Chapter 5
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I arrived at Nicole’s house and knocked on the door. “Nicole, I remember you have a spare room. Could I stay here for a day? I’ll pay you.”
Nicole opened the door, her eyes brightening. She pulled me inside. “Danna, money doesn’t matter between us. The payment you gave me for making those clothes was more than enough.”
I smiled and took the two finished outfits. “Nicole, these clothes would be fashionable even abroad.”
Nicole gave me a surprised look. “Danna, are you going overseas?”
I nodded. “Yes, I leave tomorrow.”
Nicole exclaimed excitedly, “Congratulations! You’re the first person I know who’s able to go abroad.”
She looked me over with amazement.
I smiled somewhat helplessly and handed her an envelope. “Nicole, after I leave, please give this to Leon’s supervisor.”
Nicole took the envelope and stored it carefully.
Early the next morning, I changed into my clothes and stood at the entrance of the Hale House, watching the cars passing by.
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Chapter 5
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Earlier, I had given Mark the Hale House as my address, so they should be arriving soon.
Zayn stood behind me, calling out tentatively, “Mom…”
I turned to look at him. This usually clean little boy now had dirty clothes. My heart ached instantly.
He said, “Mom, don’t go, please come back. Ariel’s cooking is terrible, and she doesn’t know how to do laundry.”
I laughed coldly. “You want me to come back to be your maid? Zayn, you’re nine years old now. You have your own values. You know whether you see me as your mother or just a caretaker who can make you spaghetti.”
Zayn opened his mouth, looking at me with tears welling in his
eyes.
But I felt completely calm. Perhaps I knew that he, like Leon, didn’t understand gratitude.
Leon frowned as he walked toward me. “Danna, he’s your son. How can you be so cruel? You’ve changed so much.”
I smiled, about to speak, when I felt a sharp pain in my neck. Looking back, I saw Ariel holding a wooden stick. She said, “Danna, don’t blame me.”
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Just before losing consciousness, I heard Leon say, “Ariel, don’t feel guilty. She was in your way. If she had been willing to give you her job from the beginning and stayed home to take care of Zayn, we wouldn’t have to do this. Get ready now. When the car arrives, I’ll tell the supervisor that she gave her position to you.”
Ariel was deeply moved and hugged Leon.
Zayn watched the two of them and me lying on the ground with blood on my forehead, seemingly contemplating something.
When I regained consciousness, I found myself locked in a room, tightly bound to a chair with rope, unable to move. A rag was stuffed in my mouth, the greasy taste of food making me
nauseous.
From outside, I could hear Leon’s voice. “My wife wants to stay home to take care of our son, so could Ariel go abroad instead?”
“What? Mr. Campos didn’t tell me about this. Isn’t this too
sudden? Where is Danna?”
Ariel’s nervous voice also reached my ears. “Danna is sick and went to the hospital, so she can’t meet you, but this is her own
choice.”
“Yes, Danna is my wife. I can convey her wishes,” Leon added.
The others still seemed hesitant. “Mr. Campos highly values Danna’s translation skills. If someone else replaces her…”
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Leon caught their meaning and said, “Danna doesn’t know French. She just eavesdropped on the audio tapes I bought for Ariel and learned a little. Ariel is much better than her.”
I struggled in my chair, looking at the light coming through the window, but couldn’t make a sound.
“Alright then, have Ariel pack her bags and come with us quickly.”
Despair washed over me, and tears fell from my eyes. Even in this second life, was I still unable to change my original fate?
Just as I was about to give up, a rumbling sound approached, and Mark’s voice suddenly rang out. “Mr. Hale, I wasn’t aware that Ms. Garner is your wife?”
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