CHAPTER 26

They got into their car and drove to the club, where they found Anne and Dylan in such a good mood. They were out drinking with their friends.

“You came, Mother.”

“Yes, the princess is returning, and she requested my contact information. Can you give it to her?”

“Yes, I will do so right now,” she replied, pulling out the card and handing it to Nia.

They exited the car and waited for Nia to enter, "It was nice meeting you all. I'll see you the next time. Bye,” Nia said as she got into the car, “Until next time,” she waved.

They all watched as the cars exited the club in a line, and Nia was gone in an instant, and she was already missing her. Dylan remarked, "she's one hell of a princess."

"I agree with you on that," she said, looking at Dylan, “are you not returning home?”

“Are you chasing me away, already?”

“Return home. Tomorrow is your first day of school. If you are still here after one minute, I will consider you to be defying my order, and I will severely punish you.”

“You're doing it again!” Dylan hissed seeing how he was being threatened.

“Dylan, I believe she isn't playing. Go home and come back when you don't have any classes.”

“All right, I'm leaving,” he said as he approached her.

He kissed her on the cheek and ran away while she was contemplating how to
punish him if he didn't leave in one minute. She couldn't even curse at him, so she just held her cheek and laughed as Dylan walked away from her.

“I don't believe he'll give up.”

“I don't think so, either. Let's go back inside and spend some quality mother-daughter time,” she said as she linked her arm with Anne's and led her back into the club.

She intended to drink as much as she could and not let anything ruin her happy day. She wouldn't have to be cruel to anyone if every day was like this. She had a bad dream in which she saw a child crying, with tears and mucus all over her face.

She looked filthy and malnourished as if she had never eaten anything. She awoke in the middle of the night because of that dream; perhaps it was a sign, she reasoned.

She had everyone wake up in the middle of the night and begin a new project. She enlisted the help and had three haulage trucks loaded with food and trucks delivered. They were leaving for the neighboring city at nine a.m., where there was an orphanage that appeared to have been abandoned recently.

They arrived at eleven o'clock and were warmly welcomed even though they had not called ahead of time.

“We brought you food and clothes, and we hope you will accept them,” she told the matron.

“Thank you so much,” the matron said as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Everyone started unloading the trucks while she sat comfortably under the shed with some juice and snacks.

She hadn't eaten anything since the moment she awoke, so now that her mood was improving, it was time to eat something. She was looking at how happy and cheerful the kids were as they assisted the elders in unloading the goods when she noticed a young girl.

Something about her made her heartache, so she had someone call her. She noticed the child was a little lost and lonely because she was different from others after talking with her for a while. She reminded her of herself after she was released from the hospital.

How lost and lonely she was, and then the changes began, exacerbating the situation. She had fallen in love with her, and there was no way she could leave that poor soul in the orphanage.

She summoned Anne after dismissing the young girl.

“How do you feel about that young lady?”

“She needs to be rescued and placed in a loving home. Can we take her back?”

"Do you like her?"

“Yes, she is unique, as are we. We'll make a great family.”

“If you agree, let's go ahead and do it. Please refer to me as the matron.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

Anne walked away and went to speak with the matron, who arrived as soon as she finished speaking with Anne.

"I heard you wanted to speak with me."

“I do, indeed. Tell me everything about that child,” she said, pointing to the child.

She began to pay attention as the matron told her story. The child was abandoned at the orphanage when she was two years old, her origins unknown, so she was cared for until now.

She had never been adopted, she was unlucky among the other kids, which is why the other kids alienated her, and as a result, she has no friends because the other kids are afraid of not getting families if they are jinxed by her.

The red strap of hair she had was part of her hair, and they tried cutting it in the hopes that it wouldn't come out, but it did.

They tried dyeing it, but it was to no avail, so they gave up. As a result, children refer to her as a freak, and when parents learn of this, they completely exclude her from their child-rearing options.

Violet stated, "I like her."

“Please accept my apologies. Did I mishear you?”

“You didn't, I am a woman with little patience; I expect you to complete the adoption paperwork as soon as possible. I want to leave this place with her, and I'll add something to what I've already given you. So, act quickly. I know you want to get rid of the jinx, too,” she said, seeing the woman's face light up.

“I will get it done immediately.”

“Also, regardless of who comes looking for her. The child will cease to exist. I don't want anyone coming to take what is rightfully mine.”

“I understand; I'll go prepare.”

“I appreciate it.”

After about an hour, the trucks had been completely unloaded, and all her employees, including the children, were eating lunch. She was eating fruits because she couldn't eat food from which she had no idea where it came from.

The matron reappeared, this time carrying a stack of papers and Mary the child behind her. They arrived at her location and handed over the papers. She thoroughly read them before signing them.

“Thank you for being so quick.”

“We should thank you instead,” the matron said as she pushed Mary to the front.

“Mary, greet your adopted mother,” she said.

“You took me in!” Mary burst out laughing, she thought that it was a joke.

“Why? Do you dislike it?”

The girl didn't say anything but instead hugged her tightly. She was sobbing while hugging her that she started patting her on the back.

“It's all right, sweetheart.”

“Thank you very much. My wish has just been granted.”

“What is your dream?”

“Yes, I wished to go back with you and now I am. I promise to be good and to always listen to you.”

“You'd better keep your word. While we're on the subject, this older lady here is named Anne, and she's your elder sister.”

"Do I have an older sister? If it's convenient to have one. I'm Mary; may I address you as a big sister?”

“Yes, but just call me Anne,” Anne replied, and Mary thanked her by hugging her again.

“While you two are busy embracing, let me finish what I was going to say. Mary, your big sister, will be looking after you from now on, so pay attention to everything she says. I didn't want to hear that you disobeyed her, you understand?”

“Yes, ma'am,”

“That's my girl,” she said, looking at the matron, “and I'm not taking anything she used while she was in here.”

“It's fine.”

“Since we are finished here, we will depart. Please look after the children, and I will spread the word so that you will continue to receive donations for your children.”

“I thank you in advance.”

“Because the children did not commit any crimes, we should not punish them.”

“That is correct.”

She kissed the kids goodbye and assisted Mary into the car. Their cars drove away, followed by the haulage trucks.

“Where should we go from here, Mother?” Anne inquired.

“First, we're going to the registrar, and then we're going shopping at the mall.”

“All right, I'll make an appointment,” Anne said as she pulled out her phone.
***
“Bring in your assignments next week and remember that failure to do so will affect your final grades at the end of the semester,” the professor said to them in class before leaving.

He disliked assignments, but he had no choice with this one.

“Hey, dude, what's your topic?”

“I have been assigned to write a detailed report on any successful businesswoman I know.”

“Isn't that difficult? Do you think there are a lot of them?”

“Not quite, I've got the ideal candidate in mind.”

“Do you mind sharing?”

“I do,” he said, smirking.

“Stop doing that! You know I don't like it when you do that,” Sam exclaimed.

“Exactly; and that is why I did it?”

“Wait a minute, guys. Rita wants to see you, Dylan,” Laura said.

“Didn't you guys break up?” Sam inquired.

“Yes, we did. What exactly does she want?” Dylan asked with annoyance.

“Why don't you go find out for yourself?”

“Okay, where is she?”

“She is in the cafeteria waiting for you.”

“All right, I'll see you in the parking lot soon.”

“All right, we'll wait for you.”

When he arrived at the cafeteria and saw Rita already seated, he approached her and took the seat across from her.

“I didn't know what you wanted, so I waited for you.”

“I'm not hungry, so just order yours.”

“Dyl...”

“Rita, I have things to attend to, and if you're just going to sit there and say nothing, I'll leave.”

“Please don't do it, I just wanted to apologize if I offended you in any way. Can we rekindle our relationship? I'm missing you.”

“Nothing will change my feelings for you, Rita. That night, I meant every word I said. I don't love you, and I despise relationships arranged by parents. I don't want anyone to have a reason to use me.”

“I promise I won't be like that.”

“If it's you, don't say anything. The second you came to my house and pretended to be innocent and enticed me, that's when you started using me.”

“I'm not sure I understand Dylan.”

“Don't play the fool. Do you think I won't figure out that you're only dating me for the sake of your parents while sleeping with that boyfriend of yours?”

“How do you......?”

“As I previously stated, I am not a fool. I am aware of everything, and for the sake of our previous relationship, I will advise you to inform your parents and leave me alone. If she sees us, I'm afraid she'll misinterpret.”

“Are you already in a relationship?”

“What can stop me now that I'm single? I'm not sure how I'll react if you keep pushing me. Please make this the last time you look for me. Bye.”

“Dylan......”

He walked out on a girl for the first time in his life because listening to her would only make him angrier. He exited the cafeteria and went to the parking lot, where his friends awaited him.

“That was quick,” Taylor said as he patted him on the back.

“I don't know what to say to that girl, so I just dumped her and left.”

"My man! When did you turn ruthless?”

"Did I?"

“You did, indeed.”

“I guess I'm being swayed,” he smiled as that beautiful face appeared in his mind.

“You are, indeed. Man, you're becoming a different Dylan since you started hanging out with that white witch.”

“Is it really that bad?” he asked curiously.

“Not at all, we all love it.”

“Then I should spend more time with her.”

“Seriously?”

“Of course, why not?”