Chapter Three:

"She is the maid." Of course, that has been grandma's highest introduction of Talia whenever someone unexpectedly saw her.

Tears threatened to stream down her cheeks. Her throat became dry. But, she dare not make grandma a liar in front of her friends by showing off her emotions.

She would skin her alive. She had to hold whatever emotions she was feeling down. No matter how it hurt her.

"Wait a minute," Cecily said. "Come here, girl!" She dragged Talia by the hands to where the brunette sat. "Evon, doesn't she look exactly like Caro's dead daughter?" Cecily asked Evon the redhead. "I mean, take away the awful clothes she is putting on. She does have a striking resemblance with Allison."'

'Oh, no. Please don't put me into trouble.' Talia prayed in her mind.

"I have told you that she is just a maid. Why would a maid look like my dead daughter?" Grandma asked.

Now, she had gotten a closer look at the women. The redhead, Cecily, was in her early sixties, with beautiful hazel eyes.

While Evon the brunette was also in her early sixties with brown eyes.

Both of them could pass for old models at the way their bodies were way better than my grandma's.

Again, put the praise on surgery. The surgeon did a great job. Too great that you couldn't differentiate the fake from the original.

"Evon, she has Allison's green eyes, her long Jet-black hair, her slender body, those amazing pouty lips and an innocent face. There are too many similarities for her to just be a maid. She is Allison's daughter."

Talia prayed so hard for the ground to swallow her up. She had just bitten more than she could swallow and grandma would never forgive her for that.

"How much did you hear, girl?" Her grandma asked her, as she quacked like a leaf.

"Nothing, grandma, I just came into the kitchen." she lied.

"Get out!" She barked.

She was half sprinting and half running until she found herself outside.

Immediately the cold air hit her face, she let it all out.

Crying and wailing uncontrollably until her body couldn't take it any longer.

She sat in the mud staring up at the sky, hoping that her mum was happy wherever she was.

She wished she wasn't the child who reminded everyone about their pains.

She couldn't go to school today because going back inside would be a death wish for her.

She sat there, looking at the children playing with their parents, and others with their grandparents. She wished so much for her life to turn out that way.

One day, she would become a huge Hollywood actress, get married to a kind man and have a lot of kids.

That has always been her dream. The only thought that kept her pushing forward no matter how tough and unbearable the situation was.

She sat outside until she lost track of time and fell asleep. By the time she woke up, it was evening.

Redhead and brunette were walking out of the house with grandma accompanying them.

They did spend a lot of time back there. Who knew what they had been gossiping about?

As soon as the two were out of sight, grandma beckoned on Talia to come inside.

At her gesture, her heart sank into her stomach.

"You ungrateful child," she started, "must you disgrace me all the time?"

"I am sorry, grandma. It wasn't…"

"Keep quiet. You had one instruction. Just one instruction. Stay out of sight! You chose to embarrass me in front of my friends by showing your ugly face."

"Grandma, I am sorry," Talia began sobbing. She was in pain due to the hurtful words.

"Don't start with your drama. If not, for one thing, I would have thrown you out of the house today. But, I will show mercy. In exchange, you will do something for me."S

sniffing, she used the back of her palm to wipe her face. " Yes, grandma," she said in a whisper.

"The famous wealthy businessman, Nicholas Robert, is looking for a date."

Talia eyed her warily, waiting for her to finish because she was confused as to why she was telling her that.

"Don't act dumb, girl. You will go on the date. It is only unfortunate that your ugly face would ruin everything even before we get a chance with him. But, that is fine. We will still try our luck. You don't fit the requirements he requested, but I have spoken to my friends about that to get you an opportunity. Don't let my effort go to waste"

"But, grandma, I am too young to be concerned with that kind of thing. Besides, everyone knows that he is a mean person…"

"Keep quiet, child. That is the least you can do for me for taking care of you all these years. You will go to your room, choose presentable cloth and clean yourself up to look better. Even if he kicks, spits and pulls your hair, you will smile at him and say nothing else but thank you, sir. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, grandma."

"Get out of my sight!"

Talia scrambled into her room, shutting the door behind her.

She must have wronged someone in her previous life to be in a situation like this.

Everyone has heard the story and lifestyle of Mr. Robert, especially if you read the papers. He was an extremely wealthy but impolite and aggressive man.

Her life was already a mess and she didn't need any involvement with someone who would remind her of that.

Taking this step was obviously humiliating herself. Far-sophisticated, smart and wealthy women would be flocking around him. And what was she? Nothing.

She cried and cried until tears refused to come out of her eyes.

She just sat frozen, thinking of what her life would be when she meets him.

Was there hope for her or should she pack up and run away?

Times like this made her wish for magical powers. Powers that could grant her wishes and help her disappear when she wanted to.