Chapter 3: A Familiar Voice

Lost in his thoughts a familiar voice called his name…

“Willem? Son? Boy, are you daydreaming again?” she chuckled as she called his name.

Willem turned around and saw Marianne standing behind him with her hands behind her waist, gently smiling at him. She had lovely, long and wavy chestnut brown hair. Marianne’s hair and her light skin tone radiated beautifully from the sunlight entering through the window until she moved aside. Besides being a mother of a mid-teenage boy she was slim and smart. Despite the fact that she was in her mid-thirties she looked a decade younger than her actual age. She was a gorgeous woman with the proper manners of a lady.

“Mom! Where were you?”

“Sorry son, but I had to leave for work early today. You were sleeping so peacefully that I didn’t wanted to wake you up. Anyways, I got something for you so close your eyes and then open them after the count of three, ok?”

Willem closed his eyes and counted to three “One, Two, Three, and…?” He opened his eyes and was surprised to see his mother holding a box which was beautifully wrapped in gift paper. Willem asked his mother “Mom, what’s this?”

“It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if I told you now would it be? How about you open it and find it for yourself.”

Willem unknotted the blue ribbon and unwrapped his surprise gift. He was overjoyed to find the same action figure he had seen in the toy shop yesterday.

“Happy Birthday son!” Marianne smiled and enthusiastically cheered her son.

“Whoa! Mom, it’s the same one! But you needn’t to, it would've been fine either way.”

“Now now, you silly boy, I saw how you were drooling for it.”

“Thank you so much mom, you are the best!”

“I’m glad you liked it son, sorry I got a bit late, I couldn’t give it to you on your birthday.”

“No, It’s fine mom. I’m happy regardless of it because I have you. I love you, mom.”

“I love you too, son. I only wish the best for you. Now give me that duster and go play with your new toy, take a break and I’ll handle the work from here.”

“Thanks, mom.”

That toy was something special for Willem because it was a dear gift from his mother. It was the first time his mother was able to gift him something that costs more than ten pounds. It returned the smile on his gloomy face. Willem took the toy to the garden, he glanced around to see if anyone was there, luckily the place was empty so he approached the sitting area, where he needed the table to assemble his new toy which was actually the fun part for him.

He carefully opened the box and was amazed at the quality of the product. Some parts were made up of plastic and some of metal. He read the manual and started to assemble his new robot. Willem was a smart boy, he managed to assemble the entire robot in a matter of a few minutes. Even though the boy never really went to school but his mother had taught him well because Marianne herself was a high school graduate. She taught her son whatever she knew herself, including modern education and proper manners of serving in a mansion.

He was just done with the toy, that his concentration was broken by an abrupt voice which called his name from behind. “Willem?!” It was the young lord Bryce’s voice.

Willem turned around to see Bryce standing behind him. A football was under his right foot and both his hands were at the back of his head. His hands brushed through his dark auburn hair as he lowered his arms. His Hazel Eyes gave out a wolf’s stare towards Willem with such coldness that it sent a chill down his spine.

Willem quickly turned around to face him and hid the toy behind his back. Because Willem knew that he might end up losing his prized possession to the young lord. But unfortunately, the window to react and hide the toy was too small for him. The only thing that he could hope for was to try evading Bryce.

Though it was a mere two year age difference between them. Willem didn’t even stood a chance against Bryce, not just because of the difference of strength but status too. Unlike what most people would think that a rich brat would be fat, Bryce had quite a well-built body for a sixteen-year-old. Not exactly a six-pack muscular body but the type of physique which won’t make him prone to bullying from the delinquents around his own age. He had a handsome face but a cold glare in his eyes. He was the type of person who could lure someone in his deceptive charm with mere lip service.

“So this is where you’ve been. Slacking off instead of working!” said Bryce. Willem could sense an intimidating tone in Bryce’s voice. He could feel a bad mood swing coming at him. “Willem...”

“Yes? Master Bryce.”

“Just what the heck are you doing here?”

“Nothing...my lord,” Willem stuttered.

“And what is it that you are trying to hide behind your back? Show it to me...”

“It’s nothing my lord, please excuse me I’ll return to my duties promptly.”

“Promptly?...Pff...getting fancy are we?” said Bryce in a sarcastic tone. “WELL, NO, you won’t be PROMPTLY going anywhere...” Bryce held Willem from his left shoulder. And that was it, the end of the toy ownership for Willem.

Before Willem could react Bryce punched him in the face, knocking the boy down. The toy figure fell down, lying in front of Willem. Willem quickly clenched the figure with his left hand.

“Ah! So this is what you’ve been hiding behind you,” said Bryce as he smirked. “You know I don’t like liars.” Saying this Bryce placed his football boot on Willem’s hand holding the toy figure. Bryce kept putting pressure on his hand just to listen to his screams. The boot’s aluminum metal studdings on its sole kept stinging Willem’s hand but he gritted his teeth, trying hold back his scream.

“Lord...Bryce please, I’m sorry! Ugh...Please...don’t break it, my mother gave it to me as a gift.” Willem pleaded Bryce, his voice was breaking from the pangs of pain he so terribly felt in his hand under pressure. But Alas, all was in vain. Bryce lifted his foot and stomped on Willem's left hand which was holding onto his prized possession. The blow was strong enough to shatter the toy figure. It’s metallic and plastic pieces shattered and broke apart, they jabbed into Willem’s hand. Those fragmented pieces tore opened his hand and it started to bleed profusely, along with his agonizing screams echoing through the gardens.

This was the first crack of shatter on his persona.

(Willem's mind is personified as a picture in a glass photo frame, of him and his mother smiling. With the first loss, a small crack appeared on the corner of the glass, this was also a crack upon his persona.)

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***