• C h a p t e r F i v e •
2042 Words
The food delivery came knocking approximately 25 minutes later. Paying him a total of 10 dollars, Amelia sat down on the sofa with a long sigh. Lucas fell asleep right after completing the building blocks. They both built a small-sized house with mostly windows only to realize later that they forgot to put a door to it. Just great.
Well in a sense it had been forever since she touched blocks. Usually, orphanages don't have much money to buy blocks for every member. And if there was a set of blocks it would most likely be monopolized by one member.
Amelia recalled the past as she unfolded the package.
Haa~ This smell.
Amelia moaned in anticipation. Grabbing a wing from the bucket with the aluminum foil, she took a big bite out of the piping hot meat.
Huff! Huff!
She blew out air. It was too hot to chew. After a few blows, she continued her meal.
On her fifth wing, Amelia felt strange as if someone was staring at her. She looked at the opposite sofa to see Ria sitting in seiza position with her small hands on the big pillow that Amelia kept making sure she wouldn't fall. She looked at her with sleepy eyes.
"You woke up?" Amelia muttered while Ria rubbed her eyes roughly. Seeing this Amelia frowned.
"No, no don't rub them like that." Amelia leaned forward to pull her hand away from her eyes with her free hand.
Although she didn't have much knowledge about kids, she did know it's bad to rub eyes frequently since it may affect the vision later on. It's not that we should never rub our eyes but it definitely shouldn't become a habit.
"Mommy." Ria pouted as she held the ends of the sofa to slowly slide down from the pillow and stumbled on her feet to stand up straight while Amelia chuckled at the cute action.
Ria looked at her with big doe eyes. She held the end of the sofa with one hand and extended her other hand in the air towards Amelia.
"Uwuu" She let out a sound flapping her hand at her while Amelia looked at her in confusion.
Ok, translator- sorry System, where are you?
Host, from the books on the behavioral patterns of kids, this gesture means she wants you to lift her and hold her.
The system responded while Amelia was so stunned at the "books on the behavioral pattern of kids" that her brain didn't even react to the latter sentence.
She wants me to carry her again?
Just the thought made her tired. Thankfully within the year, she should start walking. She finally understood that people don't say it casually, it's really hard work to be a mom.
Amelia looked at the last wing in the bucket and then at Ria who looked as if she would start throwing a tantrum in a minute.
Chicken. Baby. Chicken. Baby. Chic-
"Waaaaa!"
How to carry her again?
Amelia thought standing up from the sofa. She stretched her stiff arms once before extending her hands towards Ria but paused in the middle.
Wait, my hands are dirty.
Thinking for a moment, she took the bucket and leftover french fries to the refrigerator.
If it survives, then it would be her dinner. If not, she needs to order again.
"Waaaaaaaaaa... Waaaaa" Ria cried while Amelia closed the door shut and immediately turned on the tap to wash her hands quickly. She then jogged out to the living room rubbing her hands to her pants to make them dry. She arrived just in time to see Ria looking at her with an angry pout while she sighed.
"I am here. I am here." Amelia raised her hands in surrender before kneeling before her and wiping her tears with a sigh.
"Don't cry. Mom is here." Amelia spoke.
Here goes nothing.
Putting her arm around her back and lifting her, she carried Ria back to the sofa and made her sit on her lap. She paused for a second when her gaze fell on the purse on the table. She took it to count the leftover money once again.
How nice it would be if counting money again and again could just magically increase them?
This just reminded her of her previous life where even a penny was a luxury to her. After counting them, she put the purse back and leaned back into the sofa.
Life is hard. Even the sofa is hard too.
She thought looking at the ceiling while Ria continued to play with the strands of her hair.
Host don't worry, we will make sure you live a happy and fulfilling life. It will take some time though.
The system pinched in making Amelia smile a little.
Thank you system. For giving me this chance to live again. For selecting me from thousands of people. And for helping me achieve my dream.
Amelia spoke truthfully tearing up a little while the system stayed quiet letting her sink into her emotions.
~.~
"Ouch!" Amelia woke up with a cry. She rubbed her head while glaring at the cute culprit sitting on her lap.
"Uwuuu.." Ria opened her mouth wide while Amelia sighed for the nth time that day.
"She is hungry?" She guessed.
Yes, host. The system deadpanned while Amelia rolled her eyes.
She really had this feeling at times that her system was of no help to her. She stood up carrying Ria and turned around to put her on the sofa but Ria clutched her collar tightly without leaving. She was practically hanging on to her leaving Amelia no choice but to take her into her arms again.
Why isn't she leaving me? I can't possibly make something for her if I carry her around.
Amelia frowned.
Host, I cannot help you with this. The system clarified ahead while Amelia's frown deepened.
Yup. Totally no help.
But what should I make for them?
She questioned in a defeated way carrying Ria to the kitchen.
Host, you can make cereal. According to the information from System net, babies older than 12 months can eat cereal, soft bread, banana, and puree of apple, etc.
It answered in an orderly fashion while Amelia noted it in her mind.
We do have cereal and milk.
Amelia muttered as she held Ria tightly with one hand and only after making sure she isn't falling she opened the refrigerator door with her free hand. She then took out the cereal with a dumbfounded expression.
Wait a minute! Did she just take out the cereal from inside the refrigerator?
Isn't it common sense that you shouldn't keep it in the fridge because it gets soggy? Well, some people prefer it that way but I don't think kids prefer that, or do they?
Amelia thought putting the box on the kitchen slab, then moving towards the refrigerator to take out the milk carton.
She took out a bowl to pour the milk and the cereal and mixed them both with the spoon. Taking the bowl into her free hand she walked towards the bedroom where Lucas was still asleep.
"Lucas! Wake up. It's time to eat." Amelia spoke switching on the light while Lucas just buried himself into the blanket to avoid light.
Amelia finally was able to put Ria down on the bed while she sat opposite to her.
"Lucas," Amelia called out again while mixing the cereal and taking a small quantity of the mixture into the spoon and bought it near Ria's mouth who gobbled it up in a minute.
After waiting for a moment, Amelia fed her another spoon. She held the bowl in one hand and used her now free hand to shake Lucas awake.
"Wake up! Lazy head." Amelia chuckled at Lucas who looked exactly like Ria when she woke up. Sitting in a seiza position with his hands on the blanket. Finally awake, Lucas crawled his way towards Amelia who fed him a spoon full of cereal.
The duo ate everything up as Amelia fed them. She left them on the bed to play not before keeping some pillows for safety reminded by the system. Going to the kitchen, She started washing the dishes and organizing things.
Later she went and sat on the corner of the bed and looked at Lucas and Ria playing together with some plush toys.
Having nothing else to do, she asked the system about the information on the lawyers.
A screen appeared before her and on it were three names.
Logan Wright. Carla Walker. Arthur Black.
All three people met her criteria of good lawyers according to the system. She carefully screened them before deciding on Arthur Black. There were two reasons. One, he looked confident. Two his price was lower than the other two.
Although it was lower than the two, it doesn't mean he is cheap. The number of dollars made her heart bleed.
Thankfully she still had a reserve. The bank card she found in her purse. Although she didn't know how much money there is, It shouldn't be less than 8,000 dollars at least from what the system said. Amelia seemed to have some saving of her own.
Just the confidence. Her subconscious mocked her.
She quickly dialled his number from the information provided by the system.
"Hello, Arthur Black speaking."
"Hello, this is Amelia Martin. I would like to hire you as my lawyer for an hour tomorrow. Is it possible?" She questioned politely.
"Excuse me for a moment." There was silence for a few moments. Amelia waited patiently.
"Hello? Yes, I am free tomorrow morning. May I ask what is your case?" He questioned while Amelia leisurely explained the case from her side and asked him a few questions.
"Also I need a few things for proof. The marriage documents, your professional details, and current earnings, information regarding the family background, photographs of the marriage for proof, any assets, liabilities. If everything works tomorrow we could file a petition immediately and wait for the response." Arthur answered while Amelia widened her eyes at the number of documents.
She never realised divorce could be this complex. I mean doesn't everyone show that signing the divorce papers is enough in TV series?
Umm system what documents were they again? And does she have them?
Amelia question with hesitation.
Don't worry host. I have it all noted and even if there are a few documents missing I can create them.
The system answered while Amelia widened her eyes.
Isn't that illegal?
She muttered in her head.
Don't worry host it will be authentic. And no one will suspect me.
The system answered proudly while Amelia bit her nails in worry.
They won't suspect you obviously. If anyone, it would be me!
Amelia prayed the original owner had all the documents.
"Hello?" Arthur questioned.
"Ah! Yes, thank you for your time. I will try to bring all the documents tomorrow. I will be transferring the money for this session and the advance to you. Could you tell me your bank account?" Amelia spoke coming out of the daze.
After noting it down, Amelia bid goodbye and leaned back onto the bed. Her gaze went towards the kids playing with a happy smile. Is this the right thing? Can she really do this correctly? The question raised in her yet again. And the answer seems to be no farther than her heart.
She doesn't have the time to worry about her past decisions now. Although annoying, she would always remember the choices she made in life. Even small ones like choosing the flavor of ice cream. She would think a lot about trivial stuff when she has nothing to do and peer at it like it was some international level math problem.
But this was just her. It wouldn't be her, if she didn't overthink.
Everything's worth it. It's worth it. You are alive. That's the biggest boon. You can do this.
She repeated to herself shaking her head from her thoughts. Taking a deep breath, she smiled.
"Lawyer - Check" She made a tick mark in the air.
"Now all I need to do is to transfer money and wait for tomorrow." She muttered.
~.~
- Writer
