The days passed in a blur of preparation, her family prepared for their birthday party, and Ella prepared for her departure.
She had spent the last few days sorting through her belongings, selling her jewelries, handbags, and clothes that could raise her some substantial amount of money. She also made a list of investments, her mind already racing with different possibilities. She didn't just want to escape; she wanted to thrive. She wanted all those who once called her name in mockery to now call her name in reverence.
Ella had feigned politeness around her family since the incidence. Luckily, there hasn't been anymore drama, besides she couldn't afford to tip them off to her plans to leave.
As their birthday date drew closer, Ella's memory of the day couldn't be more clear. She assumed that the reason for her peaceful days right now is because Emily is waiting to embarrass her on their birthday.
What Emily didn't realize though, was that this time, Ella intended to turn the tables.
"Sister dear, you seem distracted lately." Once more Ella was seated with the perfect family of three for dinner when she heard Emily's feigned concerned words.
Ella looked up to meet Emily's gaze, in her past life, she'd missed the challenge in her gaze, the subtle mockery in her stepsister's eyes. Not anymore.
Their eyes met. Ella held her stare, "Just thinking about the birthday preparations," Ella replied, matching her sweet tone, and fake smile. "Twenty is such an important milestone, isn't it?" Ella asked.
"Oh yes," Emily's smile faltered. She didn't understand what was wrong with Ella, she keeps deviating from her character.
"Dad says there will be an important announcement on that day." Emily says as she glanced at her father who was concentrated on his meal.
"Yes darling, your father has a good surprise for us all... You especially." Clara added her voice just as saccharine as her daughter's.
'Of course, there would be a surprise. My father had announced my engagement with my former fiancé. I had been so overjoyed as I always had a crush on him, I thought he liked me back. How naive.' Ella thought to herself.
The thought of the man who'd chosen Emily over her, who had watched her fall apart with cold eyes while comforting her stepsister. In Ella's past life, she had been thrilled about the union, blind to the trap closing around her.
"Really? Will we finally get to cut the cake at the hour of my birth this year?" Ella smirked when the table fell silent and awkward, but she still looked at Clara with clear innocent eyes.
"Oh dear, does it matter when the cake is cut?" Clara tried to not show her irritation. It was annoying enough that this bi*ch gets to be engaged to such an outstanding guy when her daughter is kept in the dark, as a secret. Yet, she still wants to complain about when the cake is cut?!
"Yes it does, sister's friends always mocked me. They said I was just accompanying my stepsister to celebrate her birthday, that I have never celebrated my birth. They asked if it was because my mother's body is rottening underground that no one cares about me. So I was hoping that this time, we cut the cake an hour later, we always cut the cake the hour of sister's birth, and when the hour of my birth reach, no one remembers to wish me. And besides, the gifts too, except for the gift from father, I never receive any gifts for my birthdays." Eric frowned as he dropped his cutlery.
"What are you talking about? Doesn't your mother get you gifts?" Clara laughed awkwardly, her nervousness making Eric frown even more. 'Had he missed something!'
"Ella darling, I have never bought a gift for Emily too right? Besides, aside from your father, Emily's friends are the one's who gifts her. As for the cake cutting, no one would mock you like that, so stop making it up." Clara was upset, not just at Ella, but also at Emily. Ella's words were things they both would say behind closed doors, for Ella to have said those, it means Emily said such to her friends! 'How foolish.'
"Of course you always gift Emily. You just don't do that publicly, you would change her entire wardrobe the night before her birthday, while mine stays the same. Do you know, most of the bags and clothes in my wardrobe are from when I was 17, and it was mostly from my Aunt Mira when she visited. But look at sister," Ella paused, glancing at Emily, "It is no wonder her friends would call me her nanny. They said I am an unwanted child of my father, that my father didn't..."
"Stop!!!" Eric clenched his teeth and knuckles so hard. "What do you mean seasons ago? There is never a day when your card isn't used!" Eric accused. Compared to Emily who rarely spent her allowance, Eric had to fund Ella's credit card a few times within a month. Even Clara had spoken to him about her concern over Ella's spending.
"Credit card?" Ella feigned surprise, "Father you must be joking right? I have never received any credit card." At this moment, Clara could feel her palm sweating.
"Clara..." she could hear the silent question in Eric's voice. What would she say? If she insists that Ella is with a credit card, Eric might investigate. 'How did this conversation get to here?'
"Stepmother, do I have a credit card?" Ella asked surprised. 'Oh, I should be an actress.' She thought to herself.
"I... Honey I can explain. I promise I can, if you could..." Clara stammered. This wasn't meant to happen. How can she explain the numerous times she accused Ella of shopping and spending extravagantly. She had always made Emily pay for her shopping's using Ella's card, and the few times a substantial amount was taken out of Emily's card was when she had Emily buy gifts for either her or for her father.
This made Eric favor Emily more, while frowning at Ella who always got gift not worth mentioning. 'How do I explain this.'
Eric cast a look at his youngest daughter and left the table. He felt guilty, a drunken night had turned his life upside down.
Flora and him were childhood sweethearts, their family financial standings were equal. As soon as they both were done with schooling, they had gotten married. While he took over his family's business, Flora took courses on cooking. She said she wanted to always make the food her family would eat. Years went by, their business grew.
They decided to try out for a child, they both promised to be present in the child's life, but during this critical period, he had to be drunk and made a mistake with his then secretary. He had apologized to Clara, telling her it was a mistake and it cannot ever happen again. Eric thought it would be unfair to fire her, so he allowed her to keep her job.
When he found out that Flora was pregnant, Eric had been overjoyed. He had then made a promise that he would never hurt her ever again. But soon he discovered that Clara too was pregnant. Every plea for her to get rid of the pregnancy proved futile. Clara said she was scared. So he decided he would support her and send her out of the country.
For months, he supported Clara through her pregnancy financially, but in the last month of her pregnancy, Clara had returned. She said her mother was sick and she needed company. Eric hadn't thought much of it. When Clara went into labor, Eric who had been informed went to the hospital, he thought he just had to be there, that child would after all be his first child. But he didn't know why Flora had also come to that hospital that night, her tear stricken face, the small laugh that had escaped her lips, the small sway of her body, everything remained a vivid memory in his head. Flora had also gone into labor that night, and exactly an hour after Emily's birth, Ella's cry was heard by the world.
Flora denied Eric access to her room, she refused to see him, her family obliged to her and he couldn't explain to her. He couldn't tell her how sorry he was and how it was never his intention to betray her.
Ella was just 2 weeks old and four days when he received the news of Flora's death. They said her blood pressure was too high. The guilt ate at him so much but he refused releasing his child to Flora's family. That was the only link he had to her, he couldn't let go. In bid to care for Ella, he brought home Clara and Emily. This made his already strained relationship with his in-laws become even worse.
Yet he had believed he made the best decision for Ella, but now, Eric let go of a tear as he realized nothing was real. His daughter has been made into a ridicule and he had helped them ridicule her.
When he thought of the countless times he had scolded Ella based on what he heard from Clara, his lips quivered. He had hated how she looked so much like her mother but vastly different. Now that he thought of it, Ella was his and Flora's child, how can she be that bad?
"Honey..." Clara began, she had followed him to his office
"Get out!" Eric boomed with his back still facing her. Clara staggered, 'It is over.'
She knew exactly the kind of relationship she has with Eric, to Eric she was more of a live-in nanny for Ella. During these years of marriage, the number of times he touched her is laughable. He was always sleeping in his office.
Even his bedroom with Flora had been locked, never letting her in there. She had used the excuse of cleaning the room to go in there last time, seeing Flora's wardrobe, her elegant dresses, her jewelries, her shoes, her bags... They all left a bitter taste in her mouth. The diamond necklace has been on the table and when she asked Eric if she could borrow it, he had walked out without saying a word.
She had then worn the jewelry for him to see, his gaze had felt insulting, "Now that you have worn it, just keep it." Clara had forced herself to not cry. Since wearing that bi*ch stuffs would make Eric feel as though it has turned dirty, she decided to keep wearing her things until she has nothing left in this house. But now, Clara knew her stay in this house is uncertain.