Chapter 1

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Years ago, somewhere in Los Angeles. There was a successful businessman who lived with his daughter in a very big mansion, located around a wide, blue beach. Andrews made sure his princess, Anabella had everything she ever wanted.

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One Saturday Morning, On The Seashore...

She added water into a pot of clay mud, mixing it together with her hands and a tiny stick to give a good moisture. She dig her soft hands in the pot of white clay again, taking a little to build her glorious castle. And on this castle were two statues, her's and her father's.

With so much effort and hardwork she's put in this molding, It wanted to fall when all of a sudden, a bigger, stronger and cleaner hand supported it. It was her father's.

"You're creative my princess. In future, Would you like to become an architect?"

Anabella smiled at her father's question.

"Not only architects build houses, you know. I have a dream of becoming a gynecologist... Mum would have been with us if the gynecologist treated her earlier than that day." She continued the molding.

"Perhaps, In future, I would build you a castle, ten times bigger than your mansion and make you the happiest dad ever." Andrews laughs at his four years old daughter. 

Such quality of wisdom, beauty and intelligence reminds him of his late wife, Maeve. Anabella looks so much like her mother... Her voice, her hair, eyes, way of thinking and others.

Tears slowly gathered in his eyes, but he hid it away, not to cause his princess any worries. He placed his lips to her sweaty forehead.

She smiled at her dad, noticing what his silence mean.

"Do you miss her?" 

He looked stunned at her question.

"What? Nno...noo..I emmm- I mea-"

"I know what you mean dad, and I miss mum so much. Even if I have never seen her, I feel her love and presence, dad. But don't feel bad... because I love you more."

With her gaze on the moulded castle, she smiled at it with so much satisfaction... As if it was a real one. Anabella stopped her moulding, rinsing her stained hands in a bowl before her till it was clean. 

Andrews wiped her hands with a yellow towel, staring at her with a smile across his face.

"Anabella, do you know what would make make me happier?" His voice almost sounded shaky.

"What dad, tell me!" Excitement laced her cute voice.

Her dad held her hands in his and stared deep into her dark, brown eyes. "I would love you to fight for your dreams, get knowledge no matter what and be a strong woman just like your mum." 

Anabella looked confused.

"I'm only four, dad... I'm a girl."

Just then, Andrews realized that she was still too young to understand.

He muttered a "Sure." And carried her in a bridal style, inside. 

It was on that evening, he introduced his princess to her new mother. Her stepmother, Jane.

✳✳✳

Years Later...

"In silence I must take my seat,

And give God thanks before I eat;

Must for my food in patient wait,

Till I'm asked to hand my plate;

With a knife or fork, or napkin ring, 

I must not play nor must I sing;

I must not speak a useless word,

For children to be seen, not heard;

I must not talk about my food, 

Nor fret if I don't think it's good;

'I must not say the bread is old, 

My mouth with food, 

I must not crowd,

Nor while I'm eating speak aloud;

Must turn my head to cough or sneeze,

And when I ask, Say 'If you please;

The table cloth I must not spoil,

Nor with my food my finger soil;

Must keep my seat when I have done, 

Nor round the table spot or run;

When told to rise, then I must put,

My chair away with noiseless foot;

And lift my heart to God above,

In praise for all his wondrous love."

I recited this poem before doing anything, it gives me purpose and hope. 

When my dad was alive, the poem gave me strength. My stepmother after my father died, turned into something that I could not comprehend. 

I knew she was not always fond of me but she was never cruel to me when he was alive. 

At home, I was treated as a maid... A slave for my stepmother, Jane and her daughter. The only place I maintained some sort of freedom was school. 

The only place that gave me hope for something better later in life. 

My father, always instilled a need for education in my head. He said "Knowledge was always the best medicine", no matter where I was, my education would always be with me. 

✳✳✳

I woke up, glancing at one of my limited possessions, an alarm clock. It read 3:30 a.m. My time to get up. I got out of bed, leaving my room, to begin my daily chores. 

I kept my room clean, so cleaning here was not of importance at the moment. I proceeded to the clean the guest rooms, all twelve of them. 

Ever since, my father died, Jane fired all the housekeepers and cooks and I was to do all upkeep of the house. Moving on to the kitchen, I dusted and wiped down the appliances.

Each room I wiped, vacuumed, swept, dusted and organized. Looking at the clock, it read 6:45 am.

I was late! Briskly walking to the the kitchen, I began to make breakfast for Jane and my stepsister, Kaylle. 

I made a simple fruit salad and some orange juice for Jane and pancakes, egg whites and a few strips of bacon. 

Washing my hands, I scooped some food for the two dogs, Jane had brought with her, Bruno and Jack. 

Placing the food in both bowls, they growled at me and began to eat their meal. 

At last, I was able to feed my cat, Camilla. She was the only thing I had left from my father.

I remembered when my father had given her to me and she instantly jumped in my lap and touched her nose to my face. 

I placed her food in her bowl and sat down on the floor as she ate. She gave me such a happy feeling when I saw her everyday. As soon as she was done, I washed her bowl. Scratching her behind the ears, I kissed her head. 

"I love you Camilla." I whispered into her ear. 

She meowed back, like she was saying she loved me too but that was just not possible. I gave her some more scratches and got up off the floor as I heard footsteps making their way to the kitchen.

"Good morning Anabella," Jane said, a sinister smirk planted on her face. 

I gulped and hoped it was nothing, and that her face was just like that, fearing repercussions for doing what she would not like. 

✴✴✴