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The next day, while the couple lay asleep in their bed, their peaceful slumber was abruptly interrupted by the simultaneous ringing of their phones. Olivia groaned in protest, her brows furrowing as she tried to fight off the intrusion into her rest. Who would dare call them at this ungodly hour? More puzzling, everyone in their circle knew that Saturdays were sacrosanct, reserved solely for family activities.
With a drowsy sigh, Martin’s hand fumbled for his phone on the nightstand. Groggily, he answered the call, his voice laced with irritation. However, the moment he heard the urgency in the caller’s voice, his drowsiness evaporated, and he sat up abruptly, his heart pounding.
“What’s wrong?” Olivia’s concerned voice filled the room as she tried to make sense of the situation.
“We have to go. Something’s happened at the construction site,” Martin replied urgently, his mind racing as he mentally prepared himself for what might lie ahead.
Olivia, now more awake, reached for the remote on the nightstand and switched on the TV. The screen displayed a chaotic scene, a building partially collapsed, and emergency vehicles surrounding the site.
“Oh my God,” Olivia gasped in shock, her hand moving to her mouth involuntarily.
Martin was already on his feet, rummaging through his clothes to find something suitable to wear. The gravity of the situation had pushed aside any remnants of sleepiness.
“How did this happen?” Olivia’s eyes were wide, filled with a mixture of disbelief and concern.
As the news report unfolded on the TV, the grim reality sank in. The building they had been constructing had collapsed, resulting in casualties.
Two lives were lost, and five others were injured. It was a nightmare unfolding before their eyes.
“I don’t know,” Martin replied, his voice heavy with the weight of responsibility. “We need to get there as soon as possible.”
Without wasting another moment, they hurriedly dressed, their minds racing with worry and a sense of duty.
“Any luck?” Martin’s voice was tinged with concern as he looked at his wife, who had just hung up a call with a visible sense of disappointment etched on her face.
Olivia shook her head, her expression a mix of frustration and worry. “No,” she sighed, her disappointment palpable. “The agency is unable to send a sitter at such short notice. Let me try another one.”
With a determined expression, she quickly dialled another number, hoping that this time they might have some luck in finding someone to care for Alexander on such short notice. The urgency of the situation weighed heavily on their minds, and every passing moment only increased their concern.
Just as the pressure of the situation seemed to mount, Amelia walked into the room, her presence unannounced. She was the embodiment of elegance, her demeanour concealing the calculated intentions beneath.
“Excuse me,” she purred with a hint of sweetness that masked her underlying motives. “Am I interrupting something important?”
Clinton shot her a glance, annoyance flashing in his eyes, as he nodded to acknowledge her presence.
Olivia tried to put on a polite smile while signalling her husband to keep his composure.
Amelia continued, undeterred by their distracted state. “I heard you call the agency for a sitter. I’ll take care of Alexander for you.”
Olivia looked up at her in surprise and Martin shot her a warning glare.
“What are you playing at?”
“Am I such a monster in your eyes?”
Amelia’s lips curved into a reassuring smile. “Of course, don’t worry. You can leave him to me. Enjoy your meeting.”
Uncertainty and unease lingered in the air. They were all too familiar with Amelia’s ulterior motives, but for the sake of their commitments, trust was a necessity, at least for now.
The agency’s inability to send a babysitter at the last minute had forced their hand. Their glances met an unspoken agreement to prioritize their obligations.
Despite reservations, they needed to focus on the task at hand. As they left their son in Amelia’s care and rushed out, a heavy cloud of concern hung over them, casting a shadow on their hearts.
Staying true to her word, Monique made a sincere effort to take care of Xander while his parents were away.
Later, Romazaria walked up to Alexander in the backyard, who was engaged in an imaginative play with dragons and swords, his inflatable dragon companions joining him in his adventure.
”Hi,” Zaria greeted tentatively, approaching her brother.
Pausing in his playful assault on the dragon, Alexander, dressed as a young knight, turned his attention to Zaria.
“Romazaria, need something?”
“Want to play?”
He eyed her warily, wise enough not to fall into her tempting traps. He had suffered losses at her hands one too many times.
“You want to play with me, why?”
“Why not? You are my brother, after all.”
“But you have always said I’m no brother of yours,” he said accusatoryly.
Zaria chuckled sheepishly, brushing his statement away. “I was wrong, okay? Come on, let’s play. You be the dragon slayer, and I will be your sidekick.”
She picked up a plastic sword, looking at him expectantly.
Faced with the apologetic look on her angelic face, Xander caved. “Okay.”
“Yay!” Zaria leapt up with joy.
Her laughter danced through the air. “Come on, let’s have fun.”
And so, the two siblings who had never once played together spent the rest of the day slaying dragons and monsters.
For Alexander, who had always longed for the love and company of his sister, this could be considered the best day of his life.
From the second storey, Amelia watched the two from her bedroom window, her face devoid of any emotions.
|•|
“Do you want to do something fun?” Zaria asked, laying on her back on her inflatable mattress in the pool.
Xander sat on the edge of the pool, his feet in the water. His body glistened with the pool water. “Like what?”
Zaria looked over at her mother who was lounging on the pool bed under the umbrella. “It’s a secret. Come.”
Zaria guided Alexander into a taxi, their destination shrouded in mystery. After a while, they arrived at an amusement park’s entrance.
Alexander’s eyes widened in awe as he took in the vibrant colours and bustling activities around him. The air was filled with the scent of cotton candy and the distant screams of people on roller coasters. Excitement radiated from his every step as he wandered through the park, his imagination running wild with possibilities.
“Wow!” he exclaimed.
Zaria looked at him expectantly.“Do you like my surprise?”
Alexander nodded, drawn to a roller coaster. Months of yearning were fulfilled in that moment. He had been nagging his mother to bring him here for a while now but she was always too busy.
“Thanks, Zaria!” he called over his shoulder.
Grinning, she replied,“Glad you like my surprise. Let’s grab tickets. Which ride do you want to ride first?” Zaria asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes as they walked to the ticket booth.
Xander looked around at the array of thrilling rides, his excitement evident in his wide-eyed gaze.
“I… I don’t know,” he stammered, overwhelmed by the options before him.
Zaria grinned, clearly enjoying his indecision. “You know what, never mind,” she said with a playful wink. “How about we buy tickets for all the rides?”
A grin broke out on Alexander’s face, his eyes lighting up at the idea. “All of them?” he asked, a mix of astonishment and anticipation in his voice.
Zaria nodded confidently. “Of course! There’s nothing that your big sister can’t do.”
Alexander’s heart raced with excitement. The thought of experiencing all the rides was exhilarating, and he couldn’t wait to embark on this adventure.
He eagerly hopped from one side to another, his laughter ringing out as he spun on the teacups and soared through the air on the swings.
His face lit up with wonder as he watched the performers and clowns entertaining the crowd. The sights and sounds of the park enveloped him in a world of joy and adventure.
As he stood in line for the roller coaster, his heart raced with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. Once on the ride, his hands gripped the safety bar tightly as he screamed and laughed, the wind rushing past him. With each twist and turn, his excitement grew, and he emerged from the ride with a triumphant grin.
In the blink of an eye, the day transformed into night.
Later, Zaria placed a plate of Krispy chicken sandwiches before him.
“Wow, my favourite!” he exclaimed. It was exactly what he needed to satisfy his hunger after a day of fun. “How did you know?”
Zaria smirked playfully. “Even if we’re not close, I pay attention.”
His gratitude painted a smile on her face. “You’re the best, sis.”
Her sweetness lingered. “You’re welcome. Dig in,” she encouraged, taking a hearty bite of her burger.
He savoured the meal and chatted animatedly with his sister, sharing stories and laughs as they enjoyed their meal together. As the day came to a close, Alexander’s eyes were filled with a sense of contentment and happiness that he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Not far from them, two women, in their thirties, sat at a table watching them.
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