2 The future

He stood up in the mountain and waved his right hand, and Isabella was taken from one timeline to another timeline.

She didn't know she would survive in a land where she knew nobody. After the botched execution, she heard nothing of Tatin, and she survived on a foreign soil where she knew nobody. She hid her wolf looks from people around her.

She walked. She got hungry. She saw a dining place and walked towards it. There were many people eating. Hmm... the more that she got hungry looking at them. She had to be able to eat, she thought. Isabella opened the glass door and looked around for someone who knew.

"Can I wash plates here? I need to eat," she whispered in a soft voice to a girl at the counter.

The girl turned to look at her and was surprised at what she just said. She paused from her job, then, looking steadily at Isabella, an idea dawned: "That's the owner, look. Come, I will introduce you to him."

"Mike, this is a friend of mine."

Then, she turned to look at Isabella again, "What's your name?" she asked, the pitch of her voice rose, but in a soft whisper.

"Isabella," she answered, in a very low voice. She shied upon the idea, but she had no choice.

"She's the friend I'm telling you Mike. She's hardworking. You can count on her. She's responsible."

Mike was looking at Esther, telling her that he'd have to trust her recommendation.

Esther was smiling, nodding at Mike, trying to convince him into accepting Isabella.

"Okay, she can start."

"Whoa, thank you Mike," Esther said.

They started working. Esther was guiding, giving Isabella instruction. Isabella was patient enough to learn the ropes of the job. She was able to eat that day and the next days.

"Why did you lie to him?" She asked Esther.

"Isn't it obvious why I had to lie to him?" Esther was chuckling.

Isabella smiled, too. "Thank you."

Esther was one of the first friends she'd have in the future timeline.

She didn't ask for Isabella's loyalty but she got her heart immediately.

Esther did not like being reminded of what she did to Isabella. It was a filial obligation, she said. If she were in the same position, she would do the same thing. Maybe time would come that Isabella would repay her for that single act of kindness of recommending her to her employer. "We could never tell what's going to happen," Esther declared.

True enough, in the future, Isabella would become rich because she'd marry Aaron. Esther got sick and it was Isabella who helped her shoulder all her hospital expenses.

One day, Isabella and Esther were selling newspapers. Aaron stumbled upon Isabella's face and told her that she was pretty and asked why she had to sell newspapers? She said she had to, that they had to, pointing to her friend Esther, because they had to pay their apartment, the bills, and foods. Aaron was touched, and much as he wanted to talk with them for a longer time, he said goodbye because he had an appointment that day.

That wouldn't be the first time that they would meet in such a small world.

Esther and Isabella were both in on many rackets so they would survive—from serving in Mike's canteen, selling newspapers, to joining beauty contests.

"The winner for this year's Ms. Earth is…" went the announcer, is Ms. Isabella Liberty!"

"Lucky name," said a man from the audience.

"She is very pretty," Aaron heard a woman said.

He looked at the winner. She looked familiar, he said. Then, the announcer was calling his name.

"May we call on Mr. Aaron Lee to crown the Miss Earth winner," went the announcement.

Aaron's mouth was open. He was a little disoriented because he came late. He just arrived, in fact.

He walked on the stage and was given the crown that he would put on the head of the winner. He turned to Miss Earth. Then, he froze, as he looked at her. She, too, froze, as she recognized who it was.

Quietly, he slowly put the crown on her head. He could smell her perfume and she could smell his. The attraction was mutual.

From then on, he would be a lingering shadow around Isabella.

She'd loved that. She loved being courted by this imposing man.

He'd be a regular figure at the canteen. There'd be bunches of flowers to smell. The smile on Isabella's face wouldn't go with Aaron or with the flowers and cards around.

One day, Esther and Mike saw him kneeling before Isabella in front of one of the tables. The customers were applauding.

"I promise to love you with all my heart and all my soul," Aaron proposed. "Please accept this engagement ring."

Isabella's face blushed. She did not know how to react, what to do, and what to say. She knew that she had learned to love this man and that she couldn't afford to say no.

"Yes," she whispered, chuckling. The people in the canteen were more thrilled.

The applause was stronger.

"Wedding… wedding… wedding…!" They were shouting.