"No, she'll be living with me for a while…"
Miya froze, her smile stuck on her lips. She didn't know what to say right away. The pink on her cheeks deepened, and her fingers tightened against the edge of the table.
The silence stretched, so Ren tried to cut through it.
"Well… my father asked me to let his wife stay here for a few days. He has to travel for work and doesn't want to leave her alone in the other house. He says it's temporary, until they find a better solution. I… couldn't say no."
Miya nodded slowly.
"I understand…" she murmured. "It makes sense. Your father wants to take care of her. And you… you're being very kind by accepting it."
Ren scratched the back of his neck, uncomfortable.
"I don't know if it's kindness or if I just don't know how to say no."
Miya let out a small, almost tender laugh.
"You are kind, Ren. You always have been."
Before she could add anything else, the doorbell rang, abruptly cutting off the conversation. Ren looked toward the hallway.
"Ah… that must be my dad," Ren said. "Wait a moment."
Ren walked toward the door with firm steps, though a slight tremor was visible in his shoulders.
When he opened it, Sanli and Yaina were there, standing side by side. Sanli wore a tentative smile; Yaina kept that same expressionless look as always.
"Son… good morning," Sanli greeted, raising one hand. "We came to bring the last of Yaina's things. May we come in?"
"Of course… come in," Ren replied.
From the table, Miya watched them from a distance. She knew Ren was trying to reconnect with his father, but she hadn't imagined it would go this far. After eight years of absence, rejection would have been normal. Yet there he was, welcoming him into his home.
When Sanli passed near her, Miya was able to see him up close for the first time. A strange déjà vu ran through her body, as if she had seen that face somewhere before, though she couldn't remember where.
Miya shook her head, ignoring the sensation.
She stood up calmly, keeping a certain distance, and greeted them.
"Good morning."
Sanli looked at her, surprised.
"Oh… good morning. You must be… Miya?" he asked with a friendly smile. "Ren told me a bit about you. Thank you for getting him out of the house that day."
Miya inclined her head.
"It's nothing."
Yaina looked at her for a second and murmured,
"Good morning."
Miya politely inclined her head in response.
At that moment, Sanli stepped a little closer to Ren and said something to him in a low voice.
Whatever it was, it made Ren blush all the way to his ears and lower his gaze, trying to avoid eye contact with Miya.
"Dad… don't say that now," Ren murmured.
Sanli chuckled softly.
"I'm just telling the truth, son."
The introductions were brief and tense. Miya stayed on the sidelines, answering with monosyllables whenever Sanli asked her something. Finally, she glanced at the clock and said in a sweet voice:
"Well… I think it's time for me to go. I don't want to interrupt the arrival."
Ren looked at her, a little anxious.
"Thank you for breakfast, Miya. Really."
"You're welcome. If you need anything… you know where I am."
Miya left the house, closing the door gently behind her.
She walked the few meters separating the two houses with calm steps. She entered her own, climbed the stairs, and went straight to her room. She closed the door, dropped onto the bed on her back, and stared at the ceiling.
Silence wrapped around her.
Then, in a low voice filled with irritation and something darker, she muttered under her breath:
"Damn usurper she-cat."
Chapter 12: House of Two