Rere took Leon's hand and entered the house. She halted her steps when she saw Ainil standing with her hand on her hips.

"Why didn't Hanin come back here and go to Dila's place instead?"

​​

"She wants to be with her mom, not Mommy."

"You should have won the child's heart. Hanin has become your daughter, Rere. It's your responsibility to look after her when her father is away."

"It's not that I don't want to. Hanin doesn't want to be with me."

"This is your fault."

"Why is it my fault?" Rere doesn't want to be blamed.

"You're wrong for discriminating against her. When you come home from your honeymoon. You just hugged and asked how Leon was. She's waiting for you to greet her, but you're busy with Leon instead. You ignore her. I often see Hanin daydreaming seeing you and Leon. You two just played together and didn't invite her. Little children have very sensitive feelings, Rere. Treat her properly."

Rere was shocked. Realizing her attitude had hurt Hanin's feelings. No wonder the child is not friendly and hates her.

"Fix your relationship with her. Hanin is your child, not Dila's child!"

******

"I have a headache facing Hanin," Rere said to Tia when they met at lunchtime. Tia had to cancel her lunch with Daniel because Rere wanted to vent her anger.

"What about her? Aren't you guys close? You promised to be a good mother to her."

"I can't Tia. I'm not her real mother. Do I have a child as big as her? You can say that I was eighteen years old when I gave birth to her."

"Why are you being selfish, Re? Marrying Mr. Dino means you have to be ready to accept Hanin. Didn't you promise in front of Dila that you would love and not differentiate Leon and Hanin's affection? Why aren't you being consistent with your own words?"

"Why are you mad at me?"

"I have to remind you if you are wrong. You may hate Mr. Dino but do not let his daughter be a release for your anger."

"Did you know that the girl showed her true attitude towards me? She doesn't want to call me mommy anymore and started to call me auntie. Hanin is the female version of Dino. Like father, like daughter. Annoying." Rere took a sip of her drink. She ate so fast that her mouth was full of food. Rere almost choked if she didn't sip the water.

"Eat slowly."

"I'm hurt by her attitude." Rere cut the sausage and put it in her mouth. She was still annoyed and did not accept Hanin's rudeness toward her this morning.

"How could you be offended at a child, Re? Don't be childish. She was a little girl. As a mother, you must be able to understand the condition of your stepdaughter."

"Why are you defending Hanin?"

"I'm not defending her. I'm trying to be fair. There must be a reason behind Hanin's rude attitude. There is no way she snapped just like that. I think she is a good and polite girl. Remember who raised her? She was raised by Dila. There's no way Dila can teach her bad things."

"Sis Dila may not do something like that. It should be Dino." Rere growled in annoyance as he recalled Dino.

"You can't make such an accusation. Have you got words from your husband? Has he reached KL yet?"

"Whatever. It is none of my business."

"Gosh, Rere." Tia smacked her best friend's head.

"What are you doing?" Rere protested not liking Tia's rude action.

"I'm annoyed with you. At least show your devotion to your husband. Remember, he is Hanin and Leon's father. If anything happens to him it will affect the children. Remember Re, marriage is not only about your happiness. Think about your children and in-laws' feelings. How long will you reject this marriage? Whether you want to curse or go berserk, Dino is still your husband. Without God's intervention, it would be impossible for you to get married."

"Aren't you tired advise me all the time?" Rere grumbled while looking at Tia with a pouting mouth.

"I won't be tired until you change, Rere. I'm your friend. If you are wrong, I should have reminded you."

"I'm still curious. Why is Hanin being curt and rude to me? She has no respect for me." Rere stopped eating. She crossed her hands and drowned in her own thoughts. Rere was thinking of the reason why Hanin's attitude was so bad toward her.

"Try to remember. Have you ever cursed Dino in front of Hanin? A child is good at copying adults. If they see an adult being rude, they will imitate that kind of behavior."

Rere rubbed her face roughly, trying to think for a moment. Instead of getting a clue, she was frustrated.

"I don't know. I don't want to know!" Rere hit the table.

"Take it easy, sis. Don't vent your anger at me." Tia quipped loudly. Sometimes Tia is upset and exasperated at the same time when facing Rere.

'Auntie doesn't love me. Auntie hates dad and me. Aunt only wants to live alone with Leon. I love Leon because my dad said I should love my brother.'

'Did you speak politely to dad? You think I don't know how you treat dad. You ignored dad. You hate dad.'

Hanin's words rang in Rere's ears. She remembered why Hanin was so angry with her.

"Hanin asked me earlier whether I spoke politely to his dad or not? She said I ignored Dino," said Rere innocently.

"I've found the reason. Hanin must have seen you guys fighting."

"Really?" Rere didn't believe Tia's theory.

"If she did not see it, how can she know about that? Dino is also not a petty and stupid man for telling your household problems to a child. Think about it logically."

"That is true," Rere confirmed Tia's words. "Then what should I do? Earlier, Hanin also said that I didn't love her and I just love Leon."

"Try to remember it again, Re. It's not too late to fix your relationship with Hanin. If she hates you as a child, she could hate you until she reaches adulthood."

"As if I will marry Dino for the rest of my life." Rere chuckled and nudged Tia's arm.

"We will never know people's hearts, Re. Time can change everything, including your feelings with Dino. Don't be so arrogant. Oh yes, first try to remember the words you said to Dino. Who knows that could be the trigger of Hanin's anger."

Rere tried to remember her argument with Dino that could hurt Hanin. Suddenly her body went limp remembering her words to Dino.

"Gosh." Rere tap forehead.

"What is wrong?"

"Dino once complained to me since I care about Leon more than Hanin. I said I didn't care at the time. Did Hanin hear what I said that time and get angry at me? She even compared me to Sis Dila."

Tia took a deep breath. She had guessed it beforehand. A child as good as Hanin can't change drastically in a short period. There must be a trigger.

"That's why you should be careful, Re. The tongue is sharp like a sword that can hurt the heart. Even though Hanin is still a child, she is human with a heart and feelings. That kid definitely doesn't accept your bad treatment with Dino. How do you feel about Dino? Hanin also behaved like that. They are good imitators. Didn't you find Hanin pitiful? When she was young, the girl had lost her mother. You should understand her personality."

"Then, what should I do?" Rere was confused and was lost for words. She finally admits her mistake.

"That's why you need to control your mouth when you are with Dino. Hanin could have peeked at you when you were arguing. She would never know how bad you treat Dino if she doesn't see it in person. Did you guys fight in the room?"

Rere nodded.

"If you two fight in your room, there's no way anyone else will hear except the kids."

"You're right." Rere leaned her head against the table and banged it.

"Are you crazy? Why are you banging your head on the table?"

"Punishment for being careless. I am very sorry and guilty. Why did Hanin find out about that?"

"There's nothing to be sorry for. It's your job now to fix your relationship with Hanin."

"How? Hanin avoided me and only wanted to be near Sis Dila."

"You need to think about that and then do it. You need to be good to Hanin." Tia glanced at the watch in her hand. "My lunch hour is over. Mr. Bara will be angry if I'm late."

"Alright. Just go back to your work."

"When are you coming back to work?"

"When I wanted to."

Tia left Rere first because it was already office hours. Tia doesn't want to take the risk since Bara is quite scary when angry. Tia feels like her soul will leave her body when Bara is angry. While Rere was queuing at the cashier's desk to pay for her lunch with Tia,

a man wearing a blue shirt with tan skin looking at Rere. His eyes stared at Rere. The man's eyes didn't blink even for a second, afraid to lose Rere even if it was only for a moment. It was a coincidence that they met at this place.