Chapter 4

James mansion…

For the first time getting into the yard at the James mansion the first thing Mimi Ann saw was a beautiful modern style mansion. The yard was huge, the green area on the side of the pavement was healthy and beautiful. Even better, the fountain near the entrance of he house was probably the best of the best as if just there to show off her father's wealth. Everything screamed luxury and looked more like the houses she usually saw on TV. Seeing it like that, she knew she could get used to it.

After doing her shopping she had changed into a long oversized yellow T-shirt and a pair of jean shorts barely visible under the oversized T-shirt and a pair of white sneakers. She looked clean and with her hair in a high ponytail, she looked even better.

As she slowly followed Seth inside, an Asian woman walked towards them and nodded at Seth cordially then bowed respectfully at Mimi Ann, "Welcome." She said in her accented English and the young girl frowned slightly looking at her. The woman looked polite and everything about her looked nice and just perfect... well, too perfect for her taste. She thought it must be hard to look that perfect for a first impression.

Mimi Ann just smirked slightly, "Who on earth are you supposed to be in this puzzle?"

The woman seemed stunned for a moment then smiled faintly as she answered, "I'm Ji Soo, I am the head maid in the house." She responded in her syrupy sweet voice which made Mimi Ann uncomfortable.

She was never a big fan of sweet things or sweet people. Well, she always thought people who looked this nice and sweet were pretentious. It just made her feel strange. "Uh-huh." That's the only thing that came out of her.

"You must be Miss Mimi Ann." She spoke again and Mimi Ann nodded, "The family is in the living room over there." She gestured for her to keep on. "Mr Moyo and I have something on at the moment. Please go ahead."

She scoffed the walked towards the living room. For some reason she felt nervous and judging by how King had treated her, she had a feeling Minnie and her stepmother would be the same. She had never blamed her mother for anything but right now she was angry because she had died on her leaving her all alone with all the new people in her life.

As she walked closer she heard the sound of the piano from inside. Music was her mother's life so she loved it almost just as much as well. She only stopped when she spotted the family of four in the far corner of the room in front of a grand piano. Zach sat on the couch with Minnie in his arms as King half sat on the back of the couch. Across them was a slender young looking middle aged woman playing seriously. She knew that woman, the famous Chinese musician and producer, Genevieve Ji James.

Mimi Ann slowly walked towards them smirking faintly, "That sounds empty." She commented and that's when the people in the room finally noticed her. The music immediately stopped and she flashed a fake smile sarcastically adding, "I can almost touch the hole in your heart, Ms Genevieve."

Genevieve smiled faintly at her as she got up from the chair. The woman was elegant and everything she did seemed so natural yet smooth, "You must be Mimi Ann." her voice was gentle and polite that it reminded her a bit about her mother, "You are just as beautiful as your mother."

"I know." She said straightening her neck proudly, "Your daughter does have some similar features to yours too." She glanced at Minnie who just rolled her eyes at her.

The middle aged woman nodded slightly, "You and her both resemble your father a lot too." She sighed, "Actually Mara Jane…"

"Don't say my mother's name." her voice shook when she demanded. She wasn't ready to talk about her mother yet. In fact this afternoon she found herself sending a text message to her mother's phone. A part of her just didn't believe that she was really gone yet. The four people looked at her and she added, "Please." She wasn't looking at anyone but they could all sense her sudden cold attitude that came as fast as it left.

"You have your father's eyes." Said the middle aged woman, "In fact, even your siblings do."

The girl smirked, "Right." It was very clear that she wasn't too excited to be likened to that man but it was the truth she couldn't really hide from.

Minnie who had been silently sizing her up sat up from her father's embrace asking, "Aren't you just a farm girl though? How do you know about music?" she scoffed derisively, "My mom is an internationally recognized producer and musician. Who are you to criticize her piece?"

Genevieve turned to her daughter gently reprimanding, "Minnie, don't be rude."

"Oh let her," Mimi Anne forced a smile, "Did you know Mara Jane, Minnie?" she asked, "She left the spotlight years back and lived a quiet life at a farm but never stopped singing. She released her very last song a week ago." She said.

"Yea, the song is number one almost all the charts right now. It's called 'Even though I don't want to say goodbye'. She died four days ago and was buried two days ago." Said the older girl.

Mimi Ann's eyes narrowed slightly, "You seem to have followed her life." She turned to look at King who seemed like he wasn't even listening as he looked at his phone.

Minnie shrugged, "There was nothing much to follow. She was too secretive."

"Your father never told you that he hooked up with her and had a daughter?" the younger woman asked then turned to look at Zach provocatively.

The whole room turned awkwardly silent. Minnie frowned, "Mara Jane wasn't a home wrecker and don't talk about dad as if he was a player."

She scoffed, "She wasn't a home wrecker." She said, "But if your dad wasn't a player…" she directed a challenging gaze at her as if to ask what she was doing here if Zach was so innocent.

"Whatever, Mara Jane never had a child nor did she get married." She rolled her eyes, "I know that much."

Mimi Ann smiled then walked to the piano, "No? Are you saying that you are denying my existence?"

"What?"

She chuckled, "Look again, sweetheart. I'm real as ever and am in no way lesser than you." She dropped on the chair in front of the piano then pressed the keys and played the same song Genevieve was playing earlier. After a few seconds she suddenly stopped and said, "At least you can feel my anger there." She got up and walked to Genevieve, "Is my presence making you feel empty?" she asked and the woman was visibly confused which Mimi Ann interpreted as her feeling uncomfortable, "Good, you can help me convince your husband to not try and play 'daddy' with me and let me go home. He is seventeen years late for that."

"But this is your home now." Said Genevieve.

"Mom!" Minnie got up to her feet with a jerk, "You may all agree but I don't. No way." She cried and stomped out with reddened eyes.

King just glared at his parents, then at Mimi Ann before running after his sister. Seeing this you girl smirked. She didn't care anyway. "See? I have shaken up your perfect little world."

"Mimi, listen…" Zach was cut off when the young girl slapped the top of the piano.

"It's Mimi Ann, Mr James, where is my room? Do I even have one?"

Genevieve held back Zach who seemed like he was about to lose his temper then stepped forward, "I'll show it to you." She led her out and went upstairs. She only stopped in front of the door upstairs, "Feel at home. I hope you like it. It was designed by a professional."

Mimi Ann smiled, "Think about what I said, Ms Genevieve. I mean it." She opened the door and slammed it shut. Her eyes reddened and she slid down the door until she sat on the floor. "Mom, why did you call that man? Why did you leave? Why didn't you tell me that you were sick?" her voice shook and tears filled her eyes but she never let them fall. Her whole body shook and she could only look up at the ceiling to stop her tears.

*

Minnie slammed the door to her room shut and King opened it and walked in after her. She stood in front of the floor to ceiling window looking out on the mountain view. "How can they invite her to stay here and even try to make her feel at home? She is just an illegitimate child." The young lady complained. "And how did she turn out to be Mara Jane's daughter? None of you even told me!"

"I didn't want to upset you. I know how much you idolized Mara Jane." Said King, "Come on, Minnie. You have everything." He pinched her cheeks from behind and Minnie huffed, "Come on, you're part of one of the hottest girl bands out there. The most popular girl at school. The school belle. Concentrate on the good not the bad, ok? That girl is just dad's mistake. She has nothing on you and you know that I'll always love you more than her, right?"

She rolled her eyes, "And why is she in our class? Isn't she seventeen this year?"

"She will be seventeen soon. Just don't mind the kid as long as no one at school knows that we are related to her."

Minnie just rolled her eyes again and stubbornly folded her arms to her chest. She really didn't want to be related to that girl. She wished she just never existed.