CHAPTER 6..
1006 Words
The scene did not belong to Liesel’s home. It would have suited Klara and her children’s house far more. Today, the house was unusually lively because it was Felix Fischer’s birthday, and the celebration was meant to be grand.
Klara never allowed Liesel to rest peacefully even on normal days, but today she had turned her into a complete servant. All the preparations for Felix’s birthday had been dumped onto her shoulders, and she had been working nonstop since morning.
It was now seven in the evening, and the guests had already started arriving. Some were villagers, while others were Felix’s friends. Klara was sitting comfortably with her friend Sofia when she suddenly called out loudly,
“Klara!”
Liesel, who was in the kitchen checking all the dishes she had prepared, immediately ran toward her.
“Go make some fresh juice for Sofia,” Klara ordered coldly.
“Yes, Mama,” Liesel replied softly.
Klara continued chatting with her friend. Sofia was no different from Klara herself. She enjoyed looking down on people and carried immense pride over wealth that was never truly hers to begin with. Sofia had married into a rich family, and ever since then, she had become arrogant because of her newfound luxury. She had come to Felix’s birthday party with her son.
Liesel quickly prepared the juice and handed it to Sofia. Sofia looked her up and down with clear disgust before speaking mockingly to Klara.
“What is this? Why does she look like a beggar? Doesn’t she have any decent clothes?”
Klara glared at Liesel with irritation and replied,
“She’s used to looking like this.”
Liesel lowered her eyes toward her clothes. She had been busy in the kitchen since morning, and the front of her dress was stained and messy. A deep wave of embarrassment washed over her. During work, she had completely forgotten that she needed to change clothes as well.
Quietly, she left for her room.
Liesel’s room contained almost nothing. There was a small single bed placed in one corner, a mirror hanging on the wall, and a tiny wardrobe for her clothes.
She walked toward the wardrobe and opened it, searching through her dresses. There was nothing suitable enough for a birthday party. Finally, she took out a frock that was in slightly better condition than the others.
She remembered that whenever there was any event, this was always the same dress she wore.
It was a simple frock decorated with white, pink, and grey flowers. The hem reached slightly below her knees. She quickly changed into it, curled both sides of her hair and pinned them neatly behind her head.
That was all her preparation. She owned no makeup to make herself look prettier.
Soon, she hurried downstairs.
The first person she noticed was Madam Samantha, an elderly woman respected by everyone in the village. As soon as Madam Samantha saw her, she stood up and embraced Liesel warmly.
She was a kind woman. She knew very well how Klara treated Liesel, and it filled her heart with pity. If there had been any way, she would have freed the poor girl from Klara’s cruel grasp.
Liesel was deeply attached to her too. There was no blood relation between them, yet Madam Samantha was one of the very few people who genuinely cared for her pain and suffering.
The two sat together and talked quietly.
Madam Samantha kept looking at Liesel’s face. Girls her age were usually cheerful, lively, stubborn, and full of dreams. But on Liesel’s face, there was nothing except sadness and hopelessness.
Madam Samantha could not even remember the last time she had seen her smile.
Just then, everyone started gathering around the table for the cake-cutting ceremony.
Felix stood proudly in the center while cutting the cake as everyone wished him happily. After feeding cake to the guests one by one, the celebration continued once more.
Inside the house, the adults remained seated and busy talking. Meanwhile, in the backyard lawn, the younger generation had started their own separate party.
Alcohol, drinks, and every kind of intoxication filled the atmosphere.
Felix and Anneliese were swaying under the influence, surrounded by his spoiled friends and their girlfriends. They were the type of people who lived only for pleasure and recklessness.
At that moment, Liesel walked into the lawn.
Klara had sent her to call Felix inside.
“Felix!” she called out.
But the music was too loud for him to hear. Reluctantly, she moved closer and touched his shoulder lightly.
“Felix…”
Felix turned around with annoyance written all over his face.
“What now? Are you dying or something?”
“Mom is calling you inside,” Liesel replied quietly.
Without another word, Felix excused himself from his friends and walked back toward the house.
Now all of his friends were staring at Liesel.
The way they looked at her made her extremely uncomfortable.
They invited her to stay, but she refused and tried to leave. Suddenly, she collided with someone.
A drink spilled all over her dress.
Behind her, Felix’s group of friends burst into dramatic reactions and muffled laughter.
Liesel looked up and saw Recher — Sofia’s son.
A dark, shameless smile rested on his face.
Liesel immediately tried to walk away, but he grabbed her wrist.
“Hey… at least let me apologize,” he said teasingly. “The drink fell on you by accident.”
Liesel knew very well it had not been an accident.
Just then, Felix returned and frowned.
“What’s going on here?”
Recher quickly released her hand.
Without saying anything else, Liesel hurried back to her room.
Tears had begun gathering in her eyes. She only owned one decent frock, and now even that had been ruined.
She walked to her wardrobe, hoping to find something else to wear before washing the stained dress.
But the moment she opened the wardrobe, someone entered the room behind her.
She turned around slowly.
It was Recher.
- Writer
