THE LIFE SHE STOLE

THE LIFE SHE STOLE chapter 4

Chapter Four: Behind the Smile

2011

The towering gates of St. Augustine Preparatory Academy stood proudly beneath the bright morning sun.

Cassandra stopped for a moment outside the entrance.

Children in neat navy-blue uniforms hurried past her, laughing and chatting excitedly. Expensive cars dropped pupils off one after another while teachers stood at the gates, welcoming everyone with cheerful smiles.

Everything felt so different from the orphanage.

She tightened her grip on her school bag.

"I can do this," she whispered to herself.

Taking a deep breath, she walked through the gates.

---

At the same time...

Adela stepped gracefully out of the Williams family's black Range Rover directly in front of the school entrance.

The driver smiled politely.

"Have a wonderful first day, Miss Adela."

"Thank you."

She adjusted her blazer and smoothed down her skirt before walking confidently towards the main building.

She had barely taken a few steps when three girls approached her.

"Hi! You're the new girl, aren't you?"

"I'm Olivia."

"I'm Charlotte."

"And I'm Emily."

Adela smiled warmly.

"It's nice to meet all of you."

Within minutes, the girls were chatting and laughing as if they had known each other for years.

---

Inside the assembly hall, the Year Five pupils gathered together.

The headteacher welcomed everyone before asking each class teacher to collect their pupils.

"Year Five Oak, follow me please."

Mrs. Parker led the children into a bright, colourful classroom.

The walls were decorated with artwork and colourful learning charts. Bookshelves filled one side of the room while large windows overlooked the school gardens.

Mrs. Parker smiled.

"Before we begin, I'd like everyone to welcome our two new pupils."

She looked towards Adela.

"Please introduce yourself."

Adela confidently walked to the front.

"Good morning, everyone."

"My name is Adela Williams."

"It's lovely to meet you all."

The class applauded.

Mrs. Parker nodded approvingly.

"Thank you, Adela."

She turned towards Cassandra.

"And now..."

"Cassandra."

Cassandra slowly walked to the front.

She nervously clasped her hands together.

"H-Hello..."

"My name is Cassandra."

"I hope we can all be friends."

Several children smiled kindly.

Mrs. Parker pointed towards two empty desks.

"You may choose where you'd like to sit."

Without hesitation, Adela walked over to Olivia and Charlotte.

"May I sit here?"

"Of course!"

They happily made room for her.

Cassandra looked around.

Every table already seemed full.

Not wanting to disturb anyone, she quietly chose the empty desk beside the window.

---

Their first lesson was Mathematics.

Mrs. Parker smiled as she wrote a question on the whiteboard.

"A library has 325 books. It buys another 178 books. How many books does the library have altogether?"

"Who would like to solve it?"

The classroom became quiet.

Mrs. Parker smiled.

"Adela?"

Adela stood up confidently.

She stared at the board.

After a few seconds...

She lowered her head.

"I'm sorry, Miss... I don't know."

"That's alright."

Mrs. Parker smiled encouragingly.

"Would anyone else like to try?"

A small hand slowly rose.

"Cassandra."

Cassandra walked to the front.

She carefully worked out the answer before writing neatly on the board.

325 + 178 = 503

"There are five hundred and three books altogether."

Mrs. Parker smiled brightly.

"Excellent work!"

The classroom burst into applause.

"Very well done, Cassandra."

She shyly returned to her seat.

As she sat down, she glanced towards Adela.

Adela wasn't smiling.

---

The next lesson was English.

The pupils took turns reading a short story aloud.

When it was Cassandra's turn, she read clearly and confidently.

Mrs. Parker smiled.

"Beautiful reading."

"You speak very clearly."

Several pupils nodded in agreement.

---

After break, the class had Science.

Mrs. Parker held up pictures of different animals.

"Can anyone tell me which of these are mammals?"

Hands shot into the air.

Cassandra answered correctly once again.

"Excellent."

"You've been listening carefully."

More smiles.

More praise.

More applause.

Every compliment Cassandra received made Adela feel more invisible.

---

At lunchtime, Cassandra sat alone for a few moments before a cheerful girl named Sophie walked over.

"Hi."

"Would you like to sit with us?"

Cassandra smiled.

"I'd love to."

Soon, she found herself laughing with Sophie and a few other children.

Across the playground, Adela watched quietly.

She noticed how easily Cassandra was making friends.

Even teachers seemed drawn to her gentle personality.

Something inside Adela began to change.

---

The final bell rang.

Mrs. Parker smiled.

"You've all done wonderfully today."

"I'll see everyone tomorrow."

The children hurried outside.

Cassandra packed her books carefully before leaving the classroom.

She saw Adela standing with Olivia, Charlotte and Emily near the school gate.

For a brief moment...

She smiled.

Then she remembered Adela's warning.

Without saying a word, she quietly walked past.

Adela watched her leave.

A strange feeling settled inside her.

She couldn't explain it.

But she didn't like how much attention Cassandra had received on their very first day.

---

Over the following weeks, both girls slowly settled into life at St. Augustine Preparatory Academy.

Cassandra made friends without even trying.

She was kind to everyone.

Whenever a classmate forgot a pencil, she happily shared hers.

Whenever someone struggled with a lesson, she patiently explained it.

Before long, many of the pupils wanted to sit with her.

Even the teachers admired her gentle nature.

"Well done, Cassandra."

"Excellent work."

"Keep it up."

Those words became something Adela dreaded hearing.

Every compliment Cassandra received felt like another reminder that she was being overshadowed.

---

The first set of class assessments arrived sooner than expected.

When the results were announced, Mrs. Parker smiled proudly.

"I'd like everyone to congratulate our highest-performing pupil."

The classroom became quiet.

"Cassandra."

The room erupted into applause.

Cassandra stood shyly as Mrs. Parker handed her a small certificate.

"You've done exceptionally well."

"Thank you, Miss," Cassandra replied politely.

Mrs. Parker then looked at the rest of the class.

"I hope all of you will work just as hard."

Adela forced a smile.

Inside, she was furious.

---

That evening, Mr. and Mrs. Williams sat together in the living room, looking through the girls' progress reports.

Mrs. Williams smiled proudly.

"Cassandra..."

"Excellent in English."

"Excellent in Mathematics."

"Excellent in Science."

"We're so proud of you."

Cassandra smiled shyly.

"Thank you."

Mr. Williams then turned to Adela's report.

"You've done well, Adela..."

"...but we know you can do even better."

Mrs. Williams smiled kindly.

"Perhaps Cassandra could help you study."

"She's very patient."

Adela smiled sweetly.

"I'd love that."

But the moment they returned upstairs...

Her smile disappeared.

---

"You embarrassed me."

Cassandra looked up from her book.

"What?"

"My parents compared me to you again."

"They weren't comparing us."

"They were encouraging you."

"They're always praising you!"

"I can't help that."

"Oh, but you can."

Adela stepped closer.

"Since you've stolen their attention..."

"...the least you can do is help me."

"I already said I'd help you study."

"I don't want you to help me study."

"I want you to do my homework."

Cassandra's eyes widened.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"But that's wrong."

"You owe me."

"I owe you?"

"You stole my parents' love."

Cassandra shook her head.

"I didn't steal anything."

"You did."

"So now you'll repay me."

"I won't."

Adela's face darkened.

"If you refuse..."

"I'll tell Mum and Dad you've been rude and ungrateful ever since you came to live with us."

"They trust me."

"They'll believe me."

Cassandra slowly lowered her head.

"...Okay."

A satisfied smile spread across Adela's face.

"And during tests..."

"...you'll let me copy your answers."

Cassandra looked horrified.

"But that's cheating."

"I don't care."

"If you refuse..."

"...I'll make your life miserable."

---

Days turned into weeks.

Weeks turned into months.

Every evening, Cassandra completed two sets of homework.

Her own...

And Adela's.

She explained lessons Adela refused to listen to.

She completed projects Adela didn't want to do.

She even prepared revision notes for her.

Yet Adela never thanked her.

Instead...

The bullying only became worse.

Still, Cassandra endured everything in silence.

Whenever she felt hurt, she remembered the days at St. Mary's Orphanage.

She remembered how Adela used to protect her.

How they shared meals.

How they promised to always be sisters.

She kept hoping that one day, her best friend would return.

---

One afternoon during lunch break, Cassandra finally gathered the courage to speak.

She walked towards Adela, who was sitting beneath a large oak tree with Olivia, Charlotte and Emily.

They were laughing together.

"Adela..."

Cassandra smiled softly.

"Do you remember when we used to sit under the mango tree at St. Mary's Orphanage and dream about having a family?"

The laughter stopped.

Adela slowly turned.

"I'm sorry..."

She spoke loudly enough for everyone around to hear.

"Do I know you?"

Cassandra blinked.

"What?"

"I think you've mistaken me for someone else."

"Adela... it's me."

"We grew up together."

Olivia looked confused.

"You know her?"

Adela laughed.

"No."

"I've lived comfortably all my life."

She folded her arms and looked Cassandra up and down.

"I was born with a silver spoon."

"I wouldn't know the first thing about living like a pauper in an orphanage."

Her friends burst into laughter.

Cassandra stood frozen.

The laughter echoed around the playground.

Tears filled her eyes.

Without saying another word, she turned and quietly walked away.

Behind her, Adela watched with a satisfied smile.

She had stolen Cassandra's family.

Now...

She was determined to erase every trace of the girl who had once been her best friend.

End of Chapter Four