When Andrew thought Mike was asking for the world from him, it turned out, he did.
“Andrew, just sell the tramp.” Amy frustrated said as she was crawling up into bed.
“Amy, it’s not that simple.” Andrew groaned.
“Why not?”
He hadn’t told her that the Wu’s wanted her yet.
If she’d known, chaos would have broken in the family, and secrets would be reveled.
Ella made him remember the times with Sheng.
And he never forgot about her. And Amy knew that.
At times, he put Ella to work just so he wouldn’t see her to remember the good times he had with his first wife.
But at times, he wanted to just memorize her face just because Ella became part of his life.
And now he realized that Ella no longer was that six year old girl that he first saw years ago.
She was now a young woman.
A young woman who knew nothing about life and the outside world because of him.
And as much as he didn’t want to believe it, she was not worth the money Mike was giving him for her.
But once the Wu’s found out about Ella’s true identity, they wouldn’t want her anymore either.
He laid on the bed thinking of Ella and Sheng.
He came to the conclusion that Ella was nothing more than a curse.
Where ever he goes, she’ll follow. Just making the matter worse.
The reason why his wife died was because of ‘her.’
The reason why he suffered was because of ‘her.’
The reason why he started over was because of ‘her.’
The more he thought, the angrier he got.
He made up his mind.
The only way get rid of a curse, is to pass it on to the next.
And in this case, the Wu’s volunteered themselves to be next in line for the ‘curse’.
---
“Ella, hurry up and go shower.” Mr. Cheng told her daughter.
“Are we going somewhere?” Ella asked as she looked up from the floor she was scrubbing.
“The Wu’s are coming over and we’re going to have dinner. And you are going to be at the table this time, and not helping out with the cooking.”
Ella could sense that something was going on.
The last time when Ella sat with the family and ate was well over five years ago.
--
When the Wu’s did come over, both parents had Ella and Chun sit next to each other.
Charlene and Angela stared in envy.
“Ella, your family is coming to the beach with us, tomorrow. Would you like to come with us?” Ella almost choked on her food and started at Mrs. Wu who surprised her.
She stared at her father hoping to glimp a signal from him.
“Uh,” Ella looked at Mrs. Wu, uncomfortably. “I don’t think I’ll be able to. I still have work to do at home.” Ella lied.
“Well, that’s what servants and maids are for. Come on Ella, just one day, Chun’s going to be lonely.” She said.
“I’ll be going too, Auntie Wu!” Angela pouted. Mrs. Wu faked a smile.
“But Ella, you’re like family to us. You have to go.” Mike said.
“Ma, Pa, If she doesn’t want to go, then let her be. There’s still Charlene and Angela coming with us.” Chun said, meaning something else.
After Chun said his words Ella became silent.
She did want to go, but she knew it wasn’t her place, and her mother would not allow it, either.
“I think it’s best if you all just go, I still have others here to keep me company too.” Ella sadly replied and started collecting the dishes around the table, forgetting that she wasn’t suppose to.
Mary sighed. “But, Ella, you have to come and celebrate Chun’s wedding.”
Ella dropped the dishes on the floor, breaking into a million pieces.
Just like her heart.
“I-I’m so sorry.” Ella muttered as she, without thinking--started to gather the broken pieces into her hand.
“Ella, honey, forget about it.” Mike said, as he gathered around Ella to help her get up.
“I’ll clean it up.” she said and went into the kitchen to get the sweeper.
“Ella, it’s ok.” Her father said.
But without knowing it, she started to cry.
She had a pretty good reason why, though.
She tried to avoid the others the whole night.
--
“Happy that I’m getting married?” Chun asked as she sat outside in the garden.
Ella turned around and smiled.
“Who’s the girl?” Ella asked trying to hide the sadness.
“Jealous?” Chun teased. Ella just smiled.
“Chun!” Charlene called from inside. “Honey, come on! Mom and dad are waiting for us.”
‘Mom?’
‘Dad?’
‘Honey?’
Ella pieced the puzzles together.
He was marrying her step sister..
