Reborn From Oblivion

Greta was like an overgrown baby, just needing to open her mouth to be fed. When Nathalie saw this, it made her blood boil. She turned to Lizzy, frustration etched on her face, and said, "Look at you all, treating her like she's royalty. Do you spoon-feed her every day? She can use her hands just fine, can't she? Seems like she can even boss others around."

Lizzy was fuming, barely able to keep it together. "This is ridiculous. If the old lady's so capable, why on earth are we waiting on her hand and foot?"

Nathalie swung the door open, but Miranda was too busy doting on Greta to notice her arrival. Nathalie cleared her throat loudly, startling Miranda so much she dropped the fruit platter she was holding. Her panic was written all over her face.

Greta rolled her eyes at Miranda's cowardice. "Really? You're scared of her? She's not some monster with a hundred arms. Get a grip."

For once, Greta seemed to have a moment of clarity. Nathalie took a seat across from Greta, meeting her gaze steadily.

"You're pretty lucky, you know. Do you even realize that your good fortune rides on someone else's back?"

Nathalie cast a glance at Miranda. "Your mom went through hoops to get you here, sweet-talking everyone left and right. Instead of appreciating her efforts, you belittle her for being timid. If I had a daughter as ungrateful as you, I'd have tossed you out ages ago."

Greta, feeling insulted, shot back, "Nathalie, who do you think you are? Just a stray my mom took in. Without her, you'd be nothing. And now you're the one acting all superior? Who's really the ungrateful one here?"

Nathalie was momentarily speechless. Lizzy leapt up in anger, pointing at Greta. "Who do you think you are to talk to my sister like that? Sure, your mom helped raise her, but you didn't. My sister owes your mom, not you."

Greta was left dumbfounded. Nathalie shot Lizzy a thumbs-up. "Nicely put. I'll owe you a drumstick for that one."

"Yay!" Lizzy cheered.

After their heated exchange, Nathalie and Greta managed to calm down a bit.

Nathalie said, "Greta, if you're dead set on staying here, I'll be the bigger person and let you. But remember, you're just a guest. Don't mess with my staff. If I hear about it again, you and your mom are out."

Greta's face turned a furious shade, but she knew she was stuck. Miranda spoke up for Greta,

"Nathalie, relax. Your sister won't cause trouble anymore. We'll keep to ourselves and not stir things up."

Nathalie replied, "You're practically knocking on death's door, yet you still cover fornoveldrama

her. Have you thought about what she'll do when you're gone?"

Miranda looked at Greta, who was lounging without a care in the world, with a mix of frustration and helplessness. "As long as I'm here, I'll protect her. When I'm gone, I can't do anything about it."

Suddenly, Greta sat up, her emotions spilling over. "You owe me this much. If you hadn't ditched your own daughter for that niece of yours, would you be living with this guilt now?"

Miranda, feeling the weight of her actions, stayed silent.

Nathalie muttered under her breath, "If I had a choice, I'd pick an orphanage or even death over being taken in by your mom."