21st June 1998
It had been six months since the boys were with Arabelle. She was taking good care of them, feeding them on time, buying them new clothes and toys. The most cheerful between them was the precious Li. He would always smile every time he would see Arabelle. It filled her heart with extreme joy. She loved him dearly, in fact, she loved both of them dearly. Li's older brother was the quiet one, he did not speak much to anyone in the house, not even to Arabelle unless she spoke first. Now, Arabelle and the two kids were sitting on the couch of the two kids' bedroom, playing with Li. She peeked over her shoulder and saw the older kid sitting on his bed, staring outside the window. It was almost like he was staring at nothingness. His eyes were always so blank, it was hard to read what was in his eyes. At this age, he was supposed to be cheerful and full of life, not scared and distressed. But, it was not frighting that he felt. It was something else, something Arabelle could not comprehend. She put the one-year-old boy back on the mattress with his toys scattered all over the floor and walked up to him. She sat beside him not removing her gaze from him. His posture did not change whatsoever. He was wearing a light blue and white stripes shirt and white pants, his fascinating orbs were glued to somewhere in the distance. Arabelle smiled, he was indeed a beautiful child and he contacted the principal of his old school, the principal claimed he was a bright boy for his age. The teachers praised him. She also found out that the other kids were not the nicest with him. Arabelle felt pity for the young boy. No one deserved to be bullied.
"Are you okay, honey?" She gently asked him. He only nodded his head as a response. She smiled at him.
"We should go out for lunch. What do you think?" He did not respond. He did not know what to say. He looked behind and found his younger brother playing with the legos. Everything he had done or agreed to do was only for Li.
"Yes." He finally spoke up. Arabelle's smile widened, she was surprised to hear him talk but also happy at the same time. "Great! Why don't you get ready? I will take out your clothes and I will send someone to get Li ready too." She got up but was stopped by him. He was holding her hand.
"I want to get Li ready." He said.
Arabelle happily nodded her head. She could have agreed to anything he asked for if that meant he would be comfortable with her. She took both of the kids to McDonald's for a Happy meal. Who wouldn't like a happy meal? It was famous amongst kids. She ordered their food. At that time, McDonald's was always full of kids and joy. She ordered a big mac for herself and after they were done, she took them back home. Arabelle asked Carlos if he wanted to play in the park, he replied in his usual tone 'no'. She thought if she could send Carlos home and take his younger brother to the park, she knew the cheerful Li would love to be there. But, then she thought Li's elder brother would not want to leave him. She took them home regardless. She had been trying to get more close to the kids, especially Carlos so that he could talk to her anytime about anything.
After getting inside, she put her purse on the sofa and sat down.
"Tired already?" Arabelle's hand was on her forehead, slightly massaging her temples with her fingertips. "No, just having a little headache." She replied while her eyes were closed. She did not get enough sleep. She has been tensed since she got the boys with her.
"It's been only a few days and you are tired, how will you continue this for years?" Her husband questioned her in a mocking tone. She rolled her eyes. He had always been the kind of person who would doubt other people's capabilities, and she had no energy left to deal with him now.
"Honey, I dealt with you for ten years, what makes you think I am tired because of my decision?" She said with a sly smirk on her face.
I got him good.
He put down the newspaper he was reading back on the table. "I was not saying this to offend you. As you know, I wanted this too."
Only for your selfish reasons.
"I am going to get some rest. Call me if you need anything." Arabelle got up from her seat and was making her way upstairs.
"Before you go, can you bring the boys down?" She frowned.
Why does he want them down?
She did not bother questioning her husband, she just nodded her head and walked upstairs to bring them down. She called for a maid to get Li.
After all of them were downstairs, her husband was sitting on the sofa with the same newspaper in his hand, eyes focused on the paper he was reading. "Sit down." He commanded. The kids were a little disturbed at the tone he used. Carlos looked at Arabelle in hesitation, she passed a charming smile that said everything was okay and he should not be worried about anything. She wanted him to know she was always there for him and his little brother.
"Don't defy me, child. I said sit down. Don't be nervous. I don't like when people are petty." He hesitantly took a seat on the sofa that was in front of him. His hands were resting on his lap, eyes were fixated on the ground on a particular place, he felt like he was there but his attention was not.
Arabelle's husband looked at the maid and gestured her to leave them alone. The maid immediately left with the young child in her arms. Once everything was as per his favor, he spoke up. "How have you been, kid?"
Carlos was having a hard time answering his question, but his conscience said that he must answer him. "I-I am go-good."
He cleared his throat and said. "You must look at me when you are talking to me, eye-to-eye kid, always look into my eyes. And you must never stutter, only weak people stutter. Are you weak?" His question confused the young boy. What was he supposed to answer?
"I would appreciate an answer, child." He gritted. He was never a man of patience. Knowing how hard her husband could get, she tried to stop him.
"You are scaring him, honey. What kind of questions are you asking a five-year-old child?"
She was getting angry at her husband. "I know what I'm doing Arabelle."
"Look at me." This time Carlos connected his eyes with the man in front of him. The man he had known only for a few months, the man who let him and his brother stay with them, and that same man was standing in front of him, all in glory and pride.
"Good boy. Always obey me and I will teach you everything." Arabelle was worried, she knew her husband's personality and about teaching the child, she figured out how it was going to be.
"Welcome to the family, always remember where you belong." He was facing his back to the five-year-old. Turning around, he continued.
"You are the heir of this family, the eldest heir of King, the son of Xander King's." He stated with nothing but boldness in his eyes.
"Always remember who you are from now.
Alexander King."
And that was how the devil was entitled.