Chapter 3
Corbin cast a look at Clarinda and asked, “Is it OK with you?”
“Yes,”
After he left, Clarinda pulled out the second agreement, the
divorce agreement.
She was indeed thoughtful.
She even prepared the divorce agreement and presented it to
him herself.
The next day.
Clarinda’s body clock woke her up. Drawing back the curtains,
she was met with a world blanketed in white..
The weather forecast didn’t predict that.
But the first snow of winter came down thick and fast.
Even behind the class, Clarinda felt chilled to the bone.
She threw on a knit dress. While washing up, she heard a series
of clinks and clangs from the hallway.
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It was quite a racket.
And it grew louder.
She almost thought the renovation crew was at work.
“Sarah, what’s going on?”
Clarinda tied her hair back and opened the door. Then she was
stupefied.
Nothing had been renovated. The place was being ransacked.
The house had always been clean and organized.
But now, it was a complete mess.
The pillow that should have been on the couch downstairs now
sat in front of her bedroom, covered in some dark brown
smudges.
The vase lay in shards across the floor.
The million–dollar painting hanging in the hallway was also
reduced to ruin.
Overall, it was shocking to see the full scale of the chaos.
Sarah chased behind Leonel and cried beseechingly, “Stop
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playing that. That’s Mrs. Alden’s favorite cup…”
Clang!
Before she could finish, the cup was shattered into pieces.
Leonel stuck out his tongue like a little imp and snapped, “I want
to play! Uncle Corbin said this will be my home from now on. You’re just a housekeeper. Who are you to tell me what to do?”
With that, he craned his neck, only to meet Clarinda’s cold eyes.
He shrank back in fear.
This wicked woman!
She gave him a nightmare last night.
Santa and his monster reindeer chased him all night.
He must drive this woman away!
His mother told him that if this woman were gone, Uncle
Corbin would be his and hers alone!
Clarinda remained calm. “Go on. Keep playing.”
“Really?”
Leonel couldn’t believe it.
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How come she wasn’t mad after he broke so many things?
Standing by the railing, Clarinda glanced down at Adrienne,
who seemed clueless. She smiled and nodded. “Yes, but don’t
touch the painting in the living room. It’s my favorite.””
She wasn’t sure if Adrienne had egged him on, or if Leonel had
come up with this idea by himself.
But it didn’t matter now.
She wasn’t a doormat anyway.
Someone had taught her that if anyone bullied her, she must
make him pay ten times more.
Leonel’s eyes shifted. “OK, cool!”
Then he scampered away.
Sarah said helplessly, “Mrs. Alden, you and Mr. Alden are far too
indulgent with Leonel.”
“It’s alright.”
Clarinda pressed, “Don’t stop him. He’s the only grandson in the
Alden family. As long as he’s happy, nothing else matters.
“After all, didn’t Adrienne rein him in? We have to respect her
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way of raising him. If something happens, neither of us could
bear the consequence.”
“Understood.”
Sarah reluctantly agreed. “You’re too kind–hearted, which
makes people want to push you around.”
Clarinda chuckled but said nothing. She only asked, “Do you
have extra gift boxes?”
“What kind do you need?”
“Any will do, as long as it can fit something the size of an A4
sheet.”
“There are some in the storage room.”
Sarah remembered it instantly. “I’ll fetch it for you right away.”
Once Clarinda got the box, she locked herself in her room again.
She put the signed divorce agreement into the box and found a
ribbon to tie a bow on it.
Suddenly, a loud bang came from downstairs.
Clarinda ignored it. She tightened the bow and nodded in
satisfaction.
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It was beautiful.
“Well done, Clarinda!” she muttered to herself.
Soon, Sarah knocked on the door and exclaimed, “Mrs. Alden,
hurry downstairs! That little rascal has ruined Myron’s final
work!”
Clarinda sprang to her feet, her face grim. “What? You mean the
one in the living room?”
“Yes!”
Sarah nodded.
Clarinda rushed down the stairs and accidentally sprained her
ankle.
When Leonel caught sight of her, he raised his chin with pride,
daring her to lose her temper.
Clarinda glanced at Sarah. “Did you call the Aldens?”
“Not yet.”
“Call them now.””
As soon as Clarinda finished speaking, Leonel charged at her
like a cannonball. “Don’t call them. You bad woman! You can’t
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tattle on me!”
Clarinda didn’t dodge in time and underestimated a child’s
strength. She staggered and fell to the ground.
She landed on her tailbone.
It hurt like hell.
“Clara, are you alright?”
Adrienne quickly helped her up and explained, “I’ve spoiled
Leon. He’s unruly and reckless, but that’s how kids are. Don’t be
mad at him.”
Clarinda didn’t say anything.
With one hand on her hip, Clarinda stared at the huge hole in
the painting on the wall and sneered, “So you spoiled him but
didn’t teach him to trash other people’s stuff, did you?”
Tears welled up in Adrienne’s eyes. “I merely let him out of my
sight for a moment. Why did you have to blame it all on me?”
“Oh, you weren’t watching him.”
Clarinda nodded, surveying the mess in the house. “All this in
just one morning. So, tell me. When do you plan to keep an eye
on him?”
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“Clarinda!”
With no one else around, Adrienne dropped her sweet–lady
pretense. “Must you be this pushy? Do you think Stacey and the
others will make a fuss over a stupid painting?”
“For the record, that’s not a stupid painting. That’s Myron’s final
work!”
Lateefa Khanam is a spirited writer who finds freedom in horse riding. She cherishes her mare and the newborn foal, calling them her little happy family.
