huh?” Ivory gawked at Leon, unable to decipher the reason behind his statement.

“What is wrong, Leon?” Yvonne queried in an anxious tone. The sleep in her eyes vanished and was replaced with panic. Judging from Leon’s expression, she knew that something was not right.

Leon took in a deep breath and moved closer to his sisters; in anticipation of a nervous breakdown, before he spoke up.

“Dad is critically ill and he has less than two weeks to live.”

“What!” Yvonne stood up instantly. Her eyes flared up and she moved menacingly to Leon and held on to the collar of his shirt.

“You are joking, Leon! Please tell me you’re joking!” Yvonne vigorously shook Leon. Her whole body started to tremble like an imminent earthquake, as tears started to flow down her cheeks. She knew Leon wasn’t the type to joke around and this made her heart shatter into a million pieces.

“It’s not true! It can’t be true! Daddy!” Ivory remained in her sitting position quivering, and crying out loud.

All this while, she had been suspecting that something was not right with her dad. However, he had been secretive with all his meetings and activities. Hence, she stopped nosing around her father’s business and focused on her career of becoming a software engineer.

Leon’s heart was broken all over again as he washed his two beloved sisters grieving. He knew that when it came to emotional matters, Ivory was tougher than Yvonne. Hence, he focused more of his attention on Yvonne.

He held onto Yvonne as she continuously punched him in the chest while wailing out loud. She pulled herself, alongside Leon to the ground and started hitting the tiled floor.

It didn’t take Leon much to arrest Yvonne’s hands, to prevent her from hurting herself.

“Why did you keep it away from us? Why are we just finding out now? We could have arranged for the best doctor if he spoke up on time. We could have saved him! He can’t do this to us.” Ivory lamented.

“Please let go of me, Leon.” Yvonne wailed bitterly. “I want to see my dad, I want to see him. He can’t just leave us.”

“Yvonne, please calm down,” Leon stifled the tears that tried to escape his eyes. He couldn’t afford to shed tears in front of his sisters. If he did, then their wailing and possible tantrum might quadruple.

“Oh my goodness! M...mum! M...mum! Is...she aware?” Ivory asked in a broken tone as she stared at Leon helplessly.

Leon nodded his head in reply and the two sisters increased the tempo of their wailing.

“Oh no, mum is not strong for this. She might die with him.” Ivory lamented

At this, Leon reached out for Ivory’s fragile body and pulled her to his side. He cuddled both sisters in either arm while trying to soothe them.

“We all have to be strong for mum if we want her to survive this,” Leon gently stroked Ivory’s hair. We are all she has now.”