The morning was quiet but it wasn't the usual quietness, no, after what happened a few nights ago it was safe to say that the tension in the Sterling mansion was at its maximum.

Marian although was quite pleased with how things were going, she'd gotten her eldest son back in line and reminded her two other children of their places. She knew they wouldn't forget who the master was and who the subordinates were. They were inferior while she was the superior.

Looking back on the incident Marian knew she took the correct action, looking a little further she'd scolded herself for letting them go without a lesson so long.

A mistake I will not make again.

Marian placed her half empty glass of orange juice on the table, she then took a napkin and dabbed her mouth and setting it on the table after she folded it back neatly. Her blue eyes scanned the table as she watched her three children eat breakfast, her eyes lingered on Simeon. He was still showing signs of rebelliousness, and it was that moment that she had to act quickly.

"Simeon" she called.

The young man stiffened when he heard her dreadful voice, he was aware that the woman across the table did not allow any idle chat at the table, so he could only wonder what she wanted.

"Yes mother?"

"There will be another meeting with the West family after you return home" she announced.

Both Simeon and Vivienne's eyes darted toward her.

"Excuse me? Mother have you forgotten-"

"I'm well aware of what had happened the last time Simeon, they will be here to apologize, I know Vivienne did not get along well with the Peter's son but how were you and his daughter?"

"I do not like her or her brother and I also do not want them here, especially around Vivienne and Levi" Simeon replied bitterly.

"Well, you will have to tolerate them because they will be here whether any of you like it or not."

Simeon gritted his teeth in annoyance, "does that not bother you?" he growled.

"What?"

"You are allowing one of your children to be in the same room as the savage that almost raped her, why would you want to force her to be in his presence when he clearly doesn't deserve to breathe air?!"

Levi had stopped cutting into his celery as he watched his brother's eyes become ablaze with fury. He understood where Simeon was coming from; they were always honest with each other, it was one of the things that made them close, so he knew that Simeon's anger was justifiable.

"No need to be so melodramatic darling, your sister will be fine, won't you Vivienne?"

"I don't know mother...will I? Being in the same room as my potential rapist might drench up bad memories for me" Vivienne sneered.

Eyes around the table grew wide as well as Vivienne's own, she had no idea where the courage to voice her thoughts came from but it sure did give her a thrill and soon a spark of confidence rose in the girl. She was sick of pretending to be some perfect daughter for someone who clearly did not deserve children. She'd had enough of being told what to do, how to do it and when to.

"I beg your pardon?" Marian thought she was going to explode; the child had talked back to her. She had actually showed defiance.

What was happening to them? Had I not taught them the proper way to show respect?

"Down to the basement" Marian demanded.

"I refuse" Vivienne replied confidently. Two nights ago she had vowed that time would be her last time down in that hell hole. She had seen her older brother shed tears for the first time in years and the sight made her stomach turn, she knew exactly what her mother had done to him and she did not like it one bit.

"I don't think you have much of a choice in the matter, or would you rather Levi go in you place?" Marian quirked a perfectly arched brow at her daughter while wearing a smug smirk.

"That will not work mother" Vivienne glared at Marian "I will not let you put your hands on Levi or myself ever again. You've done enough damage to this family already."

The smile was wiped off of Marian's face as she looked into her daughter's eyes and saw sadness and anger.

"And exactly what damage have I done you ungrateful girl? I've made this family perfect! Given you the best designer clothes, sent you to the best private schools taught you to be proper and taken care of you, now you have the audacity to say I've ruined you?" Marian seethed. She couldn't recall a time she was this angry at anyone.

"Where is our father?" Levi suddenly asked. The question made Vivienne pale and Marian momentarily forget her anger.

"Probably off with his mistress" Marian spat.

"We all know that is untrue...what have you done?" Simeon accused.

Marian stood abruptly, scrapping the chair legs on the floor, "your father is where he needs to be, you will not question me on this matter ever again am I understood?"

"Why? What are you hiding?" Levi snapped finally "why are you like this? You're a monster."

Marian's feet moved as she rushed over to the boy, Vivienne and Simeon also moved quickly pulling Levi from his seat and away from the raging beast.

"You will not speak to me in such a way-"

"Or what? You'll take us to your torture chambers? There's three of us and one of you, I think it's safe to say that we could lock you in a room and call the police and show them your little fun room" Simeon growled, he was very serious, the idea seemed most appealing to him at the moment.

Marian was losing control and quickly, she knew this while looking into her children's eyes.

How could this have happened? No. I refuse to believe this insanity!

"Not under my roof you won't" Marian snapped.

"This isn't your house, it's ours, you don't own anything, father left nothing for you in his will" Simeon shot.

His words were like a slap in Marian's face.

"H-How did you..." no one was supposed to know but me.

"I should probably thank you for forcing me to take business classes. If it's one thing that you've taught me mother was that I needed to keep my enemies closer than I kept my friends."

Marian stared at her oldest son with wide eyes, she didn't know whether to be impressed or enraged, the woman was truly in shock.

The sudden chime of the doorbell caught the Sterlings' attention. Levi ran out of the room to quickly get the door while his brother and sister were still in a staring contest with mother dearest.

"You will regret defying me" Marian whispered.

"The only thing I regret is not doing it earlier" Simeon shot back.

"No one will ever believe a word you say" Marian threatened desperately, her pupils zeroed in on the smirk that appeared on her daughter's face.

"You've taught us to be good actors mother...we're the perfect little liars wouldn't you say?"

Levi came back with a few guest, two of them dress in dark blue with holsters around their waist wielding deadly weapons. The others were two very familiar faces.

Captain David Butch and agent Reese Lockwood.

"Marian Sterling?" the officer called.

"What is this?" Marian demanded.

The officer stepped forward, silver bracelets in hand as he approached the angered woman. "You are under arrest."