A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

In the days that followed, Donny treated Emily very well. He provided for whatever she needed - food, medicines, comfort. Donny kept his father at bay and tried to make Emily feel as comfortable as he could.

As Emily tried to make conversation with Donny one day, he nodded at her, trying to comprehend what she was saying. "Tell me what I can do for you?" he asked, as that was all he could offer to her in exchange for her willingness to play with him.

"Nothing, yet." she said. Emily knew Donny would never hurt her but she decided not to reveal too much as his mother was not as kind and genuine as him.

They played together for a while before Mrs. Yang appeared at the door, "Donny, we are going to harvest potatoes. Do you want to join us?" asked Mrs. Yang.

"Of course!" Donny answered, excitedly.

"Okay, good boy," said Mrs. Yang, who always treated him like his little boy. Mrs. Yang's eyes were warm with motherly love until they landed on Emily. Reluctantly, she said, "Hey, you... come with us too. We never feed idle people."

"Umhm.. Got it." Emily nodded her head lightly, feeling obliged and dutiful.

But Donny disagreed with his mother, refuting, "Mommy, how can you make my fairy do such hard labor? She is so beautiful. My fairy. She shouldn't work!"

"Oh, is it? Who will support your fairy if she doesn't do her part? You? What would you do? Give her your food and starve?" she asked back. One could detect the casual contemptuousness regarding Emily in her voice.

"Of course I will! I support her," Donny said with that serious conviction of a child, puffing out his chest with pride. "I swear to support her," he repeated.

Mrs. Yang was amused at her little boy's determination and pulled his ear gently, saying, "Right now, you yourself need my support. How will you support others? You really are going to follow the old saying, 'once the son is married, the mother is forgotten!' Hahahahaha," laughed Mrs. Yang.

'You have not married her yet, my silly boy. How could you protect her like this?' Mrs. Yang thought in her mind. For one second, she even did not know whether it was right or not to keep Emily here.

Her smiling eyes shifted to Emily, becoming narrow and cunning. "You'd better not try to escape. This is our territory. You cannot escape! Don't even think of it!" She pointed her forefinger at her, intimidating.

"My fairy will not escape, mother. She likes me. She is different from all the other girls here..." Donny refuted loudly, grabbing her mother's arm.

it. My silly boy! How could you fully believe what others say..." Mrs. Yang soothed him

finally step out of the room. The arrangement was that one of her ankles would be tied with a manila rope with

very smart but had brute force in his body. Mrs. Yang was convinced Emily wasn't strong

off Emily in front of other villagers. 'What a beautiful girl Donny will marry!' She imagined others saying behind them. Mrs. Yang thought of the stupid girls

and envy, just as they had wanted. It was surprising no one cared about the rope around Emily's ankle, almost as if it was

would surely escape if she got a chance. That was exactly

so many wild animals in the forest beyond the mountain. Even if she crossed the mountain, she was sure

Yang, where did you find such a beautiful girl?" one

just like a lady from a big town!

a concubine, right? And such a beautiful one

stupid! You know, I only love my sweet wife. This girl is to be Donny's

Donny's wife!

it, especially the young boys. In fact, they were angry thinking an idiot like Donny was going to marry such a beautiful girl. According to them, he didn't deserve it. They waited for Mr. and

is the village head!' one young man thought

they knew she was another poor soul who had been tricked into the village just like what happened to them in the past. They were doomed to be trapped in this

here, marry someone, bear

was going to marry a complete idiot. Everyone could foresee the

She looks so fragile. She cannot even do manual labor. How

do manual work nor give birth. I mean

young man had been eavesdropping the entire time and had a comment of his own to add. "You girls! Look at her beautiful face! I would marry her simply to look at it day and night. What a pity! She is going to marry that idiot, Donny! How sad," he said, sighing and staring at Emily.

looking and was filled with joy. She gloated over the fact that her son was going to get something those

in this village and she was going to marry her son! No one could have such good fortune! 'Keep getting jealous for as long as you please!' she thought,

course, everyone envied them. But they could not stay for too long. Soon, the crowd scattered and

foot still hadn't recovered fully but it didn't really hinder her walking. But since she'd had such little food she had no strength to work. Yet, she