Our daughter’s eyes turned red with sympathy. She looked at me with a soft, pleading gaze and asked, “Mom, can we take her home? I’d really love to have a little sister to play with.”
When the soft familiar voice rang out, it pulled me straight out of my memories from my past life.
I had been reborn, precisely on the very day we adopted Cassandra.
In my previous life, she had used her disability to win our sympathy. Every time we visited the orphanage for charity, she made sure to be front and center, playing the part of the pitiful, lonely child.
We adopted her because we wanted to set a good example for our daughter. Aaron and I always had soft hearts so we could not resist her request.
As a result, we adopted Cassandra and took her home.
One thing I had never dreamed of, this act of kindness caused our family of three to be killed.
As soon as our demise, Cassandra stood tall. She was okay, without any sign of disability in sight.
Now I realized it had all been a lie. She had been faking her disability the whole time, manipulating everyone with her performance.
Aaron and I had been nothing but fools in her little game.
However, not this time. I would not let history repeat itself.
I turned cold and spoke firmly, “We don’t have any extra space at home. Adopting you isn’t possible. The orphanage receives plenty of donations from kind people. You’ll be taken care of and you won’t suffer.”
My husband looked at me, confused. It was as if I had suddenly become a different person.
“Honey, what’s going on? Cassie was just speaking from the heart. Why are you getting so upset?”
This made my daughter so scared that she tugged on her sleeve. Her eyes were full of worry and sadness.
Then she said, “Mom, this isn’t like you at all. You always said we should help others when they’re in trouble. That good people get rewarded. Cassie is a pitiful. Can’t we take her home?”
Despite their pleading, I held firm. “No. If you want to visit her, I’ll bring you here every week to do volunteer work." I told her. "However, I will not bring her home.”
“Ella, you’re our only daughter. Our one and only. You get all of our love and care. Are you really ready to share your parents’ attention with someone else?” I asked.
My daughter was still young, but after thinking it over, she slowly began to understand where I was coming from.
“Whatever you say, Mommy.”
I finally let out a breath of relief.