Chapter 64 A Slap
Later that evening, Xander called Cathy to check on the kids.
"How are the kids doing?" he asked as soon as Cathy answered the call.
Cathy moved to a corner and looked around.
"The kids are quiet a nuisance, Mr. Blake." she replied, clenching her jaw.
Xander frowned.
"Did they cause any trouble? Are they trying to leave the mansion again?"
"No, Sir."
"Then what happened?"
"Um.. I made them some healthy food, but they refused to eat. They became angry as I didn't let them eat junk foods... And Autumn broke a vase. When I scolded her, she began to cry. Adrian even got into a fight with me." she said in a tired tone.
Xander sighed with relief as he heard this. He was afraid the children would demand to see their mother again.
"Oh... They don't know you, so they will not obey you. Let Mary handle them. You don't have to do anything. Just make sure she and the children have everything they need." he instructed.
"Okay, Sir... don't worry. I'll follow Mary's instructions. They will not have any problems here." she said with a fake smile.
"I appreciate your efforts, Cathy. I'll see them tomorrow." Xander said before hanging up the call.
"My foot. That will never happen. I'm the head maid of this mansion, and everything will be done according to my orders." Cathy murmured, clenching her jaw.
..........
The next day, the kids were playing in the garden. Mary and Gigi were with them.
It was Sunday, and Ariadne promised to take them out for some fun. The driver would drop the kids off at the old mansion because Ariadne wouldn't be coming here. After meeting with William, they would go to the hospital. Tiara would also return from Purple City.
Xander decided to let the kids spend time with their mother while he met with a foreign client. He was going to meet them for dinner.
"Kids, look who has come to see you two." Cathy's voice drew their attention, and they all turned around.
Mary's expression darkened when she saw the guests.
"Hello.. do you remember me? I'm your aunt, Crystal." Crystal said with a smile as she approached the kids.
Emma, on the other hand, glared at them with venom. The kids had met them a few times but were not very familiar with them. Autumn smiled at Crystal, while Adrian frowned as he recognized her.
"What are you doing here?" Mary asked.
"Oh common. Can't I come to see my niece and nephew? And yes... I'll soon be their step-mother as well."
The kids looked at each other.
"The heirs of Blake family... Huh?" Emma said in a mocking tone. "Lucky bastards... how's your crippled brother?"
"Emma, watch your language." Mary warned.
"Why? What will you do to me?" Emma said through gritted teeth.
Mary realized they were here for trouble.
"We don't want a scene here." she stated calmly.
"Why? Are you afraid you will be bullied and no one will support you?" Crystal said this time.
Emma and Cathy chuckled at this.
Mary ignored them and looked at the kids. "Kids, we will go out after a while to meet your mommy. Let's go and get ready."
She didn't want them to stay near Crystal and Emma. However, Crystal refused to back down without carrying out her plans.
"Oh, why the rush? We're your guests. At the very least, entertain us for a while before you go out. Isn't it kids?" Crystal asked, interrupting Mary.
Adrian appeared uninterested, whereas Autumn appeared curious. Crystal smirked as she got her prey.
"Hello, Autumn. I've got something interesting to show you. Do you want to see?"
"What's it?" she asked innocently.
"Let's go inside the mansion."
"Autumn, don't." Mary said.
Autumn hesitated as she looked at the two women.
"We're not going anywhere. What are you afraid of, Mary? You can also join us." Crystal said and grabbed Autumn's hand, dragging her inside the mansion.
Everyone followed behind them. Crystal approached the couch in the living room and sat down. Autumn stood in front of her with anticipation. Mary approached and stood near them, with Adrian by her side while Emma walked in like a boss and sat beside Crystal.
"Bring that vase for me." Crystal said as she leaned into the couch, pointing at a vase in the distance.
Everyone was confused as to what Crystal was doing. Before Mary could say anything, Autumn ran and brought the vase. Crystal smirked.
"Good girl. Now, break it." she said, shocking everyone.
"Why?" Autumn asked, looking at the beautiful vase.
Crystal snatched the vase from her hand and threw it to the floor. Autumn jumped back, startled.
"What are you doing?" Mary stepped forward, concerned.
However, Cathy stepped in front of her, preventing her from approaching Autumn.
"Don't overreact. Nobody will harm them." she said.
Crystal began to laugh.
"Did you get scared? "I'm sorry," she said softly, causing Autumn to relax slightly.
"Stop your nonsense. Autumn come here." Mary said.
Autumn hesitated.
"Oh, don't be afraid. Look at this pic." Crystal said, unlocking her phone and holding it up for Autumn to see.
Autumn looked at it, curious. Crystal extended the phone to her. Autumn hesitated for a moment before reaching out for it. However, Crystal dropped the phone before Autumn could grab it. The screen shattered and everyone gasped.
"How dare you break my phone?" Crystal yelled and got up.
Autumn was terrified. Before she could think of anything, Crystal slapped her.
"Autumn." Mary dashed in, pushing Cathy and took Autumn in her arms.
Autumn began to cry.
"How dare you slap her?" Mary yelled.
She hadn't anticipated Crystal slapping Autumn. But again, they could do anything. She regretted letting them go this far.
"A spoiled brat like her deserves to be slapped." Crystal said, clenching her jaw. "Do you think you're daddy's little princess?" she yelled at Autumn, making her hide her face in fear.
"Haha... everything here is done according to my will."
The sound of a vase shattering on the floor drew everyone's attention. Crystal fell silent and jumped in her place as the vase landed almost between her legs. No one noticed when Adrian grabbed a vase and threw it on the floor. Emma got up as well.
"Get out. We don't want you here." he yelled with rage, pointing his finger at Crystal.
"You, little brat." Cathy moved to slap him.
"Stop right there." Mary shouted. "Don't you dare." she stepped forward quickly and stood in front of Adrian.
"What a violent child. He almost threw the vase at Crystal." Emma gasped.
Crystal was furious and was glaring at Adrian.
"Enough of your drama. Adrian, come with me." Mary led the children to their rooms.
"Yeah.. Run and hide somewhere. You have no place here. Everyone obeys me, not your pathetic Ariadne." Crystal shouted behind them.
"Aah." she cried out in pain as she stepped on a broken piece of the vase.
Cathy dashed in to attend to her wound.
...
After a while, everyone sat on the couch and drank coffee. Mary remained in the room with the kids and informed Ariadne of what had happened. The living room was in a mess while the three women engrossed in conversation. They have dismissed the other maids. A maid dashed in.
"Mr. Blake is here." she informed.
"What?"
Their face paled.
"What is he doing here?" Crystal asked.
Xander was supposed to arrive in the evening that's why she decided to come here in the morning.
"The guard informed him of your arrival." the maid said.
Crystal fell silent. However, she smirked after some thought.
"I think it's good. Let him see with his own eyes what a mess his kids have made."
After a while, Xander arrived in the living room with Jose. He came to a stop.
"What had happened here? Where are the kids?" he looked concerned as he looked around the place.
Cathy signaled a maid who went inside.
"I'm sorry, Xander. It's all my fault." Crystal stated with a sad face.
"What happened?" Xander frowned, his expression serious.
"She came to get along with them, Sir. But the kids treated them disrespectfully. Autumn even damaged her phone. When Miss Crystal scolded her, they went crazy and began to destroy everything. Look what they have done." Cathy replied, explaining the situation.
"They're completely spoiled. Adrian almost threw the vase at Crystal." Emma said from behind.
Xander looked at the shattered vase and Crystal's injured feet.
Mary arrived with the kids and stood to the side. Xander approched them and crouched down in front of Adrian.
"Did you break this vase?" he asked him, pointing to the broken vase near Crystal.
"Yes." Adrian replied, looking at his eyes.
Xander frowned when he saw his rebellious expression. "Why?"
"Because I want her to get out of here." Adrian said, angrily.
"Adrian. What's this behavior?"
Adrian averted his gaze.
"My god! Look at how he disrespects his own father. It's no surprise that they never behave well with others." Emma blurted out.
Adrian glared at her. Xander looked at him silently, without saying anything.
"Adrian, don't talk with your father like this." Cathy said with a soft tone, causing him to roll his eyes.
Xander sighed and looked at Autumn. He frowned when he noticed her fluffy red eyes.
"Were you crying?" he asked.
Autumn pouted. Unlike Adrian, she was terrified that Xander would scold her.
"Crystal slapped her." Mary said.
"What?" Xander glanced at her before turning to face Crystal. "Why did you slap her?"
"She was disrespecting mom. When I scolded her she refused to listen and damaged my phone. See." Crystal moved forward, showing him her broken phone.
Xander glanced at Crystal's phone before returning his gaze to Autumn. Autumn retreated behind Mary. Xander couldn't bring himself to scold the little girl.
"You shouldn't have slapped her." he said as he stood up.
"Yes, I know. But I was furious at the time. I thought I should discipline them because I'm their aunt. But they went crazy. I'm sorry."
"Save your apologies for Aria. She's coming here." Mary said.
Xander shook his head. He knew Ariadne would be furious after hearing this.
"I told you not to meet with them." he sighed.
"I'm sorry. I didnt expect it to turn out this way. Ariadne will now misunderstand me." Crystal dropped her head.
Ariadne finally arrived. Everyone sat on the couches, quietly waiting for her. As she entered, everyone turned to look at her.
Ariadne took a quick look around the crowd. She began walking towards them when she spotted Crystal. Crystal rose, her face filled with guilt. Ariadne walked straight to her and stopped in front of her.
Before Crystal could say anything, Ariadne slapped her hard on the face.
The slap echoed throughout the room, and everyone gasped.