Anya fixed her mood before getting out of the car with Zane. "Sister Anya." Her attention immediately shifted to the excited voice of a teenager who came to her. Hearing the teenager's voice, others started to peek out of their home and approached her.
"Sister Anya, congratulations. Are you a special cop? How to become one?" The girl asked with twinkling eyes filled with admiration.
Anya chuckled, "If you become an exceptional cop, you will be a special cop too." She did scare the girl with an explanation of complexity.
Anya faintly smiled and thanked the neighbors who met her and congratulated her. She also patiently responded to their questions.
She could see them happy for having her in the neighborhood. She smiled reservedly when she heard elders start giving her an example for the younger ones.
There were times, the same people were maintaining distance from her and her parents, asking their kids not to become like her because she was pregnant out of wedlock at such a young age. She hadn't thought a day like this would ever come.
Zane clutched his mother's hand and heard everyone too. He knew what those people used to think of his mother for having him. He was greatly pleased seeing them praise her, making her a role model for others.
Anya's eyes followed Zane who went towards the house. She looked at the door where Catalina and Dennis had proud and content smiles watching everything.
There was a time, her parents had to lower their heads and rush inside the house to escape the odd stares of their neighbors and avoid hearing any hard remarks. Anya hoped she could return the respect her parents deserved and they will never have to lower their heads again.
Her smile eventually froze when her eyes landed on her maternal grandmother who had tried to kill the fetus in her belly. Bidding the neighbors, she went to her parents.
Catalina hugged her before she asked in concern, "Are you alright?" She asked due to the previous day's events.
They should be celebrating the big award she never expected in her life. But the appearance of some people could affect it. "Yes, mom." Her voice came flat.
Catalina rubbed her arm, "Ignore her." She knew Anya couldn't stand her mother.
Nodding, Anya greeted Dennis who asked, looking at the car, "Didn't Alvin come with you?"
Catalina looked at the car eagerly. She was planning to slap these people's faces with her son-in-law. Did she miss the opportunity?
Alvin hadn't answered Anya's calls and she wasn't sure if he was going to come. Glancing at Zane, she lied, "He is busy, Dad."
Zane pursed his lips thinking about Alvin's behavior. If he wasn't wrong about his judgment, Alvin was going to return looking dashing and priceless to shut the mouths of people who wanted to marry his mother due to the award. Nevertheless, he was angry that Chipmunk Monster didn't congratulate Anya.
Anya ignored her grandmother who was scrutinizing Zane, "Baby, go and brush. We will have breakfast." Zane didn't know any of them as nobody ever invited them or visited him. So she didn't care to introduce those people.
"Yes, Momma." Zane ignored everyone and went straight to the bathroom.
Catalina's mother looked at Anya and exclaimed, watching Anya head to toe after five years, "How did you come so quickly?" There were only two flights per day to their nearest airport.
Dennis faintly shook his head at Anya to stop her lashing out at her grandmother. "Let's get inside. Don't catch a cold."
Anya entered and saw the living hall and dining hall filled with people. Her relatives were in shock at her completely changed look.
They had seen her when she alarmingly lost weight during the first month of her pregnancy but she had looked unhealthy and malnourished. They hadn't expected her to look so fit and pretty.
"Anya..." She saw her uncle reaching her with a big fake smile. The same person had created a big scene at the door after knowing she was pregnant.
She understood how Alvin must have felt when Wilson tried to get close to him after Skylark was inaugurated. "Mr. Owen, you had called me something different last time we met. What is it... Hooker Or was it Wanton?"
Everyone froze. Anya Owen they knew was a sweet and courteous girl who heard every curse when she was pregnant. So her sharp tongue came as a blow.
Mrs. Owen chuckled awkwardly and came to rescue her husband, "Anya, we just spoke out in anger. Don't take it to heart."
How brazen people could be for their benefits? Anya nodded, "Right, every dog has its day."
Dennis wanted to stop Anya but Catalina stopped him. Those people couldn't understand the manners. Anya was treating them right and showing them their places.
Catalina's mother snapped at Anya, "Anya, is that how you speak to elders?" She knew Anya meant her words to everyone there.
Anya didn't even spare an eye for her grandmother. "You don't even speak." She looked calm but annoyance was evident in her tone as she sat on the armchair.
Her blood still boils, recalling how her grandmother had forcefully tried to feed her some medicines when Catalina had gone out of the home.
The old lady's eyes widened at Anya's reaction. "Lina, look at your daughter." She gasped, "Does she think herself good for a petty award?"
'A petty award?' Dennis had to stop himself from mocking his mother-in-law.
Catalina crossed her arms. If Anya had behaved the same way with other people, she might have scolded Anya. She didn't have even the tiniest objection to Anya's reaction to these people. Anya had gone through a lot to reach this state.
"Mom, be happy that Annie is letting you stand here. If I was her five years ago, I would have killed you that day."
Anya interjected without letting her grandmother argue and put on the drama of an aged lady. They used to be so good like a big happy family until she turned up at her house as a pregnant woman.
Probably that's why there is a saying: The true nature of people is revealed when we are in trouble.
"So you are the family brought by Mr. Owen." She looked at the Steven family. "And... You..." She identified Catalina's maternal relatives - the Walker family. "Aren't we sister and brother?"
The prospective groom from the Walker family snapped out and immediately responded, "Err- No, we don't share the same grandparents." He checked out her gym clothes under the trench coat. Honestly, he hadn't expected the chubby girl to turn so hot.
She had heard they didn't believe her parents saying she was married. So she tried again, "First of all, I am married. These people who call themselves our relatives are untrustworthy. Stop wasting time behind them and leave."
Dennis's brother had already asked the neighbors and got to know that they never heard anything about Anya's marriage. So he scorned looking at her sitting arrogantly.
"Just because you won an award doesn't mean men will stand in queue for you. Look at your parents. They are getting old. This house needs a man to support you all."
"You-" Dennis quickly held Catalina from scolding his brother. They always wished Anya to have a man by her side. It wasn't because they or Anya needed support. Just somebody who could love their daughter and treasure her.
If Alvin was there, they wouldn't have left with their tail between their legs. Anyway, Anya could look past that they weren't believing her marital status. But, "Need a man to support us?" She wanted to hear what these men could do that she couldn't.
"Then let's start. Let me hear how these men could contribute to this household." Anya sat back and relaxed.
She had respectfully asked them to leave. If they were so eager to get insulted, she should honor their wish. Shouldn't she?
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