Mom pulled her to the back seat, unimpressed.
“Who cares what your name is?”
9:36
She wrapped her arms around me and spoke
gently.
“Scared, baby? Don’t worry, Mommy’s here.”
I nuzzled her neck.
A reward.
She looked at Dad.
“Honey, getting Maggie a servant was a great
idea.”
Dad nodded, relieved.
Daisy’s face went pale.
“Servant? What are you talking about?”
No one answered her.
When we got home, Walter drove off.
100
<
Daisy was left behind.
She automatically walked towards the stairs.
Mom grabbed her.
“Where are you going? Your room is this way.”
She was put in the maid’s room.
That night, she cried into her pillow.
I hugged my teddy bear outside her door and
smiled.
Her tears sounded so good.
The next day.
I sat at the breakfast table like a princess.
Daisy was sent to bring me food.
<
9:36
I watched her struggle to reach the table.
Then I moved my hand and knocked it over.
It spilled all over her.
“Ah!” she shrieked.
“What’s wrong?” Mom hurried down.
Seeing the mess, she ran over to me.
100
Then she glared at Daisy.
“How clumsy can you be? If you hurt Maggie, I’ll
cut off your hand!”
I was their art piece.
They wouldn’t let me get hurt.
The maids weren’t even allowed to let more
than ten of my hairs fall out per day.
<
Daisy cried.
“Mom, why are you treating me like this? I’m
your daughter, too!”
Mom looked at her with disgust.
“Maggie, does it have to be her? I can’t stand
her!”
“Not even yet?”
I was forced to endure this for so much longer.
“This is your karma, baby,” I said with a twisted
smile.
5
Three months since the fire.
The Andersons came over with Timmy.
He hid behind them
He hid behind them.
Mrs. Anderson looked at me, eyes red.
“Maggie, can you tell us, please, why the door
shut?”
Hearing about the fire, I hid in Mom’s arms.
Dad frowned. “What are you asking? The doctor
said Maggie has trauma. Don’t bring it up
again.”
Mrs. Anderson cried.
“Timmy said the door shut just as he was
getting out. We just want to know if Maggie
saw someone.”
“No,” I said, looking innocent.
“The wind was strong. I saw the fire and ran
<
over, but I was too slow…”
Dad rubbed my head. “Don’t blame yourself.”
He turned to the Andersons.
“I know you’re worried, but Maggie’s not doing
well. The police investigated. No fingerprints, no
third party. The door’s light. It probably just
blew shut.”
There was no wind that day.
But there were no cameras.
When Timmy trapped me inside, he blamed the
wind.
Everyone believed him.
That was a great idea he gave me.
It was all his fault for playing with fire.
She didn’t have to work when there were
guests.
She saw the Andersons and her eyes lit up.
She ran over.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson!”
The Andersons looked confused. “Who is this?”
Mom smiled. “Walter’s adopted daughter. She
came to play with Maggie.”
Daisy tried to smile.
She saw the figure behind the Andersons.
“Come play with us.”
She grabbed Timmy.
<
“Ah!” Daisy screamed, falling to the ground
when she saw his face.
I almost laughed.
Her handsome fiance was a freak now.
Timmy recovered, but the burns were
permanent.
Sucks, doesn’t it?
But I looked like this too last time.
At least his parents still loved him.
Mine dumped me.
He was luckier than me.
So unfair.
“What are you doing?” Mom velled.
<
9:36
But she froze when she saw Timmy.
She used to love Timmy. Now, she hated him.
Daisy couldn’t believe her eyes.
“This is your fault, isn’t it, Maggie!”
SLAP!
Mom slapped her.
Daisy cried.
“You hit me…”
Mom snapped. “Maggie, do we have to keep
her? I can’t take it anymore!”
“Can’t take it anymore?”
I had to endure so much more.
100
I was just returning the taxe
ver, w
<
9:36
“What do you mean? What about the
partnership?”
The Andersons and Andersons were planning a
project. It would only work if they tied
themselves together with a marriage.
Mr. Anderson wanted profit more than anything.
Dad hesitated.
But he didn’t want Timmy as a son–in–law.
I tugged on Mom’s sleeve.
I pointed to Daisy.
Mom lit up. “You mean…”
She laughed.
She looked at the Andersons.
9:37
V
100
“Let’s get Daisy and Timmy married.”
Mrs. Anderson was shocked. “What? She’s just
Walter’s daughter.”
Dad pitched in.
“So what? Walter’s been my driver for years.
He’s my most trusted guy. If you two get
married, we continue the partnership. If not, we
end it.”
The Andersons grudgingly agreed.
It was about profit.
And Timmy probably couldn’t marry anyone
better.
Daisy was just a chauffeur’s daughter, but she
was pretty.
J–11-0 14
Daisy was just a chauffeur’s daughter, but she
was pretty.
Daisy couldn’t believe it.
“No! I don’t want to!”
SLAP!
Mom slapped her again.
“Then go back to the orphanage!”
<
6
9:37
The marriage was still on.
จ 100
Daisy didn’t want to go back to the orphanage.
She was still clinging to the idea that she could
somehow snag the fancy life from the past
timeline.
Even marrying Timmy Anderson was better than
that.
So, every day, she was my personal servant,
always with the smile.
Bringing me tea, carrying my books to school,
holding an umbrella over my head when it
rained.
She wouldn’t touch me.
She was biding her time.
<
9:37
When I was ten, after three whole years of
servitude,
She finally got her chance!
100
On the way home from school, she said there
was this awesome candy store down a certain
street. Did I want to go?
