Thus, the child was given a name— Blessed and was adopted into the Jason's household. She was named by her father who believed she will bring a good fortune.
But life in the Jason family was far from gentle.
Blessed's adoptive mother treated her like an unwanted burden, a constant thorn in her side. Despite the scorn, the girl bore it all in silence, always trying to please the woman who kept reminding her of her "purpose"—that she was merely a child bride prepared for Liam , her supposed elder brother, six years her senior.
To Blessed, this meant obedience. If her fate was to be tied to Liam, then she had to earn her place in the household. She did everything to make her fiancé happy even at the expense of her happiness.
When she was eight years old, the family prepared for a National Day outing. Excitement buzzed in the air like firecrackers, but Blessed's heart sank the moment her adoptive mother opened her mouth.
"She's a waste! Leave her at the store to sell candy and snacks," she spat coldly.
Blessed clutched the edge of her oversized shirt, eyes lowered. But instead of begging to join the fun, which she wished to but she can only wish in her heart because it's an impossible request she could only try to come up with an idea she mustered in a small, businesslike voice.
"Mother, I don't want to play. I want to sell at the amusement park—it will be a better opportunity. More customers, you know today is the National Day more people will be in the park. "
Her father, who often mistook his neglect for kindness, hummed in approval. "That's good thinking," he said, sipping tea as though that settled everything always feelings his doing the right thing.
The mother narrowed her eyes but eventually gave in. "Fine. Sell well, girl. I need to buy new shoes and a uniform for Liam. Don't come back empty-handed."
"I promise mother, trust Blessed to make profit, there will be even change to get a nice hair pin for you"
Her father thought 'I'm giving her the best training she will be a strong business woman in the future' (author: what a foolish man)
When they arrived at the park, bright colors and laughter swirled around Blessed like a world she didn't belong to, sometimes she wished to be a normal child but she was a child no one wants being adopted is already a blessing, she hard to work hard to repay them. The Jason's family vanished into the crowd, hand-in-hand, while she stood alone at the corner with her small basket of sweets and roasted snacks.
But Blessed didn't complain. She sold with quiet persistence, her big eyes and frail figure drawing in customers. By midday, everything was gone—except for two sweet candies she saved for Liam.
She sat on a bench under a tree, legs swinging. But her full bladder forced her up, and she wandered toward a lonely part of the park where only old trees and silence remained.
As she emerged from the bushes after relieving herself, she heard frantic footsteps. A young teenage boy—bloodied, breathless—burst into the clearing. Behind him, shadows loomed.
Assassins.
Blessed instinctively ducked behind a bush, but the boy collapsed almost on top of her hiding spot. Desperation filled his eyes as he whispered, "Don't make a sound…"
The killers drew closer, scanning the area. Blessed's heart pounded as the boy shoved a small switchblade into her hand.
"If they find me... stab them," he breathed heavily trying to suppress the pain he felt on his abdomen.
But they didn't. The shadows passed, and after a long moment of silence, "please help me call my dad "he opened his phoned and he slumped forward and lost consciousness.
She picked up the phone from the ground trembling as she dialed the number saved as dad on his phone, told them all that happened and waited. Soon, a sleek black car screeched into the clearing. Men in suits carried the boy away. As the door slammed shut, one of them gave her a single nod.
No reward. No thanks. Nothing. Just like that gone as if he was never there if she didn't have blood stain on her hand she would have thought it was a dream not that she wanted money or any reward there was no thank you and from the look of things he was a rich young master 'the rich are so arrogant and proud' she thought though she didn't really saved him but she helped call them that count as saving right?
Her small fists clenched as she stood there alone, covered in dust and sweat, her knees scraped and her dress soiled.
"I should have left him," she muttered, her voice quivering with frustration. "I should have walked away…"
Kicking a pebble angrily, she stormed back toward the park path. Her face scrunched in irritation—until she collided into someone.
"Ow!" she gasped, stumbling back.
The boy she had hit looked only a few years older. He wore fine clothes—a white shirt and designer shoes, his shirt now stained with dirt and a sticky mark from the candy in her hand.
He looked at her like she was an alien.
"Watch where you are going too" he said coldly.
"that question should be directed to you also if you watched where you were going too you wouldn't have bumped into me" she was already angry with one rich kid she didn't need this trouble
"Do you know who I am?'"
"You are human aren't you, and I don't care who you are and why would I want to know you "
"You soiled my clothes."
"You got in my way."
He blinked again, stunned. No one had ever spoken to him like that. Not at school, not at home. He frowned, pointing at his chest. "You'll have to pay for this."
Blessed huffed; pulled out the last candy from her pocket—the one meant for Liam—and slapped it into his hand. "Here. Sweet enough to calm your stupid attitude." Then she turned to flee,
A grin played on his lips as he watched her retreating figure.
"No one has ever scolded me before," he murmured. "Interesting."