Chương 3: Chance

To say Ella was shocked was an understatement. She clearly remembered everything, her life before the pain, the pain before her death and the finality of her death. She was so sure that everything was real. She marvelled 'I have truly been reborn. Am I really here? In this world or is this just life's way of showing me what I have lost?' She felt dizzy from all that she had experienced since she opened her eyes.

With a 'thud', Ella sat on the floor of her bathroom. Her breathing erratic, her heart beating fiercely, her emotions threatening to spill over and mind spinning. She struggled to understand what was happening. Finally, she closed her eyes and tried to calm herself through breathing exercises. At that moment, her dead body in all its miserable state flashed before her eyes. She opened her eyes as fast as she had closed them with a shiver running down her spine.

She always thought rebirth and reincarnation were nothing but old folk tales to give hope to those suffering. She had believed there would be some ritual, an offering or something, but here she sat, numb, not knowing how to feel about this opportunity. But look at her life now. This old folk tale has given her a new lease on life, a chance to make amends, a chance to protect her parents how they had protected her, to love Xavier how he had loved her and most of all to ensure her father's company does not end up in the hands of the enemy, whomever they were.

Ella laughed with glee; she couldn't remember the last time she was this excited. The Gods have granted her dying wish. Before her death, all she asked for was a chance to prove herself to the man who'd loved her with his all, a chance to be filial to her loving parents. Now she can protect her parents, Xavier and change her fate.

The thought of Xavier brought tears to her eyes; now that she's been given this opportunity, she would love him unconditionally. She will show that evil bitch Maria exactly who Ella Palmer is. Just because she loved and cherished that bitch in the past, she took advantage of her kindness and trust and made a fool out of her. 'Maria, I will make you pay for everything you have cost me' vowed Ella in her heart.

'Maria, you want to be Mrs Xavier McCann so bad, keep dreaming. I am the only Mrs Xavier McCann. I will show you why you always felt in danger in my presence. I will step on you, your dreams and your families wishful thinking. I will crush you like the parasite you are. You have seen a sister who loved and trusted you blindly, but now you will see the demon that resides deep down' Ella promised.

Ella stood up from the floor, stepped into her ensuite. She took a quick shower and washed her hair. she could not shake the feeling of being dirty after those thugs and her 'sister' touched her. Once she towel-dried her hair, Ella chose to wear high waist jeans, white oversized t-shirt and sneakers. It had been a long time since she dressed so casually. Maria always told her as the young miss of the Palmer's Ella had to maintain her status by dressing extravagant at all times. Ella put lip balm while admiring her clear olive skin tone.

Ella headed downstairs. Her parents sat at the dining table and Aunt Josie was serving breakfast. With the absence of Maria from the table, Ella made her way to her seat and thought 'at least I'll be able to enjoy my breakfast with my parents. If I saw that witch now, I just might accidentally on purpose stab her in the eye with a fruit knife' sneering in her heart.

Ella looked at her parents with a pleasant smile. Her father, Israel Palmer, was generally a stern and gloomy man but to her mother, his wife, he was a gentle and loving husband who doted on her. In other words, he was hopeless against his wife.

Her mother, Sarah Palmer, was a cheerful and gentle woman who was always extremely affectionate towards her husband, in private and in public. Ella never knew any other family besides these two. In fact, if not Maria's little revelation, Ella would have continued to believe her parents were two orphans who happened to be smiled upon by fortune. Well, she was sure her father was smiled upon by fortune considering his brother had even snuck a child in to steal everything. You see she never asked about her parents' families, all she knew is that her Paternal grandmother was a baker, and her grandfather an army general. Her mother said her father was a businessman and her mother was a stay-at-home mom. neither ever mentioned siblings.

Aunt Josie was the Palmer's housekeeper. She and butler Joe were responsible for the Palmer's day-to-day domestic life. Ella was not sure when they joined the family but for as long as she could remember these two have always been around. Aunt Josie pretty much ran the house, the trust her parents afforded her always made her feel like she was family. As for Uncle Joe, Ella remembered this man as always being by her father's side until she was 5 then he became Butler Jo.

Other than that rotten witch, Maria, everyone generally loved her. Ella was treated like a princess. She understood everything after her rebirth. Ella had always thought that Maria was her biological sister. The actual truth was, Maria was adopted.

Her parents struggled for years to conceive after their marriage, even with all the technology and medicine they just couldn't. Eventually they gave up and adopted a baby girl. They poured their love and care into that child as every other parent do. A year after Maria's arrival at the Palmer's household, they discovered Sarah was pregnant. The Palmer's were blessed with a beautiful baby girl and named her Ella.

Although it was only a year after they adopted Maria that they conceived Ella, not once did they neglect Maria. They continued to love her as their own flesh and blood. Sometimes Ella would feel envious when she saw her parents love and spoil her elder sister. Ella never held any grudge towards Maria, in-fact she was happy for sister. However, when a person gets blinded by jealousy and nurture limitless greed, they lose their humility and become dangerous, as Maria had.

Ella looked up and looked between her parents. She could barely hold the tears that broke out with a loud sob, telling them how much she loved and missed them as she was dying. She had been angry with them, because she'd always felt that her parents pushed her into the marriage with Xavier. She believed they ignored her thoughts and feelings, but now she understood why they had granted and advocated for this union. Her parents always knew what was best for her. They knew what was best for their daughter's future and they always wanted the best for Ella.

Ella stood up, walked towards her father and hugged him from the back. This shocked Sarah and Israel. Her father tilted his head and looked at his daughter, instantly his facial expression softened.

"Baby, what happened?" Asked her father.

Her mother still dazed in disbelief. Sarah and Israel knew their daughter did not want to marry Xavier, but still they pushed for the marriage. That was why Ella stopped talking to them, and her sudden action had shocked them to the core. "Nothing daddy, I just want to thank you for your love and care" said Ella in a shaky emotional voice. 'I'm sorry dad, because of some fake witch, I hurt everyone who's ever loved me' thought Ella. She could not say her last thought out loud, she didn't have the guts.

Ella felt she'd already hurt her parents enough for all her lifetimes, she would not hurt them anymore. Ella vowed she would bring her parents pride and joy for the rest of their days. Her tears fell without her knowing as she locked her death story away in her heart. When Sarah saw the tears falling on her daughter's face, she felt like someone had squeezed her heart too hard as she struggled to adjust her breathing. Sarah also began crying.

"Darling, we know we're forcing this marriage with Xavier on to you, but please trust us. We feel he is the most suitable person for you. He will love only you with his whole heart for the rest of his life. We can only trust him with your happiness," said her father. To a father the safety and happiness of his daughter mattered the most. A daughter is like the father's mother.

Ella looked up and said "Dad, mom, I was wrong. I know what my heart wants. I also know that mom and dad only want what's best for me. Now that I've calmed down and my heart and mind are one; even if Xavier doesn't want to marry me, I will force him" she gave a proud and bright smile as if she were an empress who'd just handed down an official decree.

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