Chapter 5 "Big Changes"

Harriet’s POV

“Just because my brother gave you a dress, you think so highly of yourself?”

Madell roughly carries the yellow dress that Zion bought for me. Almost stumbling, I chased after her.

When Madell found out that her brother gifted me a dress, she wanted to own the clothe and asked me to give it to her instead. Of course, I did not agree.

As a result, Madell went so mad. She snatched the dress from my hand, and I followed her until we arrived at he mansion’s living room.

During that time, only I, Madell and the maid, Reese, were present.

“Please Madell! Give it back to me!” I begged.

Madell looked at me with a grin on her lips.

Ever since we were kids, she treated me like a garbage and a stone in her eyes. But because she is Zion’s sister and for the sake of peace, I let her do whatever she wanted, not realizing that I was too blinded by love and hopeless affection from other.

But that time… she’s going overboard.

“Give it back to you?” she said in sarcastic tone. “Why should I? If I give it back to you, will your wear it? Stop dreaming, you b*tch. Dresses like this don’t suit an ugly duckling like you. And didn’t I warn you before not to wear any dress. What do you think of yourself? A princess? I never seen an adopted child who has a thick face like you.”

Suddenly, I saw her shoving the dress near to the fireplace which has lit of fire.

My eyes went wide.

No matter how annoyed she is, Madell has no right to burn the gift that I received from Zion!

Everything went in slow-mo  when Madell let go of her grip. And so, I throw my body and caught the dress before it will fall down into the fire.

“Ahhh!”

The yellow dress did not burn. However, when I lost my balance, my palm reached a glowing charcoal and I felt an scorching pain to my skin.

“Ahhhhh!” I screamed. All strength left me, I fell down on the ground while hugging the dress and pressing the skin around my burn hand.

“Harriet!” Reese shouted. She went closer to check my hand which is trembling so hard.

When I lifted my eyes upwards, I met Madell’s shaking pupils. She’s so used of hurting me physically, but she makes sure no mark will be left, so that the chairman won’t see the trace of her abuse. Even so, there’s no guilt in her eyes. No way she’ll feel guilty.

For the stubborn evil lady, she did nothing wrong and I received what I should get.

“T-That is your fault!” she shouted. “Because you are so st*pid!” she added.

I pressed my hand so hard to ease the pain, which was futile. The burn in my hand started to get big, as if a small red watery balloon.

“Miss Madell! This is too much!”

Suddenly, my friend, Reese, defended me.

My widened eyes looked at the maid who bravely stood up for me; so shocked I could not stop the tears flowing down to my cheeks.

“What the hell,” Madell scoffed. She knelt down to match our level glared at Reese. Next, she roughly pinched Reese’ cheeks in one hand.

“Hmf!” Reese moaned in pain.

“M-Madell!” I shouted as I tried to pull my friend away from her. But my hand still feel so painful so I could not do so.

“How dare you, a maid, shouted at me and even tried to side with that lowly b*tch?” Madell warned Reese.

“Hmmmf!” Reese moaned, crying. She’s sitting beside me so I could feel her trembles at the hand of the evil Madell.

“Why? You’ll tell this to my grandpa?” Madell asked her. “Go ahead. Tell her everything to him. And if that happens, it will be not only Harriet who will taste my hands. It will be your turn, you ugly maid.”

“Hmmf!” Reese cried hard.

“Since you two are friends, do you want to save her? Or do you want to switch place with her? Can you use yourself as Harriet’s shield?”

“Madell, stop it,” I begged while catching my breath.

At my words, Madell let go of Reese. I looked at Reese’s face and saw the red marks on both sides of her cheek.

“R-Reese,” I called.

Madell stood up and glared at me.

“So shut your mouth,” Madell warned. “If you want to save your friend, shut your f*cking mouth. You understand?!”

Sobbing while hugging the yellow dress, I nodded my head. “Y-Yes. I will.”

That is why since then, I hid the truth from everyone. When Zion and chairman Sorren saw the wound in my hand, I lied to them and said that I got there through an accident.

A year after that, May 19, 2022 came.

Reese informed me that chairman Sorren would like for me to join them for breakfast. Before that, I remembered that grandpa said he will tell me something so important.

Because I was so excited, I came to the dining table a bit earlier than others, and even helped the servants in arranging the plates and foods on the long mahogany dining table.

My heart was beating so fast while feeling so nervous since that will be my first time eating breakfast with the whole family.

I am only an adopted child. Madell abused me physically, while her mother, Sherly, belittled me almost everyday. Despite of that, I still consider them as my family. Main reason is because I don’t want to be an enemy against Zion’s family.

The Family Fabroa, including grandpa Sorren, went to the dining table.

The last one who arrived late is no other than the man I longed for.

Zion Fabroa.

He is my childhood friend and my knight in shining armor.

My secret feelings for Zion have started when we were kids. He always there to save me from his abusive sister and mother.

For me, he is always be my protector.

“I am so sorry that I’m late. The traffic is so heavy,” Zion apologized to everyone. He perched down on the seat across mine.

When our eyes met, a sweet smile on his lips followed.

Heat rose in my cheeks.

I rarely see Zion because he moved out of the house and live alone. So I always waited for the day of his visit.

[“How are you?”] Zion mouthed at me.

Couldn’t hide my smile, I replied, [“I’m fine.”]

All of a sudden, I heard a laugh from Madell. “Pffft…!”

Everyone tended their eyes to the lady who abruptly laughed madly like that,

“You can’t really hide  your smile, can you?” Madell asked me. “It is so obvious that you turned so giddy while looking at my brother. Don’t tell me until now, you still like him? Pathetic b*tch.”

“Ahem,” grandpa Sorren cleared his throat to stop his grandchild.

The hear rose upward to my ears, as I could not refute her accusation.

“Madell, can you just shut up?” Zion came to the rescue.

This isn’t the first time Madell teased me for liking Zion. And because she always say this, everyone thought that it is just a silly joke. Also, I never admitted the truth and said I did not see Zion in that way. Therefore, Zion thought that Madell is just teasing me for groundless assertion.

“I am only telling the truth!” Madell defended. “She is an ambitious woman who thinks she can have my brother. Oh god~ She dreams so high for an adopted kid like her.”

“Madell.”

This time, it is her mother, Sherly, who stopped her.

“Stop it. It will never be funny to partner your brother to Harriet. Zion deserves better. Do you understand?”

I clenched my fists under the table.

Madell and Sherly’s mockery, I am used to those. Still, it is not easy to stay lighthearted after hearing their parody.

“Why?” Zion suddenly spoke.  

I lifted my teary eyes and looked at him.

“Harriet is the secretary of Fantell Firm’s Chairman. Her wage is higher than any other employees in the company. Also, she is a smart woman who graduated as sum-cumlaude from a prestigious university with, More than that…”

Zion looked at me before he continued.

“She’s pretty.”

All of my  sorrow and hatred vanished instantly.

Zion appeared in front of me as if he’s the only one in the world, and everything’s color turned gray, leaving only his image.

I was so convinced at that time that I really do love Zion. Because aside from the chairman, he is the only one who can see my worth.

I brought my right hand upward and tucked my hair behind my ear. Then, Madell spoke again.

“You are the worst, brother,” Madell commented. “This is a problem of yours. You keep on saying things that will make Harriet hope. That’s why she’s turning sly as time passes by. For example, giving her a dress as a gift. Harriet was so happy that she threw her body as soon as I threw the dress into the fire. That’s why she got a burn on her palm. What an idiot.”

Grandpa Sorren and Zion both looked at my right hand and the burn on there at the same time.

“Ahhhh!” Madell gasped, covering her mouth.

It was her who threatened us to keep our mouth shut, and never reveal this to the chairman. But she had a slipped of tongue and accidentally confide the truth by her own. Because of this, the chairman, who kept silent for a long time, has opened his mouth.

“Madell!” the chairman shouted. “I found out that you were caught smoking in school. And I am willing to give you a light punishment. However, if you are really the reason why Harriet injured her right hand, then I won’t tolerate it!”

“Hey. Is that true?” Zion asked his sister in cold voice, like gallows chain. “Did you really do that?!”

I opened my mouth, about to  explain. But before it could happen, madam Sherly butted into the strained conversation.

“I was there when the accident happened,” she lied. “Actually, the kids had a simple fight. Madell wanted to borrow the dress from Harriet since she really needs a yellow dress for their school activity the next day. But Harriet could not say yes. Well, Zion gifted it after all. So Harriet accidentally pushed Madell because she’s angry. Then Madell, who got hurt, felt so enrage too. They fought over the dress and Harriet stumbled near the fireplace where she got the burn on her hands.”

Her story is so fabricated, too far from the truth.

But when madam Sherly looked back at me and asked, “Isn’t that right, Harriet?”

I knew that time that I have no choice but to yield again.

“Y-Yeah. That’s right. It was an accident. I am really sorry for being so immature that time. I apologized,” I said to the chairman, bowing my heard.

Grandpa Sorren and Zion took deep breaths. Although they don’t like what happened before, they cannot punish Madell since I admitted my wrongdoings, which I did not actually do.

I believed I just did the right thing. It always like this: Me, taking all the blame for the sake of peace.

“Forget the childish fight,” sir Finn, Zion’s father, said.

He is sitting beside me.

Sir Finn looked looked at the chairman and asked, “Father. Why do I have to eat breakfast together with your secretary?”

There’s a moment of silence settled between us.

I was thinking the same thing. ‘The chairman said he had something important to say to me. Is it related to that?’ I asked myself.

“Ahhh!” Zion gasped all of a sudden. “Is this about Harriet’s upcoming birthday?” he asked before looking back at me. “Harriet. What gift do you want for this year?”

“Ahhh, she’s getting so much attention. So annoying,” Madell whispered from the side.

Abruptly, the chairman stood up with a frown on his wrinkled forehead.

“Grandpa,” Zion called.

“Father,” sir Finn also called him.

“I lost my appetite,” said Sorren.

The chairman looked at me.

Then he said, “Secretary Harriet. Let’s go the company. I would rather eat breakfast alone with you than to stay here.”

Because of that, grandpa Sorren lost the chance to say his special announcement. Madam Sherly, Madell and sir Finn’s hatred for me grew even more too. That’s why, that breakfast scene is so memorable for me.

Thus, now that I came back to the past, at the time where we will eat together, I decided to change the original scenario.

First, I wore the yellow dress that Zion have to me. That made Madell so freaking mad.

Second, I revealed the physical abuse that I received from Madell.

And third…

“I don’t remember that madam Sherly was there at that time,” I answered to Madam Sherly who lied about the incident a year ago.

There’s a loud buzz echoed around, which came from the servants who witnessed the scene. They are so surprised, all mouth went opened.

Why not? This is the first time I talked back with this old witch! Actually, this is not enough given the hardship I experienced before!

“As far as I can remember, there were only me and Madell during that night,” I added.

“W-What are you s…”

“Ahhh. There’s one more person. Someone who saw me and miss Madell.”

As I said that, I tended my eyes to my so-called best friend, Reese.

For me, she is the real villain among everyone.

“Reese,” I called.

The pale Reese looked at my way.

“Y-Yes?” she stuttered.

“You were there, right?”

Everyone stared at the maid whose face is so pale, as if her blood turned white.

That’s right. I put her in a difficult situation.

If Reese will say yes, that means she is ready to clash against the two bosses in this house, Sherly and Madell. But if she lie, then it is my chance to remove that f*cking angel mask of her.

‘Let’s see how long can you hide your real color, Reese.’

“Actually… Ahmmmm, I mean, that night…” Reese started, flinching her fingers. “That night I… I was…”

“Why are we wasting time for this childish fight?” Finn butted at the most exciting part.

I rolled my eyes as I looked back at him.

Just like the original events, the conversation about my scar stopped when Finn spoke.

‘Does it mean that even If I’ll do my best to change the future, there are still events that will happen no matter what happened?’  I realized.

“Father. You said before that you have something important to discuss with the whole family.I will punish Madell for her wrongdoings,”sir Finn said.

“Dad!/ Honey,” Madell and Sherly complained in unison.

Finn ignored his wife and his daughter. Looking at the chairman, he inquired, “Can you tell it right now? Father?”

With reddened face, Madam Sherly sent a piercing glared to my side. She looks like a volcano who is about to erupt.

On the other side, I saw Reese sighing in relief. Then our gaze met.

The corner of my lips slowly soared up to give her a sweet smile, which made her eyes widened.

‘That’s so refreshing.’

From Reese, I tilted my head back to the chairman.

I finished annoying the people whom I need to mess with this morning.

Now, the next thing to do is to know the unfinished announcement grandpa Sorren had to say at the original past.

The chairman opened and closed his lips.

‘This is the same expression he had before!’

Did I go overboard and ruin his mood?

“I loss my appet…”

‘No way. I must stop it!’

“Chairman!” I suddenly shouted that stopped him.

Again, I caught everyone’s attention.

“I suddenly remembered that my birthday is near,” I said.

‘Think. Think Harriet. How can I make him stay?’

“You are really so shamel…!” Madell was about to shout, but stopped when her father sent her a glare.

I stared at the chairman with the brightest eyes I can show.

“This is the first time I ate breakfast with Fabroa family. It made me so happy. I feel like I already received my birthday gift.”

The chairman’s strained reaction has loosened.

To be honest, to eat again with everyone makes my blood boil to the highest degree. I really wanted to puke right now! However, this is my only way to show grandpa that I’m fine.

I have a guess that the reason why grandpa Sorren left the dining room before is because I was not comfortable. With this lie, he can continued where he was left, right?

“Then, hearing that is enough for me,” Chairman said, laughing.

‘Success.’

When he set his eyes back to everyone, he announced, “All of you, listen carefully.”

The atmosphere  turned serious all of a sudden.

“Soon, I will step down from my position as the chairman of Fintell Architecture Firm.”

All had their eyes wide opened.

But I did not.

This already happened to the original future. If there’s one difference, then it is that the chairman announced it a bit earlier than when it supposed to happen.

“I would like to give the person who deserves it. And I want it to be fair.”

“What do you mean fair, dad?” Finn asked his father while gritting his teeth.

I traced Zion who’s gawking confusedly at his grandfather. If my guess is right, the chairman would probably say…

“Zion needs to work in my company.”

“My brother!” Madell screamed.

“Z-Zion will?” the couple asked in the same time.

Right.

Something like this also happened in the original future.

‘Then that’s it? Then why should I had to join the meeting’

“Zion will also learn on how to handle the company,” the chairman added.

“Grandpa,” Zion asked I disbelief.

“And to do that…”

All of a sudden, I felt the chairman’s intense gaze towards my side.

I slowly looked at him and met his gaze.

“Harriet will be Zion’s new secretary.”

The plate before me almost fell down when my hand flinched hardly.

Zion and I stared at each other, both gaping.

‘It looks like I changed the future… a bit too much.’