Chapter 28
“Whatever you say, Mommy.“&
I finally let out a breath of relief.
At that very moment, Cassandra’s reddened. She struggled to wheel herself closer to us.”
She pleaded, “Auntie… life here is worse than you think. The donations from kind people are limited. I was born disabled so I can’t fight with the others for food or supplies. The director prefers healthy kids because they have a better chance of being adopted. No one here really cares about me!”
…
“All these years, you’re the only ones who ever talked to me whoever bought me things. If you don’t take me home today, you might never see me again…” she continued.
“I’m begging you, Auntie. I know your family is doing well. So, adding one more person to raise won’t be a burden. I’ll work for you as a nanny. I’ll take care of your daughter. I’ll clean, I’ll cook–I’ll do anything. I don’t mind suffering …”
Her voice trembled, her expression pitiful, but her calculating eyes sent a chill down my spine. I instinctively stepped back and pulled my daughter closer.
“I already said no and I meant it. Our home isn’t some charity hotel. We worked hard to get where we are and it didn’t fall from the sky. Helping you is kindness, but not helping you doesn’t make us bad people. Just because we have money doesn’t mean we’re obligated to spend it on strangers. I’m no saint.”
“Besides, we’ll be back every week and I’ll give you five seventy–five dollars for your own expenses. That should be enough for you to get by. So don’t push your luck.”
Without waiting for her reaction, I turned around and walked out while taking my daughter with me.
Aaron also followed me behind.
Although he didn’t understand why I was acting this way, as always, he supported me without question.
While he went to get the car, my daughter and I stood outside in the sunlight.
However, even with the warmth on my skin, I could feel a cold, poisonous gaze piercing my back. So, I turned around to look.
Cassandra was staring at us from the orphanage window. Her face changed in an instant, from venomous to pleading and pitiful.
However, I had seen that same expression before. I recognized the hidden cruelty behind her innocent mask. That possessive, determined glint in her eyes chilled me to the bone.
I frowned and quickly ushered my daughter into the car. I was still too scared that cold sweats broke out across my forehead.
Aaron handed me a tissue and he asked in concern, “Are you feeling okay? Are you sick? You’re not acting like yourself today. Cassandra’s just a kid so you didn’t have to go that hard on her.”
My daughter also looked at me. There was sadness and confusion on her face as she said, “You look truly terrifying today, Mommy.”
I tried so hard to calm down and after I did, I stretched my arm and stroked my soft little head gently.
“Ella, listen. Although doing good deeds is important, you have to know who the person you are helping is. Some people know how to be thankful while the others… well, they don’t know how to do that, instead they might stab you in the back.”
Then I said again, “You’re still young … but Ella, I hope someday you’ll understand that everything I do is for our family’s protection.”>
Seeing the confusion in Aaron’s eyes, I narrated everything that had happened in my last life. However, I framed it as if it were news.
! described how a couple with a kind heart took in a child as their adopted child. However, the child betrayed them. In the end, the child murdered the whole family.”
Aaron knitted his brows and said indignantly, “That’s horrible. I shouldn’t have doubted you, You’re right, Honey. I’m sorry.”
“You do have a point though. We must concentrate all our energy on Ella. After all, she is still young and deserves all the energy that we have. As for the others, they’re not the concern of our family.”
When I heard his support, I could finally lean my head back and close my eyes. However, deep down, an uneasiness still crept into my
heart.
Cassandra was just a teenager, but she had already learned how to fake a disability. A person with that kind of scheming mind would not give up so easily.
Especially since our family had caught her notice, would she really let us go without a fight?
Thankfully, Cassandra was already a seventeen–year–old girl right now. Once, she became eighteen years old girl, the orphanage would have to kick her out.
She would also not be eligible for adoption anymore and the threat would finally be gone.
Still… my nerves were strung too tight and as the tension drained away, I drifted into a deep, uneasy sleep.
