THE TRADED WIFE

"Listen, Honey! Do we really need to take this girl home?" Erma Beckett asked, looking at her husband with an agitated face that showed her displeasure against her husband Dale Beckett's decision. 

"Yes, because I have come to know that my cousin Fred has kept some money in the name of this girl, which can be received only after she turns 18." Dale tried to explain to his wife the main reason why he wanted the girl. 

"Money? What are you saying?" Erma's eyes sparked and turned greedy as soon as she heard about money from her husband's mouth. 

"Yes, I'm telling the truth."

"Yesterday, I just met my cousin's lawyer Mr. James and he informed me that Fred left some deposit behind him for his daughter which only she can obtain as soon as she becomes an adult." Hearing Dale's words, her face lit up with happiness.

"Did he tell you how much the money is?" She eagerly asked while holding his one arm. 

"It's 10,00,000 dollars, dear! He gave his daughter all the savings!" His voice turned exciting when he thought about the money.

"1...10,00,000 do...dollars..!"

"This is a big amount!" Erma felt shocked and amused at the same time that her voice turned loud but the next moment he put his finger on her lips making her gesture to talk slowly so no one could hear them. He makes her remember that they are still in the orphanage!

She instantly understood his gesture and nodded. Only then did he pull off his finger from her lips.

"Yes! I know dear! So, let's just adopt that girl as we are her father's relatives!" Dale voiced out as there is a delighted smile on his face to become rich. 

Erma also showed a joyful expression as she never knew before coming to the orphanage that the girl contained huge money power behind her. So, when her husband suddenly told her that he wanted to adopt his aunt's son's daughter. She felt angry and frustrated. She fought with her husband but he just ignored her and came the next afternoon here.

But now as he already informed her about money. Now she was glad and too happy to turn rich in just one day. 

"Alright then! I agree with you to adopt her. Except for money, she can also help me with my household work." She laughed sarcastically. As the girl is not only a money doll for her but also a free maid for her. 

Hearing his wife's tone, he knew what she was planning but it did not matter to him until his wife was ready to bring the girl home.

"Thank you! Honey!" He held her hand and kissed her knuckles sweetly.

Her cheeks flushed.

"Now we will be rich!" He laughed out loud.

"Yes! Yes! I know that!" She replied and chuckled.

When they were busy with their secret talks, the little girl Abigail was listening to their whole talk from the door right outside the room while her eyes were trying to peek inside from the little opening. Her one hand carries a small doll which was given by her parents to her. So she carries the doll everywhere almost. 

Abigail is the girl they came to adopt. She's only ten years old. A cute and sweet little girl.

When in the early morning, she got the news that her father's relatives wanted her to adopt. She was so happy and grateful. But now listening to their words she was upset. She came here to look at them out of curiosity. But hearing them. She's no more excited.

She's only ten years old but after her parent's car accidents she already turned mature and was left all alone in the world until she was finally sent here where she met all the children like her without parents and family. 

Even though it happened to be one month for her to live in the orphanage, still she never liked staying there. She wanted a home and a family. She wanted to be loved. Just like her old days when her parents were still alive.

Her small doe eyes looked at the man and woman with an upset look but she was somehow glad also that now she would no longer be an orphan and can have her family. 

Though they just want her for her dad's money, which she doesn't know how much? Or how is it so important?

But until they let her live in the home. She will be satisfied. She truly wanted to leave this place and find a home for herself. 

When Abigail was busy peeking through the room, that's when someone suddenly comes on behind her and puts his hand on her small shoulder which makes her immediately panic and the doll in her hand falls to the ground with a thud sound.

"Who?" She turned and shouted. 

Erma and Dale also heard the child's voice and felt nervous.

They both looked at each other and gestured as they instantly ran through the door to check who was there behind the door. But as soon as they open the door nervously. They saw no one in the corridor which made them sigh in relief the next moment and they again closed the door and this time completely. No more peeking through.

"Thank God! There is no one!" Erma said looking at her husband while he nodded. 

"Yes, honey! Now let's go and check out the orphanage's owner and sign the documents as the brother's lawyer would come anytime. To check on the girl and complete the last formalities for adoption." 

"Alright! Let's hurry then!" She exclaimed.

After the conversation, they both opened the door and finally moved in the office's direction. 

…..

Abigail looked at the boy who was just a few years older than her age. 

When Dale and Erma walked to open the door. Abigail already runs through a corridor with the boy so as not to get caught. 

Now they were children's rooms where everyone was playing, talking, and studying with each other. 

While they both stare at each other with curiosity.

"Who are you? And why did you scare me?" Abigail asked with a pouting lip while glaring at him with a cute angry face. 

Her small arms crossed around herself. 

At that moment, she was so scared and thought that it was a ghost.

The boy smiled to see her pouting cute face and said in a tender tone, "Sorry little girl if I scared you! But I don't mean to..."

Abigail nodded while he continued his talk.

"Little girl, let me introduce myself!" He was happy to meet her.

"Hi, I'm Caleb! I'm 13 years old and I came here with my parents!" He forwarded his hand in front of her for a handshake but she looked at him from head to toe and asked another question avoiding his hand. 

"With your parents? Do you have parents?" Abigail asked as her childish voice turned a little serious while her brows up to make her look cuter. 

From the day she is here, all the children have told her that they do not have parents just like her while others are informed that their parents have left them or they do not know about them. 

But the boy who is in front of her is telling her he has parents, so why does he come to the orphanage? She doesn't understand at all.

Abigail thought orphanages are just for without parents' child. As she heard it from other children and elders who take care of them daily. 

On the other side, her question made Caleb amazed. He had never heard this type of silly question before.

He backward his hand and spoke out.

"Hey! What are you asking? Who doesn't have parents? Is this even a question?" He chuckled out loud, feeling funny.

But his words hurt her.  

Abigail's calm face frowned instantly again and she responded in an angry tone, "No! You are wrong! Everyone doesn't have one! Like me! I don't have parents as they died in a car accident! That's why I'm here!" 

Her eyes turned upset while Calebs suddenly realized, Yes, it's an orphanage where no parents' child live. As his parents explained what an orphanage is to him in the car when they were coming here. Only because of that he was so curious to meet those children.

But now seeing Abigail upset he felt sorry and tried to apologize.

"Little girl! I'm sorry! I don't want to hurt you!" As he said those words, Abigail looked at him but didn't respond at all.

Caleb's thought for a second and finally thought to change the topic to make her mood good. 

"Now Little girl, Can you tell me why you are standing outside the door and listening to my parent's talk?" 

Hearing his words, her eyes became enlarged. While she let her hands freed. 

"They are your parents?" She pointed to her small finger on him.

"Yes! That's correct!" He responded while nodding. 

"Now, tell me, what were you doing there?" He crossed his arms this time while raising his one brow looking like an adult.

He saw his parents making this action whenever they had a serious conversation. So, he followed it. 

Abigail felt hostility against him, after knowing who his parents were. 

"I'm not listening to anything there! I'm just walking casually!" She immediately made up a story.

Calebs know she's lying. He stood there for a long time before he finally took the steps to touch her shoulder. 

"But with my own eyes, I have seen you peeking inside the room!" He asserted while Abigail pressed her lips tightly, feeling caught by him.

Her eyes move around with nervousness. 

Caleb saw her action and said, "If you don't tell me what you were doing there then I need to report my mom and dad!" 

She felt scared to hear him, what if he truly did that and complained to his parents? 

No!

She can't let him do that. What if they change their mind and don't adopt her? 

Her eyes turned moist while tears were ready to come out. 

Caleb saw her tears and couldn't help but got nervous.

"Hey! Don't cry!!"

"I'm not going to say anything, to anyone! Just stopped crying!" He hurriedly said feeling worried for her. 

Abigail looked at him with moist doe eyes. 

"Are you telling the truth?" Her voice turned low as a kitten.

Caleb sighed to see her finally stop crying.

"Yes! But only if you accept my one condition!" He raised his index finger. 

Abigail's eyes blinked with confusion while she looked at his finger and then at him. 

Finally nodded her head in a hurry. 

"Okay!" She agreed. 

Caleb's lips curled up wide to hear her positive response. 

"Good! So now listen to my condition carefully!" He made a serious face again like an adult. 

She heard him and nodded while her lips pressed tightly with nervousness. 

"So, the little girl, my condition is…" He paused and looked at her serious cute face which made him laugh inside his mind.

My condition is "let's be friends". He forwarded his hand again in front of her. 

Abigail looked at his small hand and then his face for a moment with an open mouth.

"That's it? She asked with a curious face.

"Yup! I like you! You are cute! Let's be friends!" 

Hearing his words, her nervous face finally showed a bright smile and she reached out her hand to shake with him.

"Alright! Let's be friends!" Her voice turned sweet. She never thought she would make friends like this. But she feels delighted. Now she will have a family. Not warm but it's better than being alone and lonely without family. 

"Great!" He shook hands. 

"Now! We are friends!" He declared, which made both of them smile wide and they laughed out loud. 

"Honey! Did you see that! Our son…" Erma said, looking astonishingly at her son and the girl from farsight. 

"Yes...sweetheart! Our son is great. He already made a friendship with her. Now it's all easy for adoption!" He chuckled greedily. 

"Excuse me, Mr. And Mrs. Beckett!" Suddenly, Abigail's father's lawyer comes from behind and they both look at him. 

"Yes! Mr.James!" Dale immediately smiles to see him while Erma shows soft smiles and stands beside her husband silently. 

"The papers are ready to sign! But did you meet Abigail?" The lawyer asked.  

Both husband-wife looked at each other before looking straight at Mr.James.

"No, we don't meet her! But we know she will be happy to see us!" Dale grinned with confidence.

Seeing their confidence he asked.

"How do you know that Mr. Beckett?" He raised his brows. 

"Mr.James! Just turned your head and looked in that direction!" This time Erma spoke out while pointing to the children's direction where Abigail and Calebs laughing. 

Mr.James saw the scenario and felt glad. 

"Our son has already become best friends with her!" Dale laughed. 

Mr.James turned to them again. 

"It's good then! Now you can proceed then!" 

Hearing him, their eyes filled with joy.

"Ohh that's great! Then let's go! Mr.James! We want Abigail our home as soon as possible! We want a daughter and she's the one who could fill that position!" Dale showed a lovely father character to make Mr.James believe in his words. 

"I'm happy that you both great people wanted her to become your part of the family!" Mr.James said while showing a small happy smile. 

"Let's go now!" He added. 

The husband-wife smirked happily.