***Flashback ****
After a long night of work at the lab, Nikita finally returned home, her eyelids heavy with exhaustion and mind filled with unsolved equations. Her back was killing her after being bent over a lab table running tests all night, she wanted nothing more than to fall into bed. As she opened the door, the sound of Evie's tear-filled sobs greeted her. Her heart clenched at the sight of her oldest daughter crying, her tiny frame shaking with each sob. The girl ran to her and Nikita enveloped her in her arms.
"I'm hungwwyyy," Evie whimpered. "Daddy...said to wait."
Nikita's heart panged, realising that Joel was in one of his moods. She hadn't expected the girls to wake up so early and they must have asked for breakfast which put Joel in a bad mood.
In the corner, Mia lay
