Gaia's POV

The silence that followed my mother's words was deafening.

Mia's face contorted with fury. "How dare you speak to me this way? In my own house?" She whirled toward Joels, who had emerged from his study at the commotion. "Did you hear what this woman said to me? I want her out. Both of them. Tonight!"

"I never wanted to live here in the first place," I said coldly, descending the stairs to stand beside my mother. "Joels begged me to stay. If you want us gone, ...