After hours of traffic, we eventually made it to the portico of Edmiston Manor; the exquisite chateau-style mansion that sits on a private estate, surrounded by manicured gardens, lush landscaped lawns, grounds with different types of fountains, and has a close-up mountain view on the back.

Upon returning to the mansion, it brought me to a realization of how much the place reminded me that we didn't fit in here— too much luxury and opulence to bear, and for that reason, my parents ensured we only got to visit our grandparents occasionally.

"Why can't we come here often?" Olivia asked, a hint of exhaustion in her voice from having to drag her suitcase up the grand staircase.

"We're not having this talk now," Mom snapped to her daughter with so much force her messy bun came loose.

Mom and Dad had made it clear why they set firm boundaries between us and our grandparents. It was simply because of their over-pampering nature by constantly giving whether one-off gifts of money or overpriced presents to me and Olivia which contrary to our parents' principle; they want us to work for things in life and not to always expect free things.

My sister crossed her arms over her chest in protest, and seeing this, I stepped closer to her. "Maybe she's trying not to make Ava hate you more."

"Ow!" I shrieked when she hit me with her suitcase at the back of my head. "That really hurt, you dummy."

Olivia raised her brows. "Really? Because I'm sure it'll hurt more when I stick it up to your —"

"I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you," I cut in.

"You guys really can't go a day without fighting?" We received one hell of a glare from Dad, causing Olivia to quickly point at her prey.

"Andy started it first," she claimed and my jaw dropped.

"And I'm ending it," Dad replied, switching his gaze to me. "Apologize to your sister."

"What?" I asked incredulously, looking over to Olivia. Just seeing the smirk on her face was enough to make my anger flare.

"Always putting the blame on our son," Mom interjected as her eyes rolled.

Dad dropped the bags he was holding with a thud and threw his hands up in the air. "Olivia said he started it."

"She's not the one getting hit on the head, is she?" Mom inquired, giving him a challenging stare.

"I don't know what you want me to do then, woman," Dad stated resulting Mom to scoff in response.

"Why am I not surprised? The only thing you know is that you know nothing yet you act like you know everything," her voice grew a bit loud as she stressed her words.

"Are you really mad at me about Andrew or was it about something else?" Dad asked in a questioning tone but she remained silent.

"Look what you've caused, little bro. I'm so going with Dad when they divorce." Olivia mumbled beside me, unperturbed.

My heart sunk hearing that. "God, can you be more ruthless, Liv? You're awful."

"Awfully attractive," she retaliated. "Something you can't relate to."

Our brief family feud came to an end when the iron door was pulled from the inside. A well-suited butler welcomed us in the mansion and took no time to command his other small group of staff to grab our bags and carry them upstairs.

A sixty-year-old woman stood in the foyer, waiting to greet her guests in her insanely gorgeous red gown. The look in her eyes was quite intimidating and her black stilettos click-clack loudly against the marble floor as she walked over.

"Is this all your husband could afford, Arabella? A polyester nightmare?" she commented and gave Mom a quick hug.

Mom pulled away from the hug, trying to muster up a smile. "Hello to you too, Ava. I would appreciate it if you could save your opinion about my cardigan and steer your attention to your grandchildren."

"Oh, yes. Andrew and Octavia." Ava's eyes flitted between me and my sister before she shared a tight hug with us. "How could I forget?"

"It's not Octavia. My name literally hasn't changed since we met," my sister muttered.

"My dear, I'm trying to test to see if you're alert," Ava replied with a chuckle. "Seems like you've found the right length for your pants too."

"Next time I meet you I'm wearing a nun outfit, okay?" Olivia mocked a smile in which Ava returned with the same kind.

Our grandmother then cupped my face and started pinching my cheeks. "Look at my little Andrew not being so little anymore."

"I'm still a baby," I told her, unable to keep myself from blushing. "Just a big baby."

"Is father home?" Mom wore a thin frown and the woman came off reluctant to meet her gaze.

It was then Dad chimed in uninvited with a stinging remark. "Probably on a beach somewhere with his nubile mistress. That poor man must've come up with thousands of excuses to get away from his wife."

"Ah, Miles. You're still in the family like a loyal Labrador," Ava acknowledged in a sarcastic manner.

"And you're still breathing," Dad fired back, earning a glare from Mom and a snicker from Olivia. I decided to just be quiet now.

A grin found its way into Ava's face as she turned to her daughter. "As much as I love to stand here trading insults with your destitute husband, I need all of you to get changed. Dinner will be ready in 10 minutes."

"Good 'cause I'm starving," I interrupted kindly. "By the way, how are you doing, Ava?"

Ava looked at me as if she was adoring me with her eyes and said, "None of you guys care enough to ask how I'm doing except this precious one. I'm fine, Drew. Your Mom sure raised you right, I know that."

We exchanged smiles before Ava went on with her next demand. "I've provided proper clothing for each one of you in your rooms and please hand those things you call clothes you're wearing to our maids to be burned."

"Mother!" Mom reacted in word to show how shocked she was. "Have you lost your wits?"

"There's not an Oscar on the other side of this performance you're pulling right now, Arabella. I'm just kidding." Ava threw her head back, filling the space with her laughter.