So many children have the privilege to grow up with their parents but Camilla wasn't part of those lucky children.
Camilla grew up in an orphanage and was adopted at the age of 16 by a woman named Ruby who had a daughter, Ashley.
The day Camilla was adopted she felt so happy, happy that at least she'll have a family, somewhere to call home but to Ruby she was just a servant that she could use for free without spending money unless she decided to. Ruby was also a widow her husband was involved in a car crash and died so since then it's been just Ruby and Ashley.
Unaware of Ruby's plans Camilla was so excited because finally she had a mother and she could know how motherly love felt like, though it will be different since she wasn't her biological mother but at least she had someone to call Mother and a girl same age as her waiting for her at home who she could call sister.
When they arrived at Ruby's home Ashley rushed to greet her mum and also give her a hug then she looked at Camilla and said
"I'm Ashley I'm guessing you are the girl mum told me about my new sister. What's your name?"
Camilla grinned and replied
"yes we are sisters now and I assure you we are going to have so much fun. My name is Camilla"
Ashley giggled and complimented Camilla's jacket, Camilla complimented Ashley's hair and eyes.
"Mum I like Camilla"
Ashley said to her mum holding Camila's hand
"yes honey it's great because you'll be living together now"
Ruby said to Ashley before turning to Camilla
"go inside and clean up the living room I'm expecting some visitors"
Ruby commanded
"but mum she just got here she needs to rest"
Ashley protested
"it's okay Ash I'll do it"
Camilla responded calmly
"it's the least she can do for me because I adopted her homeless self into my house"
Ruby said rolling her eyes
"mum don't say that. Don't worry Camilla I'll help you we'll do it together as sisters"
Ashley said holding Camilla's hand and leading her to the living room
"young lady you won't talk to me like that"
Ruby shouted at Ashley
"not when my mum is unfair to my new sister"
Ashley shouted back
"how dare you Ashley go to your room now! I'll deal with you later"
Ruby commanded. In response Ashley grumbled and ran to her room but Camilla went to clean the living room herself with one question in her mind
"does this mean I will be treated like a maid?"
She brushed it off saying she owed it to her new mum for adopting her. By the time she was done she was tired and hungry. She ate the food Ruby gave her and went to sleep.
"Hey there little lady"
a man greeted her in her dream
"who are you?"
She asked
"I'm Joe I live in your dream"
the man replied
"okay I'm Camilla . What are you doing in my dream?"
She asked again
"like I said I am your friend and I live in your dream I just want you to feel better after what Ruby said to you, you owe no one and you aren't a maid "
the man replied
"yes I'm not a maid I know that but I owe mum for taking me in. I'm going to do whatever she asks me to do no matter how tired I am"
Camilla reply back. The man smiled and said
"what a sweet little lady you are. Anyways I'll help you carry out some of the task when you are tired"
Camilla laughed and and asked
"Joe you are funny how will you help me when you only exist in my dream?"
"you'll never know little lady. Bye"
Joe answered and left.
Camilla was so confused when she woke up she didn't understand what happened she asked so many questions who was this man? why was he talking to her in her dream? was he an angel or what?
"I live in your dream"
what does that even mean?.
She was so lost in thought to the extent that she didn't notice Ruby standing there looking at her as if she was crazy.
"what is wrong with you? and what man are you talking about?"
Ruby asked
"well a man was talking to me in my dream it felt real mum and I don't even know this guy"
Camilla answered hoping to get an explanation from Ruby
"it's just a dream don't think too much about it. Now get up you have a lot of work to do"
Ruby responded snapping out of her soft side
"okay but Mum I'm still feeling tired and it's still early do you think I could steal an hour of sleep? I'll be ready for anything by then"
Camilla begged
"you won't get the chance to be lazy in my house young lady so if I were you I'll stand up from that bed and start working"
Ruby shouted angrily.
Camilla wasn't surprised at all because that's how everyone treated her. She just stood up, brushed her teeth, took her bath and then started working.
She was surprised when she saw Ashley in a school uniform because Ruby never talked about registering her in a school all she did was tell her to work, work, work. She hadn't even eaten yet she did so many work in the house.
"Morning Camilla"
Ashley greeted softly
"morning Ashley how was your night?"
Camilla responded still focused on what she was doing
"it was great. How about yours?"
Ashley asked as she sat on the dining and waited for her mum to prepare breakfast
"it was also fine"
Camilla answered keeping her weird dream out of their discussion.
Soon Ruby brought Ashley's food for her without bringing Camilla's food which made Ashley question her. She told Ashley that she was preparing something nice and special for Camilla which was a lie but Camilla didn't know that, she was excited. Ashley on the other hand didn't believe her mom but she didn't ask any other question. Ashley ate her food and hugged Camilla before going to school
"at least Ashley love me and I love her too"
Camilla thought to herself as she cleaned the last room then hurried to meet Ruby because she was starving
"mum I'm done and I'm really hungry"
Camilla said to Ruby rubbing her stomach
"does it look like I care? get the hell out of my room you stupid child"
Ruby shouted angrily
"b-but I thought...."
Camilla tried to argue before she was interrupted by Ruby
"you thought what I was making food for you? You must be a fool to think that I'll stress myself for you. You are not my daughter so get out of my room!"
Camilla left disappointed she felt hurt and alone, she couldn't hold back the tears anymore Ruby's words kept echoing in her head.
She was going to her room to cry herself to sleep when she decided to check the dining table to see if it was clean so Ruby won't shout at her but to her surprise she found a bowl of spaghetti with chicken and some candies in a bowl with a note which read
"I was just playing with you princess I love you. Take everything and eat it in your room"
She was surprised because Ruby didn't sound like she was playing and when did she put the food on the table? because after Ashley went to school Ruby went to her room so the whole thing was so confusing she didn't understand why Ruby would say such mean things to her and just call it a joke. She laughed and took everything to her room then she ate and went to thank Ruby
"thanks mom"
she said with a smile
"for what?"
Ruby asked confused
"for everything and most especially the meal. It was delicious"
Camilla replied.
Ruby didn't understand what she was talking about so she yelled at Camilla to get out of her room. Camilla apologised and went to sleep by the time she woke up Ashley had already gotten home
"Camilla what's wrong?"
Ashley asked noticing that Camilla was moody
"it's nothing mum doesn't want me to go to school"
Camilla answered with sadness in her voice
"oh Mum again do you think I should beg her on your behalf? Maybe she'll listen to me right?"
Ashley suggested
"well I hope so"
replied Camilla.
Ashley went to her mum's room, greeted her and told her about the funny things that happened in her class both of them laughed then Ashley brought up Camilla and begged her mum to let Camilla come to school with her but Ruby laughed and replied
"the only way I'm letting that happen is if your late father comes to beg me"
"but Mum that isn't possible because dad is dead"
Ashely argued
"so it is impossible for Camilla to go to school"
Ruby replied again this time sounding very angry.
Ashley left disappointed but assured Camilla that she would go to school no matter what her mum said but Camilla was not convinced. She went to her room and cried silently Ashley came in a few minutes later to comfort her before going to bed. Camilla went to bed thinking her friend Joe would visit but he didn't show up
"well maybe that was just one of my dreams maybe he won't come again"
she thought to herself.
Ruby on the other hand had a visitor, her dead husband!
"I see you have adopted a girl"
he said calmly
"honey is that you? I've missed you so much"
Ruby replied with tears in her eyes
"the one and only"
her husband chuckled and continued
"why are you mistreating her? How would you feel if Ashley is being treated the way you treat Camilla?"
"I'm sorry honey but in my defence she isn't my daughter"
Ruby replied
"oh please she is because you adopted her. Let her go to school other wise my spirit won't be happy with you"
her husband said angrily and disappeared
"please don't go, come back I'll let her go because of you please come back to me"
Ruby pleaded with tears before waking up
"what kind of dream was that?"
She asked herself with tears rolling down her eyes
"my husband? he died long time ago why is he appearing to me now and why is it about Camilla? Why is he concerned about her?"
She continued
"since he wants me to send her to school I'll do it just to make him happy"
she said then went back to sleep.
In the morning she went to Camilla's room and woke her up
"look I'm going to send you to school but you have to finish doing everything in this house before you can leave"
Ruby said without looking at Camilla
"I don't even know what my husband saw in you"
she added
"Mum what do you mean your husband?"
Camilla asked looking confused but got no answer
"anyways thanks Mum I love you so much"
Camilla added.
Ruby made sure to give her difficult tasks to do to stop her from going to school but strangely when Camilla wanted to wash the clothes Ruby asked her to wash she didn't see any clothes the clothes were already washed and spread on the line. Camilla smiled and said to herself
"maybe she was just playing with me but let me go and bake the cake she asked me to make. I wonder why She wants a cake this morning".
When she got to the kitchen she saw a very toothsome cake, it looked so beautiful and mouth-watering. Camilla was stupefied she didn't know why Ruby told her to do things that were already done.
The cake was tempting so Camilla decided to leave before she took part of it but as she was about leaving she noticed a piece of cake with a note beside it. She picked the note and read it.
"Camilla this piece is yours I know you will love it"
she smiled to herself
"when did mum start trying to impress me?"
she thought to herself before eating the mouth-watering cake.
When she was done she took her bath and got dressed for school then went downstairs to join Ashley on the dining table.
She announced with enthusiasm
"Ashley have you heard? Mum has finally agreed to take me to school with you I'm so excited"
Camilla said with so much happiness
"wow! I knew my mum wasn't wicked you know like those wicked step moms I read about"
the two laughed
"haha very funny is that what your little head told you? That I'm a wicked mom?"
Ruby said with a frown
"no mum relax it was just a joke. I love you Mum I'm sorry if I made you angry"
Ashley replied making puppy eyes at her mum
"I love you too. Finish up so I can drop you"
Ruby said dropping Ashley's food on the table
"and you, have you washed all the clothes I asked you to wash?"
She asked Camilla expecting a no
"yes mom I have"
Camilla replied. She wanted to tell Ruby the truth but something in her told her to forget about it
"hope the cake is okay?"
Camilla asked
"oh the cake is good I wonder how a little girl was able to make such cake"
Ruby replied hoping Camilla would tell her her secret
" I'm not little you know"
Camilla chuckled
"I didn't even bake the cake"
She thought to herself. They all finished breakfast and Ruby took the girls to school
Who is Joe? did he do all those things for Camilla? And how?
Thank you so much for reading and I hoped you enjoyed this chapter
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