The next day, Elena decided to visit the orphanage, so she stayed at home for breakfast instead of the normal rush, where she would skip breakfast at home to get herself some hambuggers and milkshake on the way.
When she walked down the stairs, Elena heard two voices chatting happily with Cassy, she shook her head realising her friends must have had a sleepover at the house, she made up her mind that she would just pretend like she did not see them to avoid any problem that early morning that could ruin her mood.
She sat across them, playing a game in her phone.
"Hey, Cass, isn't that the orphan girl?" One of the girl asked in mock seriousness.
"Wow.... Why ain't you at the orphanage today? " the other asked.
"Glenn, Elena isn't an orphan okay, my dad is still alive." Cassy said to the first girl.
Her words sounded as if she was defending Elena, but if you were to dig deeper, you'd be able to understand that she was also joining the girls to mock her.
"Hey , Cass... Didn't you tell us that she would soon be getting married to some disabled guy?" The girl whose name was Glenn asked.
"Yeah... Right..., very soon you'd hear the good, no... should I say horrible news!" The girls giggled childishly.
Elena bit her tongue, begging her self to keep calm.
This kids were so naive, but she knew it was already too late, she found herself saying.
"I'm lucky we have different mothers, or we both would be stuck having the same dumb brains."
She walked steadily to the kitchen while the girls gasped in shock.
Cassy was so angry, she glared angrily at Elena's back.
"Ain't you going to do something about that?,why don't i give you a very nice idea for revenge? Glenn asked frowning, faking concern. She just had a natural dislike for her.
Cassy shook her head. "No need, she would soon be married off to that idiot, just to save the company my father would be handing over to me after I'm married." She informed happily.
The girls smiled when they understood that Elena was nothing but a sacrificial lamb for cassy's future.
"Poor girl!" The other girl feigned pity.
Elena had her breakfast quietly in the kitchen as the maids worked in decorum.
As she ate she thought about cassy's childish behaviour, it was really good that she wasn't as cunning and evil like the stepsisters she had read in some stories, or else, she (Cassy) would have been buried and long forgotten, because she wasn't a saint, she would have paid Cassy in her own coins, that too - doubled the price.
But she was nothing but an amateur who had only silly tricks up her sleeves, nothing to worry about, even Juliet wasn't as wicked, they had the same blood running through them, they just wanted to make life difficult for her, they also wanted all the wealth her father had to themselves, they didn't give a damn about her, so long as she didn't outshine Cassy, something she has always prevented even when she was literally good in every thing she did.
After breakfast, Elena got into her car and drove to the orphanage. She had already stocked the car with the things she had prepared for the children.
Elena stepped into the orphanage's courtyard, autumn leaves crunching underfoot.
Kids played tag, laughing loud. She smiled, memories flooding. This place was a refuge whenever she found things too hard on her back in high school days,Now, it was a habit – a place to give back.
Mrs. Thompson, the director, greeted her warmly. "Elena! Good to see you." They hugged briefly.
Elena handed over donations – toys, clothes, books. The kids swarmed her. Stories, hugs, giggles followed. She knelt, listening to their days.
A little girl tugged her sleeve. "Sister Elena, read with me?" She did, on a worn couch, surrounded by squeals.
This place grounded her – reminded her of why. As she was about to leave, Mrs Thompson said, "Thanks you do much, Elena. You light up their day." She smiled, deflecting praise.
Outside, the Hudson River glimmered. Evening fell softly on Jersey City. Now she'd get ready. Tomorrow loomed big. She felt anxious and at the same time thrilled.