Bag Of Lies

"Ah! You look so beautiful, my dear!" Mina's eyes sparkled as Stella walked back into the room in her changed clothes, looking like one of Dawson's elite daughters.

"Thank you, Mina," Stella smiled as she slowly moved to the old woman.

Just simple but elegant clothes with neither jewelry nor makeup had transformed her into a beauty to behold.

This greatly excited Mina as she imagined what a perfect rival Stella would make when matched with Sonia.

Stella was dressed in a blue floral print ruffle poplin long skirt, with a matching sleeveless crop top. Her silky textured long brown hair was neatly styled into a side ponytail and the loose curly end dangled freely on her slender shoulder.

Instead of her earlier boots, her feet were adorned with a simple but classic pair of white sandals which were well hidden under her long skirt.

Stella's current attire was among some set of clothes that Mina had once acquired for Sonia as a gift.

However, when the issue of Sonia's infidelity got to Mina's ears, she immediately wrote her off as a prospective wife for Adrian. She also withheld the gift and kept it safe for the next special lady that would capture her grandson's attention.

In Mina's euphoric mind, she had found the special bride for her grandson.

"Do you know what would make you stand out?" Mina asked, as she stood up glimmering, and gave Stella a warm hug.

"Uh...no!" Stella shook her head.

"Pearls!" Mina's eyes sparkles as she led Stella toward her jewelry box. She opened it and brought out a beautiful set of pearl necklaces and earrings.

"Oh no, Mina!" Stella took some steps backward as Mina attempted to put the pearl around her neck. "You have done more than enough for me. This is too much and I can't possibly take them. Please, do not insist I take them."

Stella, who was already worried about Mina's kind gesture, felt the urgent need to leave the room. She was bothered by her current expensive look. She was also worried about what other members of the family would say when she leaves Mina's room.

"Hmm...okay, I won't force you to take them now." Mina smiled. "But, l would love you to wear them to dinner this evening. It would look great on the outfit I have planned out for you."

"Please, Mina..."

"I won't take no for an answer," Mina said dismissively as she dropped the pearl necklace and directed Stella to take a seat.

"I would love to know a little about you before I let you go," Mina took a seat opposite Stella and held her gaze. "Tell me a little about yourself. Who exactly are you? Which countryside are you from? Are you an only child or do you have siblings? Who are your parents? Are you currently in a relationship?"

Stella felt her heart skip abeat before it picked up momentum and began slamming against her chest. Heat suddenly rose to her face, making her cheeks gradually turn red. Her palm became itchy and sweaty as she worried about lying to the nice old woman. She wasn't prepared for interrogation and she worried about the reason behind Mina's questions.

Being a meticulous old woman, Mina observed the apprehension in Stella's eyes and her jittery body. So she playfully said, "Don't mind the nosy old woman before you. It's just that I would love to know you beyond your first name. You do not have to answer all the questions I asked but just a few that you're comfortable with. It wouldn't be nice that all I know about you is a generous Stella who brought me some grapes."

Stella nodded her head and gulped down her saliva before gathering up her courage to speak. She decided to maintain the false story behind her fake identity while hoping that it wouldn't turn around and bite her in the future.

"My name is Stella Peterson and I'm the only child of my parents. I was born and brought up in the far-away suburbs of Nornville. My father died when I was only an infant and I was raised by my widowed mother. Growing up, life was tough for my mother and me. we had to work very hard to feed. But when I turned seventeen, my life turned from bad to worse."

Stella paused to catch her breath as memories of Valentino's continuous abuse and defiling of her body crossed her mind. These thoughts unconsciously brought tears to her eyes as she also remembered every word he said after each night of sexually abusing her.

'Abby, you are mine for life and no one will ever take you away from me.'

Mina was greatly touched by the hurt in Stella's eyes and her pathetic story so far. But she was more eager to know what happened to her when she turned seventeen. So she gently stroked Stella's cheek and urge her to finish her story.

"My mum went out in search of money to provide for our needs but she never returned. I waited for her for days, weeks, and months but she never showed up. I even went out in search of her but never found her. I do not know if she is alive or dead, so it was difficult to mourn her absence."

Stella wiped some tears that flowed down her cheeks. In her heart, Matilda was dead to her the day she found out that Matilda knew Valentino was abusing her but chose to do nothing about it.

Stella pushed out the painful thoughts of her past life and continued with her bag of lies.

"I started fending for myself ever since then. Also, I kept moving from place to place in search of a better life until I finally came to Rosaltan about a year ago."

Stella's false story brought tears to Mina's eyes as she imagined all the hardship Stella must have gone through growing up.

"I'm so sorry about your parents but I'm proud of the hardworking and beautiful lady you have turned out to be."

"Thank you," Stella forced a smile between her parted lips. "Mina, please, I would like to take my leave now if you don't mind."

"That's perfect by me," Mina beamed. "But before you leave, give me your address so that our chauffeur would easily come to get you for the dinner."

"Okay," Stella unwillingly gave Mina her address and left her bedroom with one of the maids.

Stella had barely left the hallway when she was intercepted by Raphael, who had been patiently waiting for her.

"Wow! Stella, you look like a goddess." Raphael moistened his lips and signaled the maid to leave.