In the second half of life, a person often bears responsibility before fate for the actions committed in youth. Not everyone finds this pleasing, but what you have done returns to you. This is inevitable! Therefore, when making a choice, it is always important to consider the distant consequences it may bring.
Although Ella lived with her mother alone, the young woman was always drawn to affluent circles. She spent time with those of higher social status. They accepted her with smirks, appraising her “wildness” and considerable ease in interacting with the opposite sex. This, however, came back to haunt her.
A passing stranger “blessed” her with a pregnancy, likely not even remembering her face. At that moment, she was only 18 years old, already working at a local electronics store. Her mother was deeply disappointed by such a cruel deception. Due to illness, she passed away just before the birth.
Ella was left entirely alone. There was a debt for the funeral, so she was forced to sell the apartment. To avoid ending up on the street, Ella used the remaining money to buy a small house on the outskirts of the city and set aside funds for her maternity leave. There, she settled with her little daughter, whom she named after her mother—Catherine.
The young mother saved money in every way possible and studied English through online lessons. She understood that when her daughter turned three, she would need to return to work. On Catherine’s first birthday, Ella decided to invite some old friends. Her best friend arrived with two young men. One was introduced as her fiancé. The other was a tall, dark-haired handsome man with expressive eyebrows, a meticulously groomed beard, and a mustache. His clothing was impeccable, and a watch that looked golden gleamed on his wrist. Irene explained that he was a programmer from the Emirates, visiting her fiancé’s company to gain experience. To keep him entertained, they brought him along. As for the watch—it was no fake; it was indeed gold.
— Omar, this is Ella, — Irene introduced them.
Omar was older than most of the group, and Ella clearly caught his eye. He went out of his way to please her throughout the evening. He happily took the child in his arms and played with her. At the end of the night, he suggested going to a café the next day.
— I don’t have anyone to leave Catherine with, — Ella said.
— I’ll send the kindest nanny, — Omar replied.
The young mother agreed.
At the café, a violinist approached their table and played beautiful music. At that moment, an enormous bouquet of white roses was brought in. Omar took them and handed them to Ella. Then he pulled out a velvet case and revealed a stunning diamond necklace. Ella was in shock. The young man proposed that she and her daughter move in with him. The company had rented Omar a luxurious cottage, as he was not just an “intern” but a member of the Emirati royal family. He then outlined the prospects of moving with him to meet his parents.
Ella and her daughter relocated to the cottage. The owner settled the girl on the second floor, arranging their bedroom on the first. On the first night, Catherine cried loudly, calling for her mother. Ella wanted to go to her, but Omar insisted that the child needed to learn independence. With affection, tenderness, and kisses, he kept Ella downstairs. This went on for nearly a week. During the day, Omar played with the girl and laughed; at night, it was as if he became her enemy.
A month later, the man announced they were flying to the Emirates. However, the girl would need to stay in the U.S. temporarily. Ella cried and begged to take her daughter. Omar calmly and gently explained that he would first introduce his fiancée to his family, they would marry, and then immediately bring Catherine. In the end, Ella abandoned her daughter, choosing her fiancé instead. She decided to go. The girl was left with her best friend, who was facing many problems. Irene’s fiancé had left her, she couldn’t pay her mortgage, and the bank was repossessing her apartment. Ella offered her small house and money for food for both Irene and Catherine. With nowhere to live and feeling sorry for the girl, Irene agreed.
For the first month, Ella called regularly, but then the calls stopped. To provide for the girl, Irene took a job as a maid in a wealthy household. The owners were an elderly couple. After confirming Irene’s honesty and hard work and learning about her situation, they warmly welcomed both her and Catherine into their home. They took care of the girl’s education and treated her like their own granddaughter.
Catherine excelled in her studies, and her adoptive grandparents happily funded her education in international relations. With a diploma with honors and connections, she easily secured a job at the State Department. There, she met a young man, and they began dating. As it happened, her future father-in-law was none other than the Secretary of State.
When her future in-laws visited, the Secretary received an unexpected call. In the Emirates, a group of American women had escaped slavery and sought refuge at the embassy. The father-in-law noted their details and ordered the ambassador to shelter them until their documents were processed. When Catherine glanced over his shoulder, her legs buckled, and she rushed out of the room. To her fiancé, who followed, she revealed that she had seen her biological mother’s name on the list.
A month later, Catherine, now with her husband and adoptive mother Irene, met the group of women at the airport. One woman stepped forward. It was a heavily aged Ella. She recognized Irene and realized the young woman beside her was her abandoned daughter, Catherine. The woman was stunned. The biological mother tried to explain that her fiancé had abandoned her after a month and sold her into a brothel. She cried, begged for forgiveness, and said she never imagined things would turn out this way.
— Here, — Catherine handed her the same amount of money Ella had left with Irene before leaving, along with documents.
It was a deed to a small one-bedroom apartment. The daughter and her true mother walked away, embracing, while Ella forever lost the “little Catherine” she had once traded for a man and a pursuit of luxury.
The unscrupulous betrayal committed long ago came back to the woman. If only she could turn back time… but life has no subjunctive mood. It is written only once and for all.
No comments