Blessed returned home with aching feet and a heavy heart. The crowd had long dispersed, and the colorful night lights no longer glimmered with wonder but mocked her exhaustion.
She had saved two candies—one for Liam and the other... was now gone.
She gripped her empty basket tightly.
At home, the air was loud with laughter. The Jason family had clearly enjoyed their day at the park. Her adoptive mother was peeling fruits and gave it to her husband who enjoyed it with relish, while Liam lounged on the floor playing with his new phone.
Blessed stepped inside quietly.
Looking at them she realized she was not part of this one big family she looks like an intruder always ruining the moment
"You're back," her father said without glancing up. "Sold everything?"
"Yes," she replied, holding out the money with both hands. Her fingers were sticky from carrying the basket all day.
The mother snatched it. "Tch. Could have made more. And where's the rest? Don't tell me you lost something?"
"No, I didn't I saved two candies for Liam," she said softly, and then looked down. "But… I lost one I only have one left now."
Liam looked up, disinterested. "Candy? I'm not a child."
Still, Blessed walked up to him, her hands offering the single candy like it was a treasure.
He took it. Like he was did after every critics
"You look like trash," he muttered, eyeing her bruised knees and smudged cheeks.
Blessed didn't reply. She had no right to, he didn't treat her this way before he was kind and gentle always there for her even begged for to be enrolled to school when mother refused. Saved a candy for her always and even taught her how to read but all this changed when he entered middle school. He looked down on her always insult her at every given chance; I didn't know why the change but I lost my brother and friend.
Her mother gave a long, exaggerated sigh. "You always come back like a beggar. Who would want to marry a girl who smells like sweat and dirt?"
Blessed lowered her head. She is always dirty because she was always working it's not her fault
The next morning, Maria sat comfortably on the wooden armchair sipping tea as she watched a TV drama the house was quiet-her husband had gone to work, and their son had already left for school. As for Blessed, she had finished all the house chores and went to the store
KNOCK KNOCK!
The sudden knock made her jolt upright, she wasn't expecting anybody because she was the only jobless woman in the neighborhood, she rose and approached the door cautiously when she opened it her heart skipped.
Standing at the door was a man dressed in an expensive suit, the car parked outside the gate was sleek and polished nothing like what was usually seen in their small town
"Good morning" the man said politely" does a little girl who sells candy live her?"
Maria was startled she thought Blessed had done something wrong if not why would such a powerful man look for her I knew the girl was an evil child always up to no good " sir. I'm a poor woman I have always been kind to that girl"
"No ma'am you got it all wrong actually I'm here to offer a little token of appreciation"
"Appreciation?"
"Yes ma'am she saved my young master"
She was confused "what young master"
He explained in details what happened at the park
"Because of her bravery my master has decided to give her this" he handed her a letter and an envelope
After collecting the envelope she hurriedly opened it in front of the man, inside it was a deed, not just to one but two small estates outside City A, the capital. Included was also a deed to a modest home in the capital city itself and an official admission letter to one of City A most prestigious high school.
And finally a cheque
Two hundred thousand dollars
Maria hands trembled as she read through the letter, her mind spinning in disbelief
All of this for Blessed
"Why….. Why….. Why would you give all this to her"
"Because she was kind and in saving our young master she deserve even more she could have exposed him but she didn't it takes a person with good heart to do what she did, I beg to take my leave"
With that he bowed slightly and left, leaving Maria frozen in the doorway. She didn't know when she entered inside the house
She stared down at the envelope in her hand very angry "Blessed, that evil child who came into our home with nothing, how dare she receive this, impossible she is a burden we harbored this belong to my son" the memory of the man's words burn like acid in her mind, she saved the young master so what?, plenty of people did good things and got nothing in return why does it have to be Blessed "
Maria looked around the living room-clean, spotless, all thanks to Blessed. That girl worked herself to the bone and never complained. She never demanded new clothes. She was humble. Quiet. Obedient.
And that was exactly why Maria hated her
Because no matter how much she tried to ignore it, Blessed's presence made her feel small. Her own son spoiled and lazy, could never compare. He cried when asked to study. He threw tantrum when denied money, but Blessed? Blessed smiled through every bruises life gave her. She deserved nothing.
Her lips curled into a cruel smile since that witch doesn't know anything about the reward, then she didn't need to know, not now, not ever
Back in the she took the document and put them into the drawer in her room the one she locked with a key no one have access to
When everyone returned in the evening she told her husband and her son all that happened later in the day they were all ecstatic it was unbelievable
"I knew Blessed was a blessing I have always told you to be little nice to her" Greg stated
"Nice, I allowing her to be adopted into my family is that not nice enough"
"Mom will she really have those houses and those opportunity to herself" Liam felt jealous of Blessed, how she suddenly became rich
"Everything is yours my son she doesn't know and will never know" Maria reassured
"How mom, everything is in her name, how will it be mine?"
"That very easy I will let her sign transfer of ownership she's just eight years old what does she know"
She planned to go to the lawyer stated in the letter to make sure the name of her son would be indicated in the deeds of the properties she wouldn't seat still and a watch that evil child takes what belong to her son