Author's Note: We hadn't seen our girl in a while. So, here we are. There's still so much with the Jing, Mam, and Ju storyline. However, it's time for Ju to fight back. You don't threaten to harm a mother's baby! But seriously, I don't know what I will do for next week yet. Maybe we might check on Alfred and Allen again. For now, enjoy this week's match.

Match Twenty-Four: Studying, Witches, and Insomnia:

-Ju-

My exams are coming up. I really need to put my focus on everything. That's not going to be easy when you have a cousin and witches stalking your baby. But life must go on. Otherwise, nothing will get done.

I don't think I will do more school after this. Everyone else is okay with this. The rest of my future has been decided for me. As far as I can see, I'm fine with that. I read over my notes. I thought that I might go blind. How much of this do people actually keep this in their heads? Does anyone actually use this? I frowned at the screen.

I looked up when I heard a knock on the office door.

"Enter!" I said. Yao poked his head inside.

"Everything okay in there?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said. "It's all starting to blend together at this point."

"Then why don't you take a break?" he asked. I sighed and buried my head in my hands.

"I just want to get this over with," I said. Yao walked over and took my hands in his.

"I know, I know," he said. "It not good to overwork yourself just the same." I frowned at him.

"When was the last time you've eaten?" Yao asked.

"I'm not hungry," I said.

"You still need to eat," he said. I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"Fine," I said. "What are you going to feed me?" Yao broke into a little smile.

"Care for some dumplings?" he asked. I put up my hands.

"Sure," I said. "Why not?"

"Come with me," he said. I followed my dear husband to our kitchen.

I sat at the table, waiting.

"We're just about finished," Yao said, over his shoulder. I pressed my lips together and nodded. I just wanted to eat and get back to my notes. I hoped this wouldn't take long. Yao turned around with his pot in hand.

"Here you are," he said. "Fresh steamed pork dumplings." He used the chopsticks to put them on my plate.

"Thank you," I said. I broke apart my chopsticks and popped a dumpling into my mouth. Yao watched me as I started chewing.

"Well?" he asked. I nodded as I finished chewing.

"Good," I said. I put another dumpling in my mouth. Yao perked up after I said that.

"I'm so glad you like it," he said.

"You are an amazing cook," I said. I ate another dumpling.

"You need to eat," my dear husband said.

"I'm not starving," I said.

"I don't want you to be," he said. I frowned and rolled my eyes. This man…

I lowered my chopsticks.

"Look, I'm fine," I said. "You don't have to worry about me." Yao looked like a hurt little puppy. I set down my chopsticks.

"You don't have to worry," I said again. "I just need to get through my exams and then we can work through everything else." Yao looked up at me but said nothing.

"It's going to be fine," I said. "I promise." He gave me a little pout before smiling. I shook my head. I patted him on the hand.

"What am I going to do with you?" I asked.

"I don't know," Yao said. I pulled back my hand and picked up my chopsticks. The dumplings he steamed were really good.

I stayed up studying until about ten. Yao wouldn't let me go any further.

"You need to sleep," he said. He tried to pull me out of the office. I didn't try to fight him this time.

"Fine," I said. "Is Jing down for the night?"

"Of course," Yao said. I kissed him on the nose.

"Okay," I said. I slipped out of his grasp and walked across the hall to our bedroom. My husband followed behind me. We got dressed for bed. I brushed my teeth and climbed into bed.

"How long until your exams?" he asked.

"One more week," I said. He kissed me on the forehead.

"Good night," my husband said.

"Good night," I said back. I reached over and turned off the light. It didn't take us long to fall asleep.

For some reason, I woke up around three in the morning. I couldn't explain it at the time. I looked over at Yao in the dark.

"Yao. Yao. Yao," I whispered as I tried to shake him awake. He mumbled something to himself before turning over. I frowned at him. I moved my hand forward to try and wake him up again. But then I froze.

I have to go check on my son.

I jumped out of bed and raced down the hall. My house was quiet—too quiet. I tried not to think the worst. I took in a breath. Right. I walked up to my son's door. I froze in my tracks.

A woman in black stood over his crib. At first, I felt fear in my chest. But then it boiled over into anger. I gritted my teeth.

"What are you doing in my home?!" I growled. The woman paused.

"Oh, you're awake," she said.

"How did you get in here?" I asked. "Get out of my house." She didn't turn around. Instead, she started chuckling to herself.

"Quiet," she said. "We don't want to wake up your husband, now do we?" I found down the urge to scream. I wanted to turn around and call the police. But what if she took my baby and ran off. I wished that I had a weapon with me.

"Oh come now, Ju," she said. "I'm not here to fight. I just want to talk."

"I don't want to talk to you," I hissed. "Get out of my house." She finally turned around. Of course, it would be Allison Mayfair.

"How did you even get in here?" I asked. Allison chuckled.

"Did you think some basic charms were going to keep me out, love?" she asked. She winked at me. I desperately wanted to stab her.

"You're not going to call the police," she said. I raised an eyebrow.

"And why is that?" I asked. She disappeared for a second only to appear right in front of me. I nearly stumbled backward.

"Because," Allison said. "You are going to want to hear what I have to say." I wasn't going to humor her.

"You need to leave," I said.

"Aw," she said. "Why are you being so cold? I am just here to talk."

"Well, I don't want to talk," I said. "Get out of my house!" By now, I was right by the door. I was ready to turn and run back to my room to call the police. I pressed my lips together to keep from screaming. The nerve of this bitch! I refuse to have her and her daughters stalking my family anymore!

Allison put up her hands.

"Fine," she said. "We will talk later, though." She started to walk past me. But then, Allison paused. She only said one more thing to me. I whipped my head around. She was already gone. I sank to my knees, trembling. I could feel my heart pounding against my chest. I got up and ran over to my son. I breathed when I found Jing sound asleep in his crib. I reached up and picked him up. I sat down in the chair next to his crib.

I wasn't going to let him go.

"Ju? Ju?" I heard. "Where did you go?" I lifted my head.

"I'm in here," I said, my voice coming out in a croak. I didn't move as I heard footsteps walking towards the door. Yao poked his head into the room.

"What are you doing in here?" he asked. Yao noticed the look on my face.

"Sweetheart?" he asked.

"How did she get in here?" I asked through gritted teeth. My husband froze. I was so mad. I probably looked like I wanted to kill someone.

"What happened?" he asked.

"That bitch broke into our house," I said. Yao didn't need to ask any more questions. I held Jing tighter to my chest. It took my all not to scream.

"This should not have happened," I said. He didn't say anything. Instead, he bowed his head.

"I understand," he said. I just glared at him. Yao didn't speak at that moment. The whole time, Jing slept peacefully. He's so lucky that he doesn't have to deal with this garbage surrounding him. He shouldn't have to. I won't let that happen.

I rose to my feet.

"Ju?" Yao asked. I walked over to the door. I looked over my shoulder.

"We're calling a clan meeting," I said. "Now." I walked out of my son's room before Yao could say another word.

I was so done with this shit.