A cruel Fate

Despite Layla's wishes, it didn't rain. And her stepmother returned with a bright smile. The meeting must have been successful.

"Pour me some tea, Layla. It's been a long day after all."

"Yes"

Layla poured the warm liquid over the cup. Her stepmother took a sip of the aromatic liquid.

Chamomile tea, her stepmother's favourite. It was supposed to be warm with a subtle flavour.

But her stepmother doesn't think so.

She made a disgusted face, putting her hand over her mouth.

"Too bitter"

She then looked at Layla. "You don't even know how to brew tea, or are you doing so deliberately?"

"I'm sorry. I will brew it again.

But her stepmother raised her hand to stop her. "No need. Beth, show her."

Beth, who was standing on the side, came forward and bowed down. She then pushed Layla. Strong enough to convey a message to Layla while being subtle enough to avoid suspicion.

After a few minutes, Beth brewed the tea as requested by the woman. The procedure was the same as what Layla had done before; nothing was slightly different at all.

"Here madam"

"Ah, thank you, Beth. I knew I could count on you," the woman's eyes trailed over to Layla, who stood there with her head down. "Unlike someone," she continued.

The woman once again sipped the same tea made by her own maid.

"Ah. Just the way I like it," the woman hummed as she savoured the sweet chamomile flavour.

She put her cup down on the saucer.

"I thought your mother would have taught you all of this."

"Haha. She didn't teach me all this," Layla said. "Must be because father was always with mother and she rarely had time for me."

Layla saw the woman's finger twitch, and her smile grew bigger. Moreover, my father spoiled me and my mother, so it never occurred to us that this type of work was important. He would stick with her like glue, always thinking about her mother, even when she went shopping. It used to be so fun," Layla said, smiling like an innocent little girl.

"Oh, I see," her mother too smiled, but a dark one. The sinister smile tells Layla that she messed up. But she can't help it. Moreover, she didn't lie about anything.

Her father used to love her, though now she knew it was a hoax. But her younger self didn't know that. Her father would spoil them, mainly her mother. He would buy her anything that she desired.

There is no way a poor orphaned girl would be able to buy all those expensive things without her father's help.

He would constantly worry about Layla's mother whenever she went out of his sight. That's why he would rarely send mother out shopping, unless she adamant.

Now that she thinks about it, Layla was always with her mother in the mansion. They never went out except for a few special occasions. In fact, she could count them on one finger.

Mother didn't even had any friends. In an aristocratic society, ladies build their connections through social gatherings, like what her stepmother was doing. But Layla had never seen her mother go out to those social gatherings, nor had any of her other friends visited her.

Though her mother was an orphan and didn't have any relatives, she had a very cheerful personality, so she certainly would make friends.

It seems as though her father had entirely cut her off from the outside world. As if he had her imprisoned in this home.

Or maybe she was just thinking too much.

"Don't worry, child, since I am here, I will make sure you will not fall behind".

"Huh?"

Her stepmother just smiled. She took another sip of her warm tea.

"Beth, why don't you teach little Layla all this basic stuff? Poor baby is falling behind."

"As you wish, madam,"

To say Layla didn't expect this would be an understatement. But to have Beth teach was something she didn't expect.

"But for starters, why don't you go and fill the tea pot? The water is going cold.

With that instruction, Layla was sent away to refill the tea pot. The pot was still warm to the touch. Maybe her stepmother was simply trying to bother Layla, or maybe she just needed a break after their previous conversation. Anyway, who cares, Layla doesn't even want to be around her.

They were having tea time in the garden. As she was walking down the path, her eyes fell on the tiny bell-shaped flower that was blooming close to some big shrubs. The large leaves of the shrubs obscure the lovely, blooming flower.

Now that she thinks about it, this was her first trip to the garden since her reincarnation. She never saw the garden up close, just far away from her window.

Forgetting the task at hand, she went towards the flowering plant. The flowers were small and bell-shaped, growing on a leafless stalk.

"How pretty"

To get a better look at those little white flowers, Layla kneeled down. There seemed to be only one blooming in this place.

"Ah, you must be alone too, in such a spot without anyone to appreciate your beauty."

Getting lost in the earth underneath once its beauty fades away. Such a sad ending.

Layla got lost in thought. How cruel must some fates be. To be left all alone in an unfamiliar place, and then, once you finally bloom out of your own accord, no one appreciates your glory.

If they had blossomed in the church's garden, maybe people would have complimented it for its beautiful appearance.

She reached out her hand to touch the flowers. Until someone grabbed her hand, from touching them.

"Don't touch it-"

The voice she had heard many times before. The one that called her a monster.

"-it's dangerous"

Elijah.