"It won't be that easy. Mom will give me nothing," she said, knowing her mother all too well.
"Yeah, sis, just give me some time," he said, trying to assure her that everything would be okay.
She nodded slowly, her eyes soft. "I love you, bro," she mumbled quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Love you too. Ella misses you a lot," he added, and Ella smiled faintly, comforted by his words.
"Dani, do take care of yourself, ok?" he asked with gentle concern, and she nodded obediently, her eyes shimmering with unspoken emotion.
Both of them were close, but Nathaniel often acted like the older sibling, simply because he was the boy. Protective to a fault, especially when it came to his sisters, Nathaniel carried the weight of that role proudly. He was also strikingly handsome. Back in high school, everyone knew him as Mr. Handsome, thanks to those captivating eyes of his and that quiet, confident charm. It wasn't just a nickname it was a reputation he carried without effort.
They waved goodbye, and Ella went back inside, curling up in her room. Sleep took her quickly, a gentle escape from her thoughts.
Time flew by like water through cupped hands, and before long, the sun dipped below the horizon. Evening settled in softly. Isabella returned, and the trio Isabella, Ella, and a few others stepped outside, joining the gentle hum of village life.
After dinner, a fire was lit outside. Orange flames flickered against the darkening sky, and Ella's heart lifted at the sight. There was something magical about it, something freeing. They sat around the fire with some villagers, swapping stories, laughing, eating, and enjoying the night.
Ella found herself relaxing, truly enjoying the lighthearted conversation. Laughter echoed into the cool night air. The fire crackled, casting warm glows on happy faces. She felt… at peace.
That was until Max showed up.
The food in Ella's mouth suddenly lost its taste. The joy in her eyes disappeared like smoke in the wind. Her smile, so vibrant seconds ago, faded into nothing.
And it wasn't just her. The mood shifted. Everyone's appetite vanished, and so did the easy laughter. It was as though a cold breeze had swept through the firelight, dulling the spark of the evening.
Max's presence was like thunder rolling in on a clear night unwelcome and jarring.
Ella, once cheerful in her pink top and short black skirt, instinctively pulled the wrapper tighter around her thighs. She didn't want any of the boys, especially not Max seeing too much.
Max, on the other hand, wore a clean white T-shirt and green trousers. His hair fell stylishly over one side of his forehead, looking effortlessly good. He was, without question, heartbreakingly beautiful, and he knew it.
He strode confidently over to where Isabella was seated and settled beside her.
Isabella looked stunning in a white dress that stopped just at her knees, paired with matching white shoes that reached her calves. Her golden hair was let down, cascading over her slender shoulders and all the way to her waist like a waterfall of light.
"Bella baby," Max said smoothly, his voice low and familiar.
Isabella sat beside Ella, and Max took the other end of the log. The tension was thick.
"I'll go find Ace," Ella said abruptly, rising to her feet. Her tone was clipped.
"So you're friends now, huh?" Max asked, surprised, his tone laced with something almost accusatory.
She didn't answer. She didn't even look at him. She just kept walking, her only intention being to get far away.
But then, just her luck she spo---
"Sister-in-law," he called aloud, and Ella blushed. Ace saw this and wasn't going to let it slide.
"You're even blushing," he teased, completely ignoring the people around them. He strolled over and sat beside her, casually draping an arm around her shoulders. The gesture didn't faze him one bit.
"Ace, hello," a beautiful girl greeted, catching his attention. She, too, was sitting near the fire, the warm glow flickering over her soft features.
"Oh, Lilly," he replied, smiling. He and Lilly had been friends for years. She was around Ella's age perhaps a little older and carried herself with a maturity that made her seem far senior.
"Long time no see," she said. She wore a black, lacy gown that fluttered gently in the breeze. The night air was rich with laughter, the scent of smoke, and a sense of celebration.
"How's school?" Ace asked.
"Hmm, stressful. I need to rack my brain daily. Hahaha... plastic surgery isn't easy, right?" she replied with a tired chuckle.
"Wow. I told you to change your course but you wouldn't listen," Ace said mockingly.
"Plastic surgery?" Ella asked, intrigued.
"Yeah. By the way, nice meeting you. I'm Lilly," she introduced herself.
"Hi. I'm Daniella," Ella responded politely. The fire between them crackled, its yellow flames dancing wildly, making it hard for them to truly see each other's eyes.
"So, this is my sister-in-law," Ace said playfully.
"Sister-in-law?" Lilly echoed with a raised brow.
"He's lying," Ella interjected quickly. "I'm not married."
"But you like my brother, right?" Ace added cheekily, and Ella was left speechless, her words lost somewhere in her throat. She lowered her head, unable to respond.
"Another surgery is coming up soon," Lilly mentioned, turning the conversation elsewhere.
Through all of this, Max remained eerily silent. His expression didn't change; he sat there, unmoved and unreadable.
"What do you hope to gain by telling Ella that I sold her for prostitution?" Bella asked him quietly, sitting beside him. Her voice was low, only meant for his ears.
He didn't flinch. Not a muscle moved. But eventually, his lips parted.
"Her, of course. What else?"
"You must be insane," she snapped, eyes narrowed with fury.
"What? Isn't that what she's meant for?" he asked indifferently, his voice void of feeling.
"What do you take her for? Do you honestly think she's a prostitute?" she challenged. To Maximus, Ella had always been just a maidor some stray prostitute Bella had dragged in.
"Stop talking nonsense," he retorted. "Weren't you the one who brought me a prostitute? And now you're claiming she's not one?"
"She isn't a prostitute, nor is she a maid," Bella stated firmly. "I found her stranded. Alone. In the middle of the night."
To Max, it didn't matter.
"Whether she's a maid or a prostitute, it doesn't change anything. I don't care," he said flatly. He stood up to leave.just in time to overhear Ella speaking with Lilly.
"I'm also a surgeon student... but I had to stop school," Ella admitted, her voice low and heavy with emotion.
"Why? You need to go to school!" Lilly was visibly shocked.
"It's not that I don't want to... I just don't have a choice. No money. No support," Ella confessed, eyes cast down.
"What??" Ace exclaimed. "You're stopping school over something so stupid?"
"Will you give me money?" Ella shot back, not in anger, but with tired defeat.
Max heard enough. Without a word, he turned and walked away. The laughter behind him faded as he made his way to the river, where the night was quieter. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it, the smoke curling around his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Ella wandered to a silent spot, overwhelmed by a burning ache in her chest. Tears spilled freely as she sobbed quietly. When her crying slowed, she spotted the river and walked toward it. The place felt still serene.
Suddenly, arms wrapped around her from behind.
She froze.
"Dani girl," Max murmured near her ear.
She struggled, then
SLAP!!
Her hand flew across his face, loud and stinging. He stood frozen, staring at her in stunned silence. Yet, he didn't retaliate. He didn't even flinch.
"Why didn't you tell me you're a student?" he asked softly.
Ella looked at him, confused. She had expected anger not concern.
"W… what?" she stuttered.
"We're friends, right? So why run away from your friend?" he continued. Despite the slap, his face remained unreadable.
"Nothing…"
"You're a bad friend," he whispered, a hint of real pain laced in his voice. Ella's guilt deepened.
"Where did you meet Isabella?" he asked abruptly.
She hesitated. Then finally said, "On the roadside."
"What? Why?"
"My family threw me out. In the middle of the night," she said quietly, looking down.
Max took a step toward her. She instinctively moved back, but he gently wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Hug me," he murmured.
Ella stood frozen. He pulled her into his embrace, and after a moment of hesitation, she hugged him back. His broad chest was warm against her, oddly comforting. They stood that way for a long time maybe thirty minutes before Max slowly pulled away.
Her eyes were still shut. She didn't understand what she was feeling, but it was strong.
He stared at her, at those closed brown eyes. Then her lips parted slightly. He blinked, remembering this moment it had happened before.
Slowly, almost hesitantly, he leaned in, brushing his lips against hers. Gently, he nibbled at them. Ella stood frozen, unsure of how to respond. His tongue slid between her lips and explored carefully. She didn't kiss back, she didn't know how. It was her first time.
Max pulled away gently, watching her reaction.
She opened her eyes slowly, her cheeks flushed. She leaned into him, both comforted and confused.
"Tomorrow, you're going back to school," he said firmly, like a protective father.
"I don't have money," she whispered.
"But you have a friend," he replied, hugging her once more.
"You'd do that for me?" she asked in disbelief.
He nodded.
*******
The next morning, everything was ready. Max had made all the arrangements. Ella, now wearing a clean school uniform, called her brother to tell him the news. As the SUV pulled up to the school gates, her heart fluttered with joy.
She stepped out and saw her brother waiting for her.
"Bro!" she cried, running to him.
"Ella!" he exclaimed. He always tried to act mature, but this time his joy spilled over.
Together they walked inside and were quickly greeted by Emmanuella.
"Dani!" Ella beamed, throwing her arms around her.
"Daniella, we missed you," Ella said warmly.
"Me too! But I'm back now," daniella replied, chuckling.
Soon Teresa joined, hugging her tightly.
"We missed you," she repeated.
"Me too! Okay, stop or I'll go back," Daniella joked.
"No!!" everyone cried. Even Nathaniel couldn't help but smile and join in.
Later, after classes, they all went to a restaurant to get pizza and hang out. Ella saw many of her old friends and joined their circle of gossip and laughter.
"Now that I'm back," she declared boldly, "I'm never leaving again!"
Everyone laughed, and for the first time in a long while, Ella felt whole.