**Peony's POV**
Here I was in the room, going through my box of perfumes. It had been hectic at noon, but thank goodness everything was alright now. I picked up my phone from the corner of the bed and dialed my mom's number. After a few minutes of ringing, she picked up.
"How are you, Peony?" Mom asked almost as soon as I dropped the box and ambled toward the window.
"I'm fine, Mom. And you?" I replied, opening the window. A cool gust of wind swept in, making me heave with delight. It had only been a day, and I was already missing home.
"I hope you're happy." This time, it was Dad's voice that rang out with concern. I could imagine him breathing heavily with worry. I shoved my face forward and looked up. The stars in the sky shimmered, emitting their bright light toward my face.
"I'm fine, Dad. How are you?" I smiled lightly and sat at the window. "I'm okay, Daddy. You need not worry about me, okay? Plus, I've got a new friend," I said excitedly.
"A new friend?" Dad sounded bemused. I straightened my back attentively. "Yes, Dad. She is so beautiful, like a fairy. Her eyes are blue like the enchantress of the sea. She's an adorable soon-to-be four-year-old."
"Let me talk to her, dear," I heard Mom say, and I smiled. Mom was always anxious and eager to speak to me. "Hon, are you really okay over there and happy?" Mom asked worriedly. I cast my eyes down at the heart pool glowing in the twinkling night and widened my smile. "I'm quite fine, Mom, and adjusting really well with everyone. They are so nice." I frowned, almost at the same time directing my head toward the garden grove. My jaw dropped at the spaciousness and heavenly extravagance of the garden. I had never seen a garden as beautiful.
I proceeded toward the bed, packing my perfumes back into the box when a light knock at the door startled me.
"I'm going to go, Mom. Dad, I will call back another time," I said. I noticed the other end of the line go silent before she muttered an "okay" and "goodnight." Dropping the phone on the bed, I turned, searching for something to defend myself as my heartbeat became unsteady.
Is it a thief? A kidnapper? Is my life going to be in danger? I thought, feeling my heart race with pain.
"W-who?" I shivered, cold sweat forming on my face as I moved toward the door.
A dead silence enveloped me as I felt cold air penetrating my lungs. I took a calming breath before gripping the door handle. "I'm not going to ask again. Who are you?" I called out. Almost immediately, a tiny yet immaculate voice filled the room. "It's me, idol. Asher! Can I sleep with you tonight?"
I took a deep breath, struggling to gather my composure, and hushedly pushed the door open.
She stood close by, her hands clutching the pink pillow I had seen her with earlier, wearing unicorn pink pajamas.
"Seems like pink is her favorite," I thought.
She radiated in the dull light from the hall, making her look breathtakingly beautiful, like a real-life Barbie doll. "Can I sleep with you?" she pouted her lips and raised her cute brows, her long lashes fluttering at me.
"Asher?" I started, lightly jamming the door. I worried that letting her sleep in my room would make me a victim again. But when I looked into the expectant expression on her face, I just couldn't bring myself to say no.
"Yes!" I blurted out. She smiled warmly and took my hands. "Let's make it snappy, or Dada, Mama, or Nanny will find out!"
I nodded and pulled her into the room. As soon as she stepped in, she plopped onto the bed, creating a space for me. I smiled at her warm gesture and joined her on the bed.
The moment I lay beside her, I could barely contain the stirring emotions that washed over me. I watched the pillow for a moment and hushedly whispered, "I guess it belongs to…"
She fluttered her eyelids with glee. "Mama! It's my favorite."
"Really?" I noticed her genuine smile widen. No sooner had she brought out a huge album.
I gasped.
I hadn't noticed she was holding onto this along with the pillow all this time.
"My mother's portrait is in there. I will take you to our old house tomorrow." Her face saddened. "Though Dada asked me not to mention it to anyone, I don't see you as anyone. Plus, you look so much like my mother."
She continued, "Frankly, the first time I saw you, I thought you were my mother," she said innocently, sadness clear in her tone. I drew her closer and patted her shiny, lush hair. "Your mother loved you, Asher, and she still does now in heaven. You are such an adorable girl; why wouldn't I love you?"
"Really?" She opened the album, and my attention flew to it.
"Here's Mum." A lady smiling, clad in a blue gown and lying on a hospital bed with a newborn baby cradled in her arms, caught my attention. I gasped as I traced my fingers over the picture.
I felt my heart constrict, a conflicting feeling washing over me. "She's my mother, Mrs. Araya Kathryn Elizabeth Stewart, shortened by Aunt Ash and Emma as Ara."
My eyes became blurry, and I felt an anguished feeling sweep through me. For a moment, it felt like something struck me; this pain was similar to a throaty strangle. I gulped, looking closely at the picture.
It felt surreal; her huge hazel orbs seemed to dig into my heart, searching for my soul and body.
"A… Araya…" I muttered the name.
The name sounded familiar; I seemed to have heard it before. I touched her eyes and saw sadness. Asher seemed to notice my uncomfortable demeanor; she closed the album and held my hands. "Are you okay, Miss Peony?"
"I… I… I…"
I felt my body harden all at once, my face becoming pale as a tremor of flashbacks ached in my mind. I felt my eyes welling up.
**Short Flashback**
"Araya Stewart," she said, stepping backward and suddenly looking away.
"You are mine!" he growled, his hot breath on her. She flinched, trembling with unease. The man had his back to her, and she couldn't see his face because it was blurry.
"I'm not yours and never will be!" she rasped, blinking quickly with an outburst of emotions.
"I'd rather die than marry someone like you!" she gasped, falling into the water.
**Flashback Ends**
"Did I say something wrong, idol?" Asher asked, her hands tapping gently on my shoulders. I was suddenly overcome with a surge of rage. I bit my lips to counter my emotions, holding her hand. "I'm sorry," I said, but she was almost moved to tears. "Don't you like my mama?" Disappointment was clear on her face. "Do you think Mama Nora is right? Am I a result of my mum's misconduct?"
"N-no, Asher," I probed. She rested her head on my lap. It felt surreal, like we were a real mother and daughter. What I despised was her mother's way of talking to this young child; she didn't deserve any of what she threw at her. "Sorry!" I instantly said as the tears in her eyes began to fall.
"I wish Mum could sound as sincere as you when she says those words." She twitched and fixed her gaze on mine. "Mum hates me because Dad loves me more, but I don't want Dada's love as long as Mum loves me back!" she explained. I stifled under the weight of her tears. Something about her wouldn't let me rest.
"Listen, Asher, you own yourself, okay? You are a strong girl. Your father loved your mother, and so they conceived you. You are not at fault, and she doesn't have any right to accuse you."
"I wish, Miss, but…" Her voice cracked as more tears fell from her beautiful eyes. "She's never considered me her child. I'm beginning to think I'm really a mistake. I shouldn't have been born; then Mummy would be happy, right?" she grieved, opening her heart and feelings to me.
"No, Asher! Don't call yourself that. You are adorable, beautiful, smart, and nice, call what may, but you are so real and have such a nice soul." I resolved into tears, took her tiny finger, and gave it a light squeeze, wishing I could feel everything she felt, wishing to alleviate her pain. How could a mother have a wicked heart? She's the worst mother in the world.
"I just want Mama to love me. Will I ever get her love?" she asked.
"No, Asher! You will…" Little droplets of tears fell on her face. She felt the tears with her palm before bursting into tears.
"I'm a sad jerk who makes everyone cry. Why do you cry?" she fretted, visibly anxious.
"Because, darling, I feel your pain, and I'm sorry you go through so much to be loved."
"I wished for my real mama as my birthday present. Do you think my wish will be granted?" she asked, staring into my eyes.
I was beginning to see our striking resemblance.
"Of course, darling." I removed the locks of hair from her face and attempted a smile that didn't reach my hazel eyes. "Don't worry; your wish will be granted because you've always been a good and obedient child." I floundered, shedding more tears.
I exhaled loudly, dropping my shoulders and looking down at her. I lowered my eyes while concern was visible on my face.
I felt a deep connection with the young soul in front of me.
We stayed this way for the better part of the night before we drifted off.
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**Author's POV**
The dawning light shone through the window, awakening the sleeping Peony. She leaned lazily against the pillow and groggily yawned. Her body felt stiff from the position she had slept in. Her gaze drifted to the girl sleeping on the other side of the bed. Ecstatically, she planted a kiss on Asher's forehead.
Slowly, she slipped on her flip-flops and walked to the bathroom. After taking a much-needed bath, she wore a pink tummy blouse and a denim skirt.
Afterward, she sat in the gold armchair and gently brushed her hair while humming a song. She missed the birdsong. After taking time to select a floral bow to wear, she chose a pink one, knowing Asher loved pink. No sooner had Asher twisted in bed, slightly opening her eyes, than she exclaimed, "Good morning, Miss!"
Peony raised an eyebrow. "Morning, darling?" She turned her gaze to her and asked straightaway, hidden happiness in her words, which didn't go unnoticed. "How are you, dear?"
"I'm very good, Miss! I felt happy talking to you. Thank you so much!" She closed in on Peony and hugged her from behind. "I'm excited! We are going on our adventure today!" she said, shaking like a leaf. The smile on Peony's face turned upward. "Will you be breaking a rule by going there?" she asked, not wanting to see her get in trouble.
She had already gotten the first impression of the people she deemed her parents.
"No, Miss! Actually, Dad will bring us there. We always go there on every one of my birthdays." She clasped her hands and smiled. "My birthday is in three days, and we will visit Mama's place to pay homage to her."
"Wow! She's definitely too smart for her age," Peony thought, dropping the brush and looking intently at the mirror.
Just then, as Asher spoke, the door to the room opened, revealing a woman who seemed to be in her late fifties, with emerald black shiny eyes and gray hair elegantly styled. "I'm sorry to barge in, Miss, but it's Asher's birthday time," she said. Peony loved the warm nature of her voice; since she'd come here, she was the one who had spoken to her with sincere love, aside from Asher. Asher immediately frowned. "Nanny, you knew I was here!" She approached her, smiling, and patted her hair.
"I saw you, Miss, sneak out of your bed, and I followed. I stopped trailing you when I found you here." Asher's eyes lit up. "You did?" Her expression showed her love for her nanny. She did a tricky wave and feigned zipping her mouth. "It's between you and your idol; I can't come in between." She took Asher's hand and gazed at Peony, who was grinning from ear to ear.
"I thought to give you the clothes after being washed. I'm sorry it's arriving late." Her eyes widened as she lifted her hand to cover her mouth. "You helped me!" she said, her hand still over her mouth. The nanny gave a warm smile and replied, "Yes, I found the boss in an awkward spot when he brought you, so I offered to help." With that said, she took Asher's hand and walked away while Peony cast her eyes down in shock.
How could she think he really did it? Blaming him for a crime he didn't commit? Oh, stupid Peony! What were you thinking all this while? Maybe I should apologize to him when I see him.
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