CHAPTER SIX
1579 Words
A MISTAKE
~LEXA WYETT~
Accustomed to Ace's incessant tantrums, I patiently handled his demand for chocolate ice cream over strawberry.
"Why not try the strawberry first? You may enjoy it," I suggested.
Descending to his height, I scooped ice cream to feed him, only for it to be swatted away angrily, splattering across the floor.
"Look what you've done!" I uttered, struggling to control my rising frustration. "This is getting overwhelming."
"It's not my fault," Ace retorted, pouting as he returned to coloring. "I don't like strawberry."
Sighing, I placed the ice cream on the table and retrieved a rag to clean the mess. As I did so, Samantha's phone call from the previous night returned to mind. She had inquired about my well-being in my new surroundings, expressing her longing for me. I reciprocated her sentiment.
Upon returning to the room, I noticed Ace furtively scooping the discarded ice cream into his mouth.
"I thought you disliked strawberry ice cream," I remarked with a raised eyebrow.
He hesitated, his cerulean eyes fixed on me with a pout of shame as he gulped down the strawberry ice cream he had recently consumed.
"I did not say those words," he exclaimed.
"Yes you did," I countered.
"I just told you my desire for chocolate, not strawberry," he retorted heatedly.
A chuckle escaped my lips at his adorable expression, a peculiar blend of charm and defiance. Without time to dwell on it, I approached the floor where the spilled ice cream lay and swiftly wiped it clean.
"With that task complete, let us prepare you for your homeroom teacher," I said.
As we sat in the living room awaiting Ace's homeroom teacher, he relentlessly pleaded with me for more ice cream.
"Ace, excessive indulgence may result in stomach upset," I warned.
"Allow the child to indulge as he wishes. Who are you to forbid it?" Mrs. Nadine's voice echoed behind me as she entered the room.
Upon meeting Mrs. Nadine for the first time, I tried to avoid her throughout the day. However, when Ace returned from school, I was relieved to have his presence, as it provided a distraction from my attempts to avoid her.
Despite Ace's desire for privacy, I persisted in hovering around him to avoid encountering Mrs. Nadine. When she approached, intending to offer him ice cream, I swiftly intercepted.
"He can't, Mrs. Nadine. He's already had enough. Sir Alexander will scold me if he gets a stomachache," I explained, hoping my reasoning would suffice.
"You know, Lexa, right?" she inquired.
I nodded affirmatively. "Yes."
"You're quite annoying, just like that face of yours. Don't you agree, Ace darling?" she teased.
Ace concurred with a burst of laughter. "Your homeroom teacher will be here soon, so no."
Mrs. Nadine grimaced in my direction before departing with hushed curses. I rolled my eyes at her and turned to Ace, only to be met with his protruding tongue.
My phone rang, diverting my attention. I noticed the caller ID and a sour expression washed over my face. Why was he contacting me? What could he possibly want?
"Ace, stay put. I'll be right back," I instructed before retreating towards the backyard door.
As my phone continued to ring incessantly, I paced back and forth. Finally, I answered. "Yes, what do you want?"
“How rude of you, Is that how you say hello to your father”
I kept quiet hoping he could get to the point, my father was the last person on earth I had wished to talk to, he was a nightmare I tried to escape.
Remembering that countless nights he came home drunk, just to pour his anger out on me and my mom, I hate him so much.
Dealing with his violent behavior toward my mom when she did give him the money he asked for, I had to leave home at an early age just to make a living.
Worked countless part-time jobs to make ends meet so that I can be able to take my mom away from him. I often pray he gets drunk and passes out, how treacherous of me.
“I need some cash, your stupid mother said she had none,” he said.
“I hope you didn't touch her, I have told you countless times to call me when you need something and left my mother out of it,” I said annoyingly.
He had touched her, this man was a liar and fraud, I still don't know why my mom is so hell-bent on staying back.
“Don't tell me what to do, you good-for-nothing brat” He yelled raining curses.
“How much do you need” I asked.
“$70” he answered
“And where am I supposed to get that, you know what never mind, I will send 7$, it's not like you are going to use it for anything better” I trailed in pissed that I was funding this man's drunken life.
The nerve of him to still raise his hand to hit my mom, made my stomach churn the more.
“Just send it and be fast about it b***h” he said ending the call.
I stood still, running my hand through my hair, I took in a deep breath, before walking back inside. Stepping into the house, I could hear Ace's voice, it looked like he was crying.
“s**t, Ace”
I stood in the living room, my eyes fixed on Ace whose knee was bruised, a maid had the First box already, and I walked closer with my hand placed on my mouth.
Mrs Nadine saw me and walked up to me, before I could speak she slapped me across the face. Stunned at her action, I paused, staring at her.
She raised her hand once more and delivered another slap across my face. Feeling the sting of the slap, I felt my eyes tear but I held it in.
“Where were you? How could you leave him alone”
Staring down at the floor, I looked at Ace who was crying nonstop. The maid tried to pat him but he refused, how had he sustained that injury?
I left him for a second and he was already causing problems for me, I was so going to lose my job when Alexander came back, he had warned me to never leave
His son alone.
“Are you deaf, why aren't you saying anything, are you looking down at me, good for nothing girl” Mrs Nadine's voice kept growing as she poured more insults out of her mouth.
“You should be taught a lesson, I should have you fired when Alex gets back”
I stared at her, glaring hard at her threat, I can't get fired I still need this job to be able to send my father money, as long as he has money he won't touch my mother.
“It was my fault, I should have been there with him, Am sorry” I apologized hoping she would at least calm down.
“Now you know the gravity of your crime, now you can speak”
“Am sorry” I said again hoping she could just shut up.
“Does he look like he needs your apologies, he is in pain” Mrs Nadine chimed in.
“What’s going on here”
The whole house fell into silence, Mrs. Nadine who had been rumbling nonstop, turned to face Alex, she walked towards him smiling like a crazy person.
“Nephew, You are back home early,” she said nervously.
Alexander said nothing, his eyes fixed on Ace's bruised leg, his eyes grew cold, and Mrs. Nadine laughed nervously, I could tell she felt tensed and so did I.
Those eyes could burn holes into my soul if they were being directed towards me, I am getting fired that's for sure.
“Dad” Ace cried out.
“Wipe your tears” Alexander's voice was sharp and firm.
Ace without wasting time, wiped his tears, now staring at his dad as he sat there.
“I have already given her a good scolding m, so don't worry about her” Aunt Nadine's voice trailed in once more.
Alexander ignored her and walked towards me this time, his cold demeanor filled the room as I stepped back a little, failing to meet those eyes.
“Where were you Miss Wyett” He asked
I said nothing, clenching the hem of my beige scrub shirt as I tried to speak but the words filled me, I stared at the floor.
“Alex, I already handled the situation, you must be tired, how about you don't waste your time on her, go in and rest” Mrs Nadine tried to calm Alex but I could tell he wasn't even paying attention.
“Am I not speaking to you Miss Wyett, how did he sustain that injury, where were you” He questioned again
“I-I-I... Don't know how he sustained that injury” I spoke.
“What are you saying” his voice became very cold as he questioned, I don't know a lot of things about Alex but he was different from the man who cared to my burnt lips last night.
“I-I…., Didn't mean to, I had to-to take..”
“Speak up Lexa” Alexander roared, making me flinch as I stared at him, my eyes widened in shock.
- Writer
