Chapter 3

As usual I woke up early in the morning and headed to get shower before proceeding with my daily chores.

I picked royal blue sweater to help me keep warm in this cold weather and was almost done with my prep for leaving for work when a loud smashing noise vibrated through the walls of house and my eyes widened in dread.

Throwing my hairbrush on the bed, I strode towards the lounge calling for Aunt Molly but found her running after Jeremy. My eyes scanning the whole lounge, just yesterday this place was well organized and appealing to eyes, clean and quiet, after my room the place I like to spend my time.

However, that area now gave an impression that a disaster had passed through this specific place and had broken everything that came in the way. I knew who the disaster was here, my eyes darted to Jeremy who was moving like a spoiled brat and throwing tantrum on my collection of art pieces.

Aunt Molly looked helpless in stopping him.She should be, because his own mother was seated on the couch, relaxed, going through magazines as if nothing were happening around or she weren't bothered with what was happening. Both fit on her, I thought. I couldn't find an annoyed line on her face despite the noise her son was making after crashing all decorations in the lounge.

"Ma'am, he is not listening," when her eyes catch me standing on stairs, she looks apologetic and embarrassed for failing in saving my collections from this little monster. A side smile popped on my face when I glanced again at his mother narrowly.

"You don't have to stop him," Jeremy stopped moving and turned to look at me, his eyes held fear and hatred for me.

"This is my house; Uncle Joshua told me yesterday I can do as I wish." He was challenging me, I was impressed by this little boy and laughed, though it wasn't meant to show happiness. Rather, it was cold and mocking.

I walked towards him and kneeled to look into his eyes; he shrank at seeing me close to him. He feared me, I liked the slight movement of his pupil and urge to push me away, but he was restraining due to fear and nothing else was stopping me.

"He was right. You can do as you wish" I could see the fear in his vanishing and shock taking over, he wasn't expecting me to be so polite after the cruelty he has shown on my favorite pieces of decoration.

"But there is one thing you cannot touch, and that is the painting hanging on that wall" I pointed my finger at the wall behind him, he turned his head to look at the painting I was mentioning.

"This is the most expensive painting I had picked." He turned back to look at me, his eyes mischievous, I knew what was going on in this little head, I narrowed once again at Rosie, but she behaved like she wasn't existing here. I shrugged quietly and watched her son running away, shattering the remaining items.

"You are being too polite with him" Aunt Molly seemed a bit disturbed with the mess and my permission for him had just increased her concern.

"That's okay, don't bother yourself after him. He is smart kid anyways" she sighed and nodded her head, saddened at the sight of lounge being ruined the one is cherished and appreciated by me.

"Aunty, do we have any card boxes at home?" she was returning to kitchen when I called her, she took her time to remember and her face lit up.

"Yes, few weeks ago we received a parcel, so I kept the box safe, it was in good condition. Do you want me to bring it to you?" I nodded, giving her my consent, and retreated to my room. She didn't take much time to come into my room holding the box in her hand.

"Will this work?" seeing me checking it from corners and its size, she asked worried. My lips stretched in satisfaction.

"It's perfect" she smiled back and left room.

I placed the divorce papers carefully in the box and closed it, picking out the ribbon from my side table drawer I tied the box with it, a bow made it look pleasant. I sighed in content.

I placed the box on the small table in my room when a loud crashing of glass made me flinch. I ran out in worry when I saw Aunty coming upstairs.

"The painting you asked young Master to not crash" she was panting, trembling in fear, unable to complete her words. I glanced at her and rushed down to be welcomed by another disaster, but I wasn't sure if this disaster would be recoverable.

"I did that," Jeremy slammed his hand on his chest proudly, my cold eyes drifted to him and then his mother.

"You ruined this one?" I pointed my finger at the painting that was still hanging on the wall, but its glass was broken and water was thrown, destroying its look, scratches had broken the paint. I could see the damage and concluded it was irrecoverable; my mouth opened in pain and shock.

"Yes!" His eyes sparkling in joy and mine filled with sorrow.

"Aunt Molly" I called out to her.

"Please mention to the Hughes House about the damage to painting" she was quick to dial them, Jeremy's eyes widened in horror, and he rushed towards me to slap me on my arm.

"You bad woman, don't scare me again" he was continuously slapping me on arm when I stopped him by pushing his hand away, he was staring at me with his mouth open and started to cry loudly.

"You are bad, I will complain Uncle Joshua" he pushed me, since I was standing close to last stairs, stepping back to keep balance, I hit my ankle on white marble and fall on stairs in pain.

"Careful Scarlet" only when I had fallen did Rosie wake up, calling for me to be careful when she should have scolded her son for not pushing me.

"Kids don't look at their surroundings and use their full strength while playing. You should have been careful" she offered me her hand to help, her kid hiding behind her legs tugging is tongue out to me. I rolled my eyes at this mother-and-son duo and stood up taking support of railing on the stairs.

"Finally, you are awake, care to look at your surroundings" I said sarcastically. She pushed back a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I told you kids don't care what they are doing while playing, you don't have to make it a big deal. It's not like you can't buy them back" my brow lifted at her audacity.

"Then you should have taken care of what your kid was doing," I scoffed at her stupid explanation.

"It's not like these all were some kind of unique items, and the painting you are making fuss about, its just an ordinary one, you can buy another anytime, you don't have to go that far to call at Hughes House to complain" she was standing shamelessly in front of me and not accepting her mistake for failing to teach her son well.

"That painting isn't ordinary; it was the last piece painted by Grandpa before he died and Grandma is very cautious about this painting." I was telling her when Aunty came back.

"Ma'am, I had informed at Hughes House, and they are sending someone to see the damage and the one who caused it" Rosie sneered.

"Grandma will never punish for just a mere painting" she still had to act like a stubborn and spoiled woman; I shrugged my shoulders.

"Let's see then" I sat down on the couch when I heard the horn of car.