THE OBSIDIAN PRINCESS

CHAPTER 9 : THE BREAKFAST RULE

6:00 AM. Evans Villa.

The three stools were still in the middle of the living room.

Mrs. Evans was sleeping on the floor. Mr. Evans back was paining him. Chloe was crying all night, her makeup ruined.

They did not sleep. They couldn't.

At 6:01 AM, Aria came downstairs.

She was not in old clothes anymore. Vera had dressed her.

White silk gown. Long hair. Diamond necklace that cost $2 million. She looked like a queen.

Behind her, 10 maids in new uniform.

"Aunty," Aria said to the old maid. "Breakfast."

"Yes, Madam Owner."

The dining table was set. Gold plates. Only ONE chair.

Chloe stood up from her stool, angry. "We are hungry! Where is our breakfast?"

Aria sat down slowly. A maid served her coffee.

"You want breakfast?" Aria asked calmly. "In this house, we have a new rule."

She looked at them.

"From today, anyone who ate my food for 20 years will cook for me."

Mrs. Evans was shocked. "Aria! I am your mother!"

"You are Chloe's mother," Aria corrected. "You forgot. So prove you are a mother. Go to the kitchen. Cook for your daughter who just returned after 20 years."

Vera came downstairs in her pink bonnet. "Baby, let me add. They will cook wearing their nightgowns. Like you wore rags yesterday."

Dante came with a file. "Aria, sign this. You now own 51% of Evans Oil & Gas."

Mr. Evans fell on his knees. "What? That company is my life!"

"And I was your life too," Aria said, not looking at him. "But you left me in an orphanage."

Jason watched from the stairs. He felt ashamed. For the first time, he saw what his family did to his sister.

He walked to Aria. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't know they gave you a stool."

Aria looked at him. Her real brother.

"You can sit," she said to Jason only. The maid brought one chair for him.

Chloe screamed, "YOU GIVE HIM A CHAIR AND GIVE US A STOOL?!"

Aria stood up.

"Because he said sorry," she said. "You three never did."

She dropped her napkin.

"My breakfast is tasteless. You have 10 minutes to make me a new one. If I don't like it... you will all eat on the floor. With your hands."

She walked out to the balcony, leaving the three Evans on their stools, staring at the gold plate they could never touch.