CHAPTER 5

THE NEXT DAY…

Scarlett was hurt to her bones, but there was nothing anyone could do about those words.

Every single moment, she tried to forget it, but the words kept returning.

Lucas had treated her like she was never a human, and had no emotions.

However, in the meantime, she hoped to bear with it by avoiding Lucas in her days of working for the Maxwells.

Scarlett had always loved children, and the day she met with the twins, something within her had bonded with them like they were hers.

"That's the only reason I'm accepting this job!" She angrily arranged her clothes into her box.

Yet,  she  couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. She had always been independent and had never lived with anyone since the day she was chased out.

In a short while, Scarlett was done packing, she struggled with the two big bags as she went towards the park for a cab.

"You must be strong." Scarlett told herself as they drove to Maxwell's spacious suburban home, Scarlett couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. 

That brought back memories. She remembered her family, how she was pushed out of the house two years back.

Immediately those memories came, the corner of her eye welled up with tears, as she remembered how her dad never gave her an opportunity to explain herself, instead he believed her step sister over her.

"No, Scarlett, you need not cry." She told herself and quickly wiped the tears.

Upon arriving, Scarlett was greeted warmly by Daphne and the twins. 

"Thanks for coming around Scarlett, you don't know how grateful I am to see the kids finally have someone to care for them."

"Yes aunt Scarlett, thank you. I missed you, and we've got a lot of catch ups to do." Claire spoke with gleams in her eye while Callan seemed shy but Scarlett's warm and friendly demeanor quickly put him at ease.

"I'm glad my presence helped Miss Maxwell, and I hope to serve this family well." Scarlett shot a broad smile.

"Ok, that's fine now, let me show you to your room."

Scarlett felt a bit of ease, at least some people still cared about her.

"This is my little surprise Scarlett," Daphne informed after which she pushed the door open.

"Wow! This is great." Scarlett was moved to tears. She never was expecting such an honorable treatment, she was just a nanny after all.

"No Miss Maxwell, you shouldn't have gone as far as this. I'm just a common nanny."

"Shh!" Daphne crossed Scarlett's lips.

"You are more than a nanny Scarlett, so we should treat you as one. The kids like you, and you three bounded at first sight."

"I can see how willing you are to shower them with love, you deserve more Scarlett."

Scarlett couldn't help but say the two words. "Thank you." She hadn't started her job yet Daphne liked her so much to even provide a comfortable room.

"So, Scarlett, I guess I'll be leaving to allow you to have some rest."

"Thanks Miss Maxwell."

"Aunt Scarlett, rest well alright! We've got a whole lot of things to talk about," Claire chipped in with a smile.

Scarlett couldn't help but return the smile, while she squatted. "Of course darling, I'm here for you both ok, you can tell me anything."

Thereafter, her gaze fell on Callan, she caught him hiding behind Daphne's figure. 

At first she had thought Claire should be the shy one, but instead Callan was.

"Don't worry, he'll loosen up with time." Daphne responded like she read Scarlett's mind.

"Alright kids, let's go now. Let her have some rest."

"See you later, aunt Scarlett." Clarine voiced as her voice faded into the background.

At their departure, Scarlett settled into her new bedroom, she couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness and contentment. The room was spacious and well-lit, with a comfortable queen-sized bed and plenty of storage space for all of her things.

The walls had its designs colorfully placed in pink, one of Scarlett's favorite colors, and the floors, carefully tiled.

Everything was simply totally different from where she lived earlier.

Joyfully, Scarlett threw herself to the bed. "This is awesome."

***

In the evening, Scarlett was awoken by a knock at her door. 

Earlier on after taking her bathe she had simply fallen asleep out of exhaustion.

The door opened freely and the duo made their way in.

"Scarlett, it's dinner time. Let's have dinner together."

Upon hearing that, Scarlett cleared her dreamy eyes to be sure she heard right.

"Dinner! At the dinning?!"

"Let's be on our way now before dinner gets cold." 

Instantly, Scarlett reasoned. "Mr Maxwell would definitely be at the table too, right?"

Daphne placed a palm over her shoulder to reduce the tension. "Don't worry, there's a lot of kind heart behind my brother's grumpiness."

Even after the assurance, Scarlett was still filled with distrust. 

"Miss Maxwell, I'll manage having my dinner in the kitchen."

"Aunt Scarlett, please have dinner with us, else I wouldn't touch the food on that table." Claire pleaded.

Left with no option, she followed the duo with tension written over her.

As they sat down to eat, Scarlett couldn't help but feel touched by the warm welcome she received from the children and Daphne. 

Although a part of her was quite nervous, whenever she stole a glance at the cold hearted Lucas.

He seemed to behave as though she never existed.

In a short while, Daphne let go of her thoughts. She, Daphne and Clarie chatted and laughed as they enjoyed a delicious meal of roast chicken and mashed potatoes.

Callan was not left out either. Once in a while he spoke up.

However, as the meal came to a close, Lucas took his last sip from his glass and voiced.

"I have one request for you, Scarlett," he said in a cold, distant tone. 

Scarlett got her fork stuck between her fingers immediately, as she wondered what request a whole prominent man would ask of her.

"Sitting at the dining table makes you a member of the family, therefore I think you should contribute as such."

"From now on, I expect you to be responsible for the dishes. Nobody eats for free, everything we get in life isn't for free either."

Scarlett couldn't believe what she was hearing, same as Daphne.

She had been hired as a nanny, not a housekeeper. But before either of them could even protest, Lucas had already stood up and left the room.

Feeling humiliated and hurt, Scarlett gathered up the dishes and retreated to the kitchen. 

As she washed and dried each one, she couldn't help but feel a sense of anger and resentment towards Lucas.