Manipulative step-sister

Ella was so pissed of with both mother and daughter. They monopolize the conversation at the dinner table and hardly took notice of her. It was just alright if it's only the two of them, they can bust their lips with their endless chatter. The problem is they include Dane . He made some steps to change the topic to a common ground but to no avail. But in fairness he was a good conversationalist and well mannered, he answered most of the inquiries.

Her bottled up discomfort cause her the inability to sleep, so she took her robe and slipped to the porch in her room she inhaled the cool breeze that is calming her senses. She wondered why did their father left them. They were such a happy family back then although she sense that there is something wrong as she can hear her mom crying to sleep and her dad slamming the door before he went for a drive and return in the morning with alcohol in his breath. That was before the things escalated and developed it into new dimension. The beating starts, the verbal abuse and there were times she got caught in the middle of it all. if not for Gab who always stirs her away and console her was she able to survived.

The way she recall it now she was  thinking if her father have another family or is her mother cheating on her father? this things are just impossible for her to take and she didn't ask her father for she is afraid of the truth. The last session she has with her doctor she said that thing are going well . What could that mean?

" Can't sleep" That deep southern drawl brought her back to the present. She didn't notice him sitting in the dark side of his porch looking at her. 

"What are you doing there in the dark? you scare the hell out of me." Surprise she answer.

"Sometimes it's nice to stay out in the dark, it makes you do things that no one can see. so normally no one can judge."

" Do you ever have something to hide? it's so hard for me to believe."

"Everyone has a secret Ella it is one of the thing that makes a complete person."

"Maybe." She didn't pursue the topic. The next day  Ella decided to vtsit thefruit trees  she experimented on some varieties of Mangoes and she wanted to check the development.on so with the mulberries it is uncommon to grow them on this part but she tried it because the tourist love it. she already experimented on other fruits and it come out succesfull.

She was about to ride on her bike when she saw Dane hurriedly walk towards her direction followed by Julia. "Where you up to Ella ?" Dane ask.

" I' m going to the nursery to visit the growth of my seedling, then to the orchard. Why? What's up?"

"Can I come with you?" There was urgency in his voice.

"Sure, Hop in." she gestures with her head at the backseat .

"Ohhh! I want to go also, Can I come too." Pouting Julia ask.

"Ohh, I'msorry Jules asyou can see there's no more room  for another rider."

" But there are other transport  we can use." She insisted and never tried to hide her disapointment.

"Would you like to ride on Ginger?  You don't like horses, do you?" Suddenly Julia brighten up. 

"Why don't ride on Ginger , me and Dane on your bike." She started to smile but was disappointed to what Ella replied. " why don't you ride with me then. Dane will ride Ginger." 

"No! I don't want to ride with you."  

"Then what is it you want Julia? You are wasting my time!" Ella is getting pissed off with her step-sister.

"Girls,,, girls relax, You go I'll stay." Dane butted in.

"No!" they both answered but Julia continued, "Do you think that I don't understand that you are making it difficult for me to go with you? Why Ella what is it you are hiding?"

"Are you out of your mind? I have given you the options but tou want it your way. Acting like your are the boss here." 

"you are the one Who is out of your mind! Do you think that I didn't know your regular visit to your psychiatrist?"

Ella who is been holding up her temper suddenly burst. "If you want to know the truth,  then let me say it to you. I don't want you here because you're disrupting the duties of the workers with your impossible request." Julia cried, calling out to  her mother.

"Mama!" Her mother appeared immediately as if on cue.

"What is it dear?" Wailing to her mother, Sophie looks at Ella angrily. To which Ella did was to ride on her bike step on the crank and drive away. Leaving  Dane Julia And Sophie a cloud of dust.

She does not want this confrontation with anyone and she was sure that Julia will changed the story to her favor and her step-mother will tell her father and father will come chastise her ad cycle goes on and on. She wish that she will be eighteen already for her to gain full control of the running of the farm. Except for Gab who is away on a bussiness trip no one bothers to hear her side. Maybe for Dane but with the thing she have shown today she doubted he will defend her. Sometimes she just wish that she can forbid this toxic people to come to the farm so that she can go on with her life and focus on  getting well on her illness.

Her plans for the day was disrrupted by her giving in with er temper. She do not percieve that the mother and daughter is really aiming to mess with her mind so as she will not be fit to run the farm and her father will be forced to hand over the affairs of the resort to another whom Sophie can control.