Elizabeth watched with a mixture of pride and amazement as Viviana transformed the onceneglected garden into a flourishing oasis. Her daughter worked tirelessly, her hands digging into the earth, planting the rare seeds with care and precision.
As the days passed, the garden began to bloom with exotic flowers and herbs. The air was filled with their sweet fragrance, a testament to Viviana's green thumb and her mysterious connections.
Elizabeth often found herself sitting in the garden, watching her daughter tend to her plants. She marveled at the way Viviana's face lit up when a new seedling sprouted, at the gentle way she spoke to her plants, encouraging them to grow. Elizabeth also found that her daughter doesn't ask for much she always handles her own matter alone. The more she thought about it the more upset she became.
"Honey let's go shopping," Elizabeth said to her daughter.
Viviana wiped the sweat from her brow, her hands dirty from hours of gardening. She looked up at her mother, a hint of surprise in her golden eyes.
"Shopping?" she echoed, her voice tinged with hesitation.
Elizabeth nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Yes, darling! We haven't spent any quality time together since you've been home. I want to spoil you rotten."
She took Viviana's dirty hands in hers, ignoring the grime that stained her skin.
"Come on, sweetheart. Let's go to the mall. We can get you a new wardrobe, some jewelry, anything your heart desires."
Viviana hesitated for a moment, glancing back at her beloved garden. She hated to leave her plants, but the hopeful look in her mother's eyes was hard to ignore.
"Alright," she said finally, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Let me just clean up first."
Viviana took a quick shower, washing the dirt and sweat from her skin. She changed into a simple white sundress and slipped on a pair of sandals. She left her hair down, the raven locks cascading down her back in gentle waves.
As she emerged from her room, Elizabeth's eyes widened with approval.
"Oh, darling, you look gorgeous!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
"You have such a natural beauty. Come, let's go shopping."
Elizabeth hooked her arm through Viviana's, leading her out to the car. The driver opened the door, and the two women slid into the luxurious interior.
As the car pulled up to the mall, Viviana's eyes widened at the sight of the bustling crowds and glittering storefronts. It was a far cry from the quiet solitude of her garden, and she felt a twinge of unease settle in her stomach.
Elizabeth, however, was in her element. She dragged Viviana from store to store, insisting on buying her every designer outfit, accessory, and piece of jewelry she laid eyes on.
"Try this on," she urged, thrusting a shimmering gown into Viviana's arms.
"Or this," she said, holding up a pair of diamond earrings that sparkled in the light.
Viviana felt overwhelmed, the sheer amount of wealth and excess surrounding her almost suffocating. She preferred the simplicity of her garden, the quiet comfort of her own company.
"Baby mommy needs to answer this phone call baby wait here," Elizabeth said as she walked off. Viviana sighed as she looked at the earrings before she looked at the choker necklace. As she looked around she heard a familiar voice.
"Mom! Look isn't this beautiful!?" Grace asked.
"Yes my daughter is so beautiful!" Song said as she laughed lightly.
Grace saw Viviana and she rushed over.
"Sister are you here? Oh my gosh can you even avoid anything here?" Grace asked the words seemed like she cared but she was mocking her.
Song sneered at her old adoptive daughter after Viviana left Song had been at peace why is bad luck happening.
"Viviana you better not be using our Ling Family last name do you understand me!" Song said. A manager walked over.
"Mrs. Ling, Lady Grace please what is the problem?" The manager asked.
"Get this poor dirty girl out of this store she is so broke so is her family!" Song said. Viviana golden eyes darken slightly but kept quiet. The manager became extremely rude to Viviana.
The woman manager knew that Song Ling was a VIP member of this jewelry store so of course she would stick up to her!
"You apologize and you are blacklisted from this store!" The woman snapped. Grace was secretly happy haha she truly is poor! Viviana opened her mouth but than a clapping hands came to the hallway.
Elizabeth was angry really angry how dare they bully her precious daughter!
"Why can't we shop here?" Elizabeth asked.
Song looked at Elizabeth up and down she felt like she had seen this woman before but can't recall.
"Are you Viviana biological mother?" Song asked arrogantly.
"I am," Elizabeth said as she shielded her daughter. Viviana felt warm when her mother protected her is this what it feels like to be protected by a parent?
"I see you are here to look around don't dirty this store I am Xiao Song and I was once her mother you can say she was my adoptive daughter such a disgrace thank goodness she is back to the slums!" Song snapped.
Elizabeth has a bad temper. If one wonders why Viviana bad temper is bad she most likely inherited it from her mother.
"The slums?" Elizabeth said.
"Sister, mother did not mean to insult your family but as you know they raised…"
"Raised me..? What are you talking about raising me? When I was one years old because of an accident you sent me off to America and in all my life I was raised in the US and I became an American citizen at age five years old. I returned and you told me to never call you mother sent me back to America and told me to never return that I am worthless," Viviana said the more she spoke the more angry she became. Elizabeth was heartbroken her daughter had been through so much pain. She was angry so angry this woman Song should have protected her daughter!
Song's face paled as Viviana's words sank in. She had forgotten about that fateful day, the day she had sent Viviana away. The little girl had been so young, so innocent, and yet she had been discarded like trash.
"I... I didn't mean..." Song stammered, her arrogance fading away.
But Elizabeth was having none of it. Her anger boiled over, her eyes flashing with fury.
"You dare speak of my daughter that way?" she hissed, her voice low and dangerous.
"You sent her away, abandoned her, and now you have the audacity to stand here and insult her?"
She stepped forward, her hand clenched into a fist.
"Tsk even before she was two years left her to a different country!"
"What she isn't even my daughter you broke ass woman!" Song snapped.
"So what if she isn't your biological daughter she found that out three months ago!" Elizabeth said.
"What I can do as I please!" Song said Elizabeth rubbed her head and she sighed as she grabbed her daughter hand. The head manager saw Elizabeth and he held his breath why is the owner of this place here?
"Lady…"
"I want this woman and her daughter blacklisted! Out! Out!" Elizabeth snapped before she dragged her daughter out of the store.
"You can't kick us out!" Song snapped Grace and Song believed that Viviana biological mother was dead broke. The head manager groaned as he stared at Song and Grace why provoke a tycoon!