Basement

" I don't know what happened. Your husband just came and told us that he was there to take you home." Darla pouts as she speaks through the phone.

" I am sorry, Darla." Emma apologizes, imagining how awful it must have been for them.

But her eyebrow raises slightly when Darla shakes her head, " No. It's fine. He was polite and respectful. He even asked if we needed a ride or not since we all went pretty much drunk."

" I see. Hope Grandma and grandpa didn't mind!"

" No. We have already explained everything to them. Also I have explained them that you just met them. They can't force you to be comfortable around them immediately. So take your time." Saying Darla excuses herself since she needs to go to her job.

Emma hangs up, heading towards the basement only where her belongings may be there. She works in a big company as a member of IT team. Most of the time, she needs to work on computer. That's why she set that room only for herself. Also, aside from the job that she likes, she has a hobby to draw and designing jewelry as passion. So there are multiple drawings that might have been destroyed while moving them away.

Emma's heart squeezes in pain as she steps into the basement. The painting what she invested two months to draw is lying on the floor like a trash. Her computer and other things have been broken... What worst is- All the design she has drawn in her notebook are destroyed. Someone tore them into pieces.

And she knows who is the someone.

Emma sighs as deep as possible since she doesn't want to cry over it. Her heart is being torn apart but it doesn't worth of crying. She will eventually get free from this shackles. Sooner or later.

She hasn't noticed the time as she starts setting up everything again in the basement. It's quiet. She will have a good time if she comes here.

Being optimistic about everything, she orders some new screens since she can fix her computers, in the meantime. Maybe another two or three months will take to restore, repainting or redesigning everything that she has done. But it doesn't matter anymore. She has plenty of time to do something.

With her each thought, tears drop subconsciously. She is being positive over everything but her heart and eyes are saying different.

While she is wearing a calm composure, her eyes are betraying her.

The pain is too much to handle.

After setting them up, Emma stands before the door. Two years ago, she decided to change every lock into digital lock in the doors. Although they didn't need to use them since she installed door dash cameras everywhere. So there are some left in the storeroom.

As Emma decides to go to the storeroom, she opens the door and steps out. However, her eyes shut when she bumps into someone.

She looks up, finding Vincent standing before her with a sour expression.

" Why are you here?" He asks, rather cold and irritated.

Emma decides not to respond as she heads to the storeroom but Vincent grabs her wrist and pulls closer, " I said, what are you doing here instead of having breakfast with us?" The sound of teeth grinding is distinct.

" I am setting up my studio." She replies, looking away.

" Setting up studio?" Vincent let her hand go and moves to the door of the basement. The moment his attention goes to the things scatter around the floor, his eyes widen in shock.

He grabs the painting that he watched Emma patiently drawing. She was happiest when she was drawing it.

" After finishing it, let's hang it on in our bedroom's wall!"

Emma told him that day.

" What happened?" He mumbles and looks at Emma.

However, Emma glances at the painting and then him...

" Where it belongs!"

Vincent's widely opened eyes get wider, realizing what she meant by that.

When she said she wanted to hang it on the wall in their bedroom, Vincent said, " Yeah! Where it belongs!"

Vincent shakes his head, collecting every single thing before standing before her, " Why did you ruin it? Are you planning to move your studio here?"

Emma looks at him. Unable to believe her eyes... " Nice pretending."

She grabs the painting and walks towards the storeroom. Vincent stands there, staring at her. He hates it. Something has changed. The smile, the happy woman what colors his world is acting weird.