The Kiss that Sparked it All

The kid was kicking and screaming, making it impossible for Ellinor to control him. She had no choice but to put him down again, “Fine, we’ll stay put for now. Chill here for a bit longer”

Baber was back on the ground, retreating to a corner like he’d seen a ghost, curling up into a ball, and hugging his knees tightly.

Ellinor looked at his pathetic state, and her brow furrowed, “I’ll be out of here soon. How long do you think you can hide here by yourself? What will you do if you get hungry or thirsty? The Howards will find you sooner or later.”

The word find sent shivers down Baber’s spine, scaring the hell out of him.

Ellinor couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. She’d been in his shoes, alone and helpless.

Her unreliable mother had entrusted her to Arnold Mendoza out of desperation. However, Arnold dumped her with country relatives instead.

At the Mendozas’ country relatives’ house, she was even more of an outsider. They only took her in to get Arnold’s monthly child support.

It turned out that Arnold only paid for two months and never did so again.

From then on, the relatives treated her even worse, not even letting her share meals.

knew she was an unwanted child

and no one would stand up for her, not even to call the

a dried-up well at the edge of the village. She was stuck there for three

sick thinking about that

looking for her.

a passing photographer found her and pulled her out of the well. He publicized her ordeal, sparking a

condemned online and accused by their neighbors. They hated her even more but couldn’t do anything because of the public pressure. Once the fuss died down,

a quiet place. The meals were bland

bullied

and she cared a

her self-defense and borrowed money for Ellinor’s schooling, giving her

scholarships and secretly

the convent, and made sure those who bullied