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Evelyn’s P.O.V.

Five years later.

“I want white sauce spaghetti, mommy. This sandwich is not tasty.”

My little Eddie was making faces at peanut butter sandwiches, his picky eating was really challenging for me. Unlike the kids of his age, he was growing fast, but his eating patterns were worsening day by day.

“You have started boiling spaghetti? You are the best, mommy.”

He wrapped his tiny arms around my leg, I picked him up and sat him on the counter.

“Anything for you, my son. Just give me a minute, I will cook it for you.”

“Is it chicken?”

Eddie sniffed the air suspiciously, mimicking a fluffy rabbit. His habit of scenting everything around him was very dear to me, I kissed his forehead.

“Yes, my little bunny. I will stir-fry chicken with white sauce.”

“I want meatballs.”

Eddie crossed his arms at his chest and turned his head away.

“As you say.”

I ruffled his hair and chuckled at his pout; his small mischiefs had brightened my life.

“There will be a yellow day next Wednesday. I will be the chicken.”

Eddie’s announcement at dinner raced my mind, this new expenditure was ready to disturb my tight budget.

“All right. I will take you to the market tomorrow.”

My assurance boomed his cute countenance, his happiness removed the tension of my tough life. With growing inflation and my feeble income, things were getting harder for my family.

My cellphone rang and my mom’s name flashed on the screen.

“When will you come to visit us?”

I looked at my son, he was busy enjoying his meal.

“Eddie has grown up now, it’s difficult for me to leave him at Aunt’s place.”

“We miss you, Eve. Your father is coming this weekend. He was angry when you missed his last visit.”

My mom’s voice was grim with sadness, I could feel her helplessness. Torn between the duties of a mother and a wife, it had made her life difficult. It would be unfair if I behave like an ingrate.

“I will come to home tomorrow.”

“Don’t leave me, please.”

My bunny cried out from behind, crushing my heart.

“I don’t like to stay with Uncle and Aunt.”

He climbed the chair and faced me with determination.

“Take me with you. I will be a good boy.”

“You are a good boy, bunny.”

It was too hard to reason with a toddler, but I had to convince him.

“Mommy needs to work. Don’t you want to live with grandma? I will find a good job in the city and ask Uncle to bring you there too.”

“Promise?”

Eddie raised his pinky, asking for a pinky promise. It was true that I had been seeking employment to support my son, the salary of a cashier in my uncle’s departmental store was like a needle in a haystack.

My Aunt had already in helped me with a registration thing; otherwise, living as a single mother wasn’t an ideal scenario for a twenty-eight-year-old unmarried female.

The day of my Eddie’s birth was fresh in my mind like yesterday, it was a miracle that he survived despite seven months premature delivery.

Firstly, the home birth saved my face, and then Uncle and Aunt filled their names as parents in registration form. As they were childless after fifteen years of marriage, no one suspected the addition of a baby boy in their family.

“Another secretary ran away due to the President’s anger. Bruce has gone nuts.”

Maeve’s detailed email brought me back to the present, a brilliant idea flashed across my mind.

“Please submit my CV for this post. I would like to resume my old job.”

…

“You will call me daily.”

In the morning, Eddie repeated the same set of instructions for me before every visit, placing his hand on his back.

“I will book a ticket for a bus and come to see you. Don’t be late.”

With countless promises, I dropped him at the aunt’s place and then hailed a cab to the bus stop. The bus was on time, I was enjoying my journey peacefully when I received a message.

“Your job application has been accepted. Come to the work from tonight.”

From writing style, it took me a second to recognize that it was Bruce, he sent me an address with an angry face emoji.

“Today is boss’s daughter’s birthday. Be on time.”

“So, the President Zuriel has a daughter now.”

Something fragile shattered in my chest, a nameless sadness enveloped my whole existence.

Like every other girl, my name was also included in the President Zuriel’s admirers. There wasn’t a single girl in the city who didn’t think about ruling that billionaire’s heart.

“His wife must be a fairy from the Heaven.”

Thinking about the lucky woman beside him forged a figure of supermodel in my mind. The rest of the trip was spent reminiscing about memories of the past.

Back in my home, nothing had changed in the previous two months. Jade opened the door with a radiant smile.

“Eve is here!”

“I didn’t come back from NASA mission that you are screaming like this.”

Dad came to my rescue and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

“For us, your absence is heart rendering. Don’t blame my little Princess.”

I pouted and hugged him. Mom was cooking in the kitchen, so I went to help her.

“Don’t tell me that you are going back. I will puncture the tires of the bus that you will board for your aunt’s house.”

“The application of my transfer has been accepted. So, there is no chance I am going back.” (For context, I lied about transferring to a remote town as loan penalty.)

My positive response ran a jolt of happiness in my family. The dinner was eaten in harmony until my dad suggested another marriage proposal.

“As your debt has been paid, it’s time that you should get married, Eve. Brad is my friend’s son. He runs his own catering company. He earned a master's degree in hospitality management too. Meet him, I am sure you will also like him.”

I was about to say clear-cut “NO”, but my mom held my hand, eyeing me to say “YES”.

“Not tonight, dad. I have to work at President Scott’s home. It's his daughter’s birthday party.”

As dad was literally dialing Brad’s number to set a date, I informed him.

“President Scott as The Scott Group? The one, who sells shampoos and creams?”

“Yes, dad. A Cosmetic company.”

Jade and mom laughed at dad’s interpretation of that multinational organization.

At dessert, dad sent me a photo of a pleasant looking boy.

“Brad is the one arranging that service in the President Scott’s party. You can meet him there.”

Well, my mood instantly got fused with this crash date. I slipped into my official attire after a shower and went to Scott’s Mansion.

“Bloody Hell!”

That luxurious building could be anything but a house. The mansion’s grand entrance with its golden staircase, high shining ceilings, intricate details gave a sense of majesty and splendor that was fit for Royal families.

“You are such a traitor, Evelyn.”

Perhaps my admiration session could continue for a while, but Bruce tapped my shoulder.

“You left the job like we have a waiting list of the girls who can work with the President Scott. Cruel.”

I picked up the bundles of goodie bags and buttered him up.

“How can someone worry in the presence of ever charming Mr. Bruce? Besides, there must be hundreds of young girls who want to join ‘The Scott Group’.”

Bruce fixed his blue coat at my flattery.

“To the corner table.”

The shy smile on his face was a sign that he bought it.

“There is a difference ‘who can’ and ‘who wants.’ You are so naïve, Evelyn.”

As the preparation of the party was almost completed, I glanced around for the most exciting part of the party.

“Where is the Disney Princess?”

“What Princess?”

Bruce's face blanched at the mere mention of kid’s favorite segment.

“You must have hired a princess party company for this birthday.”

Bruce's breath stuck in his throat, he leaned against the wall and called someone.

“Buy a costume of a frozen princess. Size medium.”

I got puzzled when his keen gaze sized me up.

“Congratulations, you will be our Elsa tonight.”

“What?”

Bruce’s last-minute planning led to an argument, but one thousand dollars for one hour hushed me.

“Catering service is here.”

As soon as I heard this report, my next destination was a servant’s room to change for the costume.

“I am looking like a fool!”

While giggling at my stupidity, I clicked my pictures and joined the small intimate party. A total of twenty guests were invited in that grand hall, it was strange that the birthday girl was the only kid there.

“Well, less kids, fewer problems.”

...

It was so easy to deal with that calm and quiet little girl that my own wish to have a baby girl emerged from the depths of my heart.

“When I have money, I will adopt a baby girl.”

In the next hour, we got engaged in different activities, I made sure that Brad could stay a mile away from me. That clingy man recognized me despite my heavy makeup and eventually came to say Hi.

“I was observing that you are so good with kids. You will be a great mom for my kids.”

Seriously? Dad selected this joker for me? Irked by his pickup line, I looked around. Finally, Bruce announced.

“It’s cake time.”

My gaze fell at the dream couple of the city, President Scott was as dashing as he was. Then my eyes beheld an unbelievable sight.

“Madam Carla?”

The woman next to him was the one who bought my first time five years ago.

“I am dressed as a princess. She will not recognize me.”

My guess was right as she didn’t notice me and stood beside President Scott proudly.

The cake was cut happily with the lots of presents, then a maid escorted the yawning Zoe to her room.

“Before dinner, I have an announcement to make.”

President Scott’s baritone, rich voice resonated in the entire hall. He gave an envelope to a middle-aged woman beside him.

“This is DNA report of Zoe, Aunt. She is not my daughter. Carla has cheated on me for five years. I want a divorce.”

The silent crowd broke into murmurs, this blast was beyond their imagination. That aunt read that paper and threw it at Carla’s face.

“How dare you, Carla? That's what I taught you? You have broken the laws of Heaven by betraying your husband.”

She placed her wooden bead necklace to her eyes and scolded her.

“I am a cheater. Wow!”

Carla stuffed the paper back in the case and pointed her finger at her husband.

“You are impotent, Zuriel. You couldn’t give me a child in five years of marriage. I did this for mom’s happiness, she was yearning to see her grandchildren. You are such an ingrate. I covered up your weakness like a good wife, and you insulted me in front of society. Great!”