Angelina

Her face transformed in a wide smile as she watched the children happily playing in the kids park in her beloved Flower Hood Orphanage.

This place had been her home for as long as she could remember, and she cherished every moment spent here. The sisters at the orphanage had shared with her the tale of her discovery as a baby and the unwavering care she had received since.

She didn't have anyone else besides the people at the orphanage, but to her, they were her family. She harbored a deep affection for each person, reciprocated wholeheartedly by their endearing love. They all affectionately called her 'angel' because she had a pure heart and soul, as reflected in her given name.

Everyone often describes her as being too pure for this world where malicious individuals still exist. She is sheltered and doesn't have much knowledge about the outside world or the people in it.

She is not someone who easily socializes; she is quiet, kind-hearted, and never has ill intentions towards anyone.

She always has a longing to learn about her parents, but sadly, they told her that she was left alone at the gate, tightly bundled in a white infant towel, so they have no information about her origins.

It saddens her greatly not knowing anything about her parents, and she also feels a sense of anger towards them for abandoning her here.

She spotted the exciting little boy running towards her and tenderly held her wrist in his small palms, exclaiming,

"Angel, come let's play!"

Upon hearing his words, she bent down with a cheerful smile and said to him,

"Andrew, why don't you go and play? Your sister is eager to meet our mother."

Playfully, she pinched his cheek, and he responded with a whine, yet he persisted, saying,

"Angel, pretty please! Andrew wants to play with his sister!" He then displayed his adorable big puppy eyes, capturing her attention.

Unable to resist, she couldn't help but shower his cheeks with kisses before assuring him, "My baby, your sister will come and play with you; just wait a few more minutes, and I will join you."

Hearing her words, he nodded his head with delight and scampered off to join the other children in their play.

She entered inside, with her wide smile as she approached the head sister, hugging her and asked, "Mother, you called me."

As soon as they broke the hug, she grew anxious hearing the head sister's words. "Angel, I want to ask your consent for something."

Confused and concerned, she furrowed her brow and asked, "What is it, Mother?"

With a heavy sigh, the head sister looked at her and said, "Angel, I want you to get married."

Shock and disbelief washed over her, causing her eyes to widen.

"Mother, what are you saying?" she asked, unable to comprehend the request.

Desperate, she pleaded, "Mother, I don't want to get married now."

The head sister tightly gripping her palm and, said "I want you to marry someone who can assist us in our current situation."

Her frown intensified and a sense of fear overwhelmed her upon hearing the sister's words.

"What's the matter, Mother? Why would we need any help?" she questioned, perplexed by the statement.

She knew that the orphanage was financially stable and devoid of any pressures or problems, so she was taken aback by this unexpected revelation.

"We've kept something from you," the head sister disclosed, causing her eyes to widen.

"What is it, Mother?"

But what she heard left her shaken to the core.

"Andrew, has a heart problem and he needs immediate surgery."

Worried and overwhelmed with emotions, her eyes welled up with tears as she heard the news of Andrew's heart problem and the immediate need for surgery.

The thought of her dear brother suffering from such a condition made her heart ache with pain. Despite not being related by blood, he held a special place in her heart, making this news even more distressing.

"We don't have enough money for it, so we asked for help from one of the partners of this orphanage."

However, her worries only grew as she learned that they did not have enough money to cover the cost of the surgery and anxiously awaited the next words, seeing her mother gulping hard.

"The partner asked for your hand in marriage as a condition for funding the surgery."

The head sister revealed and, that moment, she felt a wave of uncertainty wash over her.

She knew she would do anything to save her brother, even marry a stranger. But deep down, she couldn't help but feel sad and concerned about her mother's decision to give her away without knowing anything about this man.

"I will marry him, mother," she calmly expressed.

The head sister embraced her and tenderly stated, "My dear, you will have the opportunity to meet him and determine if you wish to proceed with the marriage. I will not impose this decision upon you."

Withdrawing from the embrace, she continued, "Your well-being is my foremost concern. Even if you choose not to marry him after meeting, I will wholeheartedly support your decision, and we can explore alternative means to secure the necessary funds."

These words made her happy as she realized that her opinion actually mattered in this marriage and her sister wasn't pressuring her into anything, even though it was necessary for them and their brother.

"Mother, don't worry! I know you wouldn't have even mentioned this if you didn't think he was right for me. So, I don't have any problem with it."

The head sister was filled with concern as she listened to the girl's response.

Despite her worries, she attempted to advise the girl again, emphasizing that she did not have to go through with the marriage if she didn't want to.

However, she shook her head and reassured her mother, saying,

"I have complete trust in you, mother."

Upon hearing these words, the head sister embraced the girl once more, her eyes welling up with tears.

She couldn't help but feel disheartened, knowing that she was manipulating this innocent soul and betraying her trust.

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The sweet little boy sat in her lap, happily playing with her long hair as she gently swung back and forth on the swing.

She couldn't help but feel a sense of fear as she lost herself in her own thoughts. It was hard for her to even fathom anything bad happening to this precious soul, who was just barely five years old.

He was so innocent and pure, a truly angelic child. It just didn't make sense for something like this to happen to him.

"Angel.."

Hearing his soft voice, she looked down and smiled at him.

He too beamed at her with his toothy smile, "Why is your hair so long, angel?"

He asked her with his baby voice in bewilderment because her hair is so long and thick.

Maybe she got her hair from her mother, but she didn't even know anything about her parents.

She tried not to think about them and with a wide smile she said to him, "You call me angel, you know, baby?"

She asked him and in reply, he nodded his head cutely.

So she smiled and said, "Because angels have long hair, and when you call me angel, I too get blessed with long hair."

Hearing her reply, he smiled wide and said in his enthusiastic voice, "Angel, your hair is so beautiful!"

She chuckled and kissed his whole face, "Not more than my baby's hair." saying this, she ruffled his hair.

She can do anything for this little boy, even if she has to marry a stranger for him.

They both emerged from their adorable sister, brother moment as they heard the voice of the head sister.

"What are my two cuties up to?" she exclaimed with a smile.

Both of them turned their heads towards her, and the little boy sitting on her lap quickly got down and ran into the head sister's embrace.

"Andrew, be careful," the two women said simultaneously.

He hugged the head sister and proudly proclaimed, "Mother, we were playing on the swing."

The head sister smiled upon hearing his words and gently said, "Alright, that's enough playing for now. It's time for both of you to come and sleep."

She spoke to them in her motherly tone, but upon hearing this, the little boy protested, "But Mother, Andrew wants to play more."

Despite the little boy's whining, the head sister shook her head, picked him up, and said, "Enough playing. Come angel, let's go inside."

Hearing the head sister's voice, she nodded in agreement and they all walked inside together.

The little one was still whining in his mother's arms, pleading to be put down, but they all knew he would run outside if she did. So, she gently shook her head and they all proceeded to walk into his room, carefully placing him in his bed.

After much whining, he finally fell asleep, and the two women quietly left his room.

As they walked out, the head sister turned towards her, saying something that sent shivers down her spine.

"He came here to see you."

She was taken aback, wondering why he would come to see her, especially at such a late hour.

She felt a wave of nervousness as she approached the door to meet him alone. Her hands grew sweaty as she waited for his permission to enter after knocking the door softly.

Her heart started pounding when she heard him say "come in."

With racing heart, she stepped inside and saw the man's back facing her.

As he heard her footsteps, he turned towards her and she caught a glimpse of his face.

He walked towards her and extended his hand, introducing himself "Daniel Ricardo."

Feeling an even stronger surge of nerves, she gulped and with slightly trembling hands, placed her hand in his softly, saying,

"Angelina."