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It's been months since Ariel came to live in the Thomas's residence.
Felicia and her second daughter Melanie has made life miserable for her, turning her into their slave, matreating badly.
Elizabeth has always been by her side ever since uncle Thomas left for his work.
"Elizabeth will soon go back to school and you will be left alone with us. Then I will see who will always defend you in this house again, evil witch," Felicia blurted out maliciously.
Felicia hurtful words towards Ariel was uncomprehensible. She kept on wondering whey her uncle's wife hate her so much to the extent of calling her a witch.
"Hey you there, what do you think you are doing sitting down there? Don't you have other things to do?" Melanie yelled out causing Ariel to flinch.
"I'm-- I'm through with my work," Ariel answered fearfully.
"What about the other one? Who will do it for you?" Melanie asked rudely.
"I---I-- I thought is yours to do?" She fearfully asked.
"Shut your mouth! worthless brat," Felicia barked on hearing her replies,
then she added;
"Who's work to do? Listen you are meant to do everything in this house, don't you know you are now a slave in this house?"
"Mom!" beth yelled out while decending down the stairs.
"Why mother? Why are you treating her that way? This is unfair mom, the way you treat her is unfair," she yelled out in frustration before turning to Melanie.
"And as for you, what gives you the right to talk to her that way?"
"Why won't she talk to her that way?" Felicia fired back at her daughter, "She's our slave after al--"
"She's no slave mother," beth cut her mother off firmly.
then added; "She's my cousin."
Tears rush down from Ariel's eyes on seeing how defensive beth was towards her.
Felicia chuckled on hearing this "cousin my foot,"
"A fake cousin." She added
"You treat her this way because father isn't here, if her mother was till alive, do you think she'll be here living with us? Can't you please accept and treat her like your own?" beth blurted out surprising everyone in the house.
"Now listen carefully beth, I will never accept someone who didn't even worth being my slave let only my child, I am your mother and what ever I say is what you will do, you have no right to talk back at me in this house," she turn her back facing the window then she added;
"Don't think defending her will either of you in this house, now shut up and get out of my sight."
"And as for you," she turn to face Ariel,
"You've seen what you've caused? My daughter now turns against me just because of you, I will make you regret coming, bastard, now get out and do that work," she barked at Ariel causing her to flew out of the room like a bird.
"Don't talk to your mother that way ever again," Ariel said to Beth as she pick up a broom to sweep, then she added;
"I appreciate your kindness beth, but is quite disrespectful, talking back at your mom attracts curse, please stop,"
Ariel kindly cautioned beth as she began to sweep the floor.
"I understand Ariel, but..is unfair, seeing you been treated like a slave hurts me so much. I can't support that," Beth let out truthfully.
"I know but I'm telling you the fact," Ariel said nicely
"Just don't worry about me okay, I will be fine," Ariel added while trying to fake a smile, before she continued,
"Is not an easy task to accommodate someone in your home, I'm so grateful to you all, I've freely lived under you roof not to mention the food I eat, I can't even afford the payment. please allow me to repay your kindness by doing this work, besides is no big deal," She chuckled as she bent to pick the dirty on the floor before she continued,
"I know you feel sad the way your mom talks to me, but,".... She trailed off as she straighten the hair that came to rest on her forehead.
"Is part of training, okay?"
"I wish she could see how nice and pure you are," Beth added
Ariel smiled and said, "so you are Beth, thank you."
A week has passed after the incident between Ariel and her uncle's wife.
Ariel tried her hardest best in not fall into her aunt Felicia and Melanie's net..
Ariel was done doing the house chores with the help of beth.
Felicia hasn't been treating her daughter Beth well, because of her kindness towards Ariel, but who care, all beth wanted to do was to follow her heart and do the right thing.
Ariel and beth were sitting under an apple tree in the garden in a cool afternoon, beth was busy studying while Ariel was reading her novel, then Melanie walk in and called out..
"It seems you are deaf, didn't you hear my mother calling out your name?" she yelled out rudely.
"Why do you lack so much respect, Melanie," Elizabeth questioned on seeing how rude her sister has become.
"Is okay beth," Ariel said before turning to face Melanie
"Sorry i didn't hear it, but let's go," she stood up and left with her.
Elizabeth didn't know why her mother called Ariel but she quickly stood and followed them.
"I called her not you Beth," Felicia harshly spoke to her daughter, then she turned to Ariel;
"And you, can't you see we have nothing in this house? What will my husband eat if he returns today."
'Uncle James is coming back today?' She asked in her mind, her face quickly brighten up.
"Listen carefully you, don't think my husband's presence will change anything about you, you better get ready for the worse, witch," she deadpanned giving her a goosebumps.
"So father is coming back today, wow!" beth exclamined excitedly.