"all for you."

Ella took a deep breath and put on a calm face. As she entered the lounge area, Maria's sniffling got louder. Their father looked up at Ella with concern. Ever since Maria came home all she's done was cry, sniffle and cry. Today, their father had told himself he won't ask. His wife had left in the morning to collect their youngest daughter's wedding gowns and had not returned yet; it was well into the afternoon and he wasn't expecting home any time soon. Israel knew that his wife will probably go shopping, eat maybe throw in some self-care so he didn't want to bother her with Maria's odd behaviour.

Maria stood up and half ran, half walked in rush to Ella. Maria grabbed Ella's hands and the water works began. Ella did not withdraw her hands, as she was interested in Maria's explanation. 'Wow, right on cue.' Thought Ella to herself. "I'm so sorry Ella. It's all my fault, I was doing it all for you." She uttered with snort running down her face. 'This should be easy.' Thought Maria.

"Is that right? You did that for me? Please explain exactly how was that for my own good and not yours? If I believe you, I forgive you for today's matter." Stated Ella coldly.

Seeing how cold and distant Ella was, Maria retracted her hands. "Ella, you never wanted to marry Xavier, but I know he loves only you. You keep ignoring him & he will be hurt. I thought if I go to the hospital and pretend to be his fiancé, he might be happy knowing you care for him that's why I never went to him, so he never knew it was me who was visiting." Maria was so anxious, not because she was exposed but because her plan to take Xavier from Ella will fail if she angers her now.

But before Ella could respond, a slap resounded in the Palmer residence. Ella was left shocked by her father's actions; she had never thought her father would hit her sister. Their father was a calm man who adored his daughters equally. He never raised his voice at them, let alone a smack.

Maria stood rooted to the spot; it was a good 30 seconds before she registered what had just happened. "Dad!" She said as she felt the heat where her father had slapped her. Maria has never known her father to get violent. He had never raised his voice at them let alone hit them, this is why she wanted to act in front of him instead of their mother.

"Maria, how old are you? How dare you? I never thought my daughter would be so disgusting to do such a despicable thing as to steal her own sister's fiancé." He said in anger, his face stone cold and distant. If it's one think Israel hated, it was others Coveting what did not belong to them. Is that not how he became an orphan! He thought she'd be different, turns out an apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Father Palmer's anger and disgust could not be hidden.

Maria's face turned ashen at her father's distant and cold stare. She looked pitiful but inside she was cursing him 'this old hag dares to hit me? I'll remember this.' She promised herself. Ella stood quietly coldly starring at Maria.

As if she knew what Maria was thinking 'Maria you even dare bite the hand that feeds you? What kind of swine are you? But I swear on my life, you will taste your own medicine. I will teach you a lesson you will never forget.' Thought Ella.

But first Ella had to control her anger and calm down, how else could she lay a honey trap for Maria? How can she find out more about what Maria had said about her father's family? How else could she locate those who wanted to cause her and her family harm? Ella knew she had to convince Maria that she believed her lies and act.

"Daddy, please forgive elder sis, she must have really done it for my own good!" Said Ella to her father. Maria couldn't even erase the surprise on her face "sis I know you better than anyone else, I believe you. You don't have to worry, I forgive you." Said Ella so naturally that Maria had no doubts in her mind.

Internally Maria thought 'What an idiot Israel & Sarah have reared. Even after seeing everything with her own eyes, she still believes me. Ha, now what would one expect from an unwanted bastard' she sneered in her heart at Israel.

"Elder sister, you should go freshen up, you look like beggar now." Ella put on a concerned face but external was mocking Maria for being a beggar. 'Now, now Maria, don't get too cocky. Time will tell who the fool is' thought Ella. Maria was too focused on Ella's concerned and didn't get the mockery Ella had just delivered. She believed Ella was concerned for her.

"Okay." Maria did not dare to look at their father as she quickly made her way upstairs. After Maria left, Israel looked at his younger daughter, her behaviour today has been strange. Maria may not have noticed the change in her sister, but as a father, Israel did not miss the glint in Ella's eyes, a look he's never seen before.

Ella looked at her father and saw that her father was looking at her with complications in his eyes. Ella put a smile on her face and walked up to her father "Dad!"

Ella's father hid his complex feelings "Princess, I know you love Maria, but sometimes we need to be mindful of the people closest to us. If you're not careful, someone might snatch your happiness from fyou!" He warned his daughter. He never knew that Maria was going to the McCann's hospital, let alone leading people to believe Xavier was her fiancé. Israel was shocked to see how shameless his eldest daughter is. 'She really is like her' he thought.

"I know dad. Don't worry, please trust me! I know what I'm doing, no one can or will snatch my happiness from me! I'm not as foolish as I was as to let someone take my treasures without consequence, even if that person is my own sister!" Ella said firmly.

Seeing Ella's determination, Israel decided to say less. He grunted and nodded! Israel decided he'd go wait for his wife in his study, being in the lounge had caused him for trouble than it was worth.