THE TRADES BRIDE

"Listen, Honey! Do we really need to take this girl home?" Erma Beckett asked, looking at her husband with an agitated face that showed her displeasure with her husband, Dale Beckett's decision.  "Yes, because I have come to know that my cousin Fred has kept some money in this girl's name, which can be received only after she turns 18." Dale tried to explain to his wife the main reason why he wanted the girl.  "Money? What are you saying?" Erma's eyes sparked, and she turned greedy as soon as she heard about money in her husband's mouth.  "Yes, I'm telling the truth." "Yesterday, I just met my cousin's lawyer, Mr James, and he informed me that Fred left some deposit behind him for his daughter, which only she can obtain as soon as she becomes an adult." Hearing Dale's words, her face lit up with happiness. "Did he tell you how much the money is?" She eagerly asked while holding his one arm.  "It's 10,00,000 dollars, dear! He gave his daughter all the savings!" His voice turned excited when he thought about the money. "1...10,00,000 do...dollars..!" "This is a big amount!" Erma felt shocked and amused, and her voice turned loud. The next moment, he put his finger on her lips, making her gesture to talk slowly so no one could hear them. He made her remember that they were still in the orphanage! She instantly understood his gesture and nodded. Only then did he pull his finger from her lips. "Yes! I know, dear! So, let's just adopt that girl as we are her father's relatives!" Dale voiced out, with a delighted smile on his face, at the prospect of becoming rich.  Erma also showed a joyful expression, as she had never known before coming to the orphanage that the girl held great wealth and power. So, when her husband suddenly told her that he wanted to adopt his aunt's son's daughter. She felt angry and frustrated. She fought with her husband, but he just ignored her and came here the next afternoon. But now, as he had already informed her about money, she was glad and too happy to become rich in just one day.  "Alright then! I agree with you that we should adopt her. Except for money, she can also help me with my household work." She laughed sarcastically. As the girl is not only a money doll for her but also a free maid.  Hearing his wife's tone, he knew what she was planning, but it did not matter to him until his wife was ready to bring the girl home. "Thank you! Honey!" He held her hand and kissed her knuckles sweetly. Her cheeks flushed. "Now we will be rich!" He laughed out loud. "Yes! Yes! I know that!" She replied and chuckled. When they were busy with their secret talks, the little girl Abigail listened to their whole talk from the door right outside the room while her eyes tried to peek inside through the little opening. In one hand, she carried a small doll that her parents had given her. So she carried the doll everywhere almost.   Abigail is the girl they came to adopt. She's only ten years old. A cute and sweet little girl. When, in the early morning, she got the news that her father's relatives wanted her to adopt. She was so happy and grateful. But now, as she listened to their words, she was upset. She came here to look at them out of curiosity. But hearing them. She's no longer excited. She's only ten years old, but after her parents' car accidents, she already turned mature and was left all alone in the world until she was finally sent here, where she met all the children like her without parents or family.  Even though it had been a month since she had lived in the orphanage, she still didn't like staying there. She wanted a home and a family. She wanted to be loved. Just like her old days when her parents were still alive. Her small doe eyes looked at the man and woman with an upset expression, but she was also glad that she would no longer be an orphan and could have her family.  Though they just want her for her dad's money, which she doesn't know how much it is. Or how is it so important? But until they let her live in the home. She will be satisfied. She truly wanted to leave this place and find a home for herself.  When Abigail was busy peeking through the room, someone suddenly came up behind her and put his hand on her small shoulder, which made her panic immediately, and the doll in her hand fell to the ground with a thud. "Who is it?" she shouted, turning around.  Erma and Dale also heard the child's voice and felt nervous. They both looked at each other and gestured as they instantly ran through the door to check who was there behind the door. But as soon as they open the door, they are nervous. They saw no one in the corridor, which made them sigh with relief the next moment. They closed the door again, this time completely. No more peeking through. "Thank God! There is no one!" Erma said, looking at her husband, who nodded.  "Yes, honey! Now let's go and check out the orphanage's owner and sign the documents, as the brother's lawyer will come anytime. To check on the girl and complete the last formalities for adoption."  "Alright! Let's hurry then!" She exclaimed. After the conversation, they both opened the door and finally moved toward the office.  ..... Abigail looked at the boy, who was just a few years older than her.  When Dale and Erma walked to open the door. Abigail already runs through a corridor with the boy to avoid getting caught.  Now, they were children's rooms where everyone was playing, talking, and studying together.  While they both stare at each other with curiosity. "Who are you? And why did you scare me?" Abigail asked with a pouting lip, glaring at him with a cute, angry face.  Her small arms crossed around her.  At that moment, she was so scared that she thought it was a ghost. The boy smiled to see her pouting, cute face and said in a tender tone, "Sorry, little girl, if I scared you! But I don't mean to..." Abigail nodded while he continued his talk. "Little girl, let me introduce myself!" He was happy to meet her. "Hi, I'm Caleb! I'm 13 years old, and I came here with my parents!" He extended his hand in front of her for a handshake, but she looked at him from head to toe and asked another question, avoiding his hand.  "With your parents? Do you have parents?" Abigail asked as her childish voice turned a little serious while her brows furrowed to make her look cuter.  From the day she arrived, all the children have told her that they do not have parents like her, while others are told that their parents have left them or that they do not know about them.  But the boy in front of her says he has parents, so why is he at the orphanage? She doesn't understand at all. Abigail thought orphanages were just for children without parents. As she heard it from other children and elders who take care of them daily.  On the other hand, her question amazed Caleb. He had never heard this type of silly question before. He raised his hand and spoke out. "Hey! What are you asking? Who doesn't have parents? Is this even a question?" He chuckled out loud, feeling funny. But his words hurt her.   Abigail's calm face frowned instantly again, and she responded in an angry tone, "No! You are wrong! Everyone doesn't have one! Like me! I don't have parents as they died in a car accident! That's why I'm here!"  Her eyes grew upset as Calebs suddenly realised: Yes, it's an orphanage where no children live with their parents. As his parents explained to him what an orphanage is on the way here. Only because of that, he was so curious to meet those children. But now, seeing Abigail upset, he felt sorry and tried to apologise. "Little girl! I'm sorry! I don't want to hurt you!" As he said those words, Abigail looked at him but didn't respond at all. Caleb thought for a moment, then decided to change the topic to improve her mood.  "Now, Little girl, can you tell me why you are standing outside the door and listening to my parents talk?"  Hearing his words, her eyes became enlarged. While she let her hands free.  "They are your parents?" She pointed her small finger at him. "Yes! That's correct!" He responded while nodding.  "Now, tell me, what were you doing there?" He crossed his arms this time while raising his brow, looking like an adult. He saw his parents making this action whenever they had a serious conversation. So, he followed it.  Abigail felt hostility toward him after learning who his parents were.  "I'm not listening to anything there! I'm just walking casually!" She immediately made up a story. Caleb knows she's lying. He stood there for a long time before he finally took the steps to touch her shoulder.  "But with my own eyes, I have seen you peeking inside the room!" He asserted while Abigail pressed her lips tightly, feeling caught by him. Her eyes move around with nervousness.  Caleb saw her action and said, "If you don't tell me what you were doing there, then I need to report my mom and dad!"  She felt scared to hear him; what if he genuinely did that and complained to his parents?  No! She can't let him do that. What if they change their mind and don't adopt her?  Her eyes turned moist while tears were ready to come out.  Caleb saw her tears and couldn't help but get nervous. "Hey! Don't cry!!" "I'm not going to say anything to anyone! Just stopped crying!" He hurriedly said, feeling worried for her.  Abigail looked at him with moist doe eyes.  "Are you telling the truth?" Her voice turned low as a kitten. Caleb sighed to see her finally stop crying. "Yes! But only if you accept my one condition!" He raised his index finger.  Abigail's eyes blinked with confusion while she looked at his finger and then at him.  Finally, she nodded her head in a hurry.  "Okay!" She agreed.  Caleb's lips curled up wide to hear her positive response.  "Good! So now listen to my condition carefully!" He made a serious face again, like an adult.  She heard him and nodded while her lips pressed tightly with nervousness.  "So, the little girl, my condition is..." He paused and looked at her serious, cute face, which made him laugh to himself. My condition is "let's be friends". He held his hand again in front of her.  Abigail looked at his small hand and then his face with an open mouth for a moment. "That's it? She asked with a curious face. "Yup! I like you! You are cute! Let's be friends!"  Hearing his words, her nervous face finally showed a bright smile, and she reached out with her hand to shake him. "Alright! Let's be friends!" Her voice turned sweet. She never thought she would make friends like this. But she feels delighted. Now she will have a family. Not warm, but it's better than being alone and lonely without family.  "Great!" He shook hands.  "Now! We are friends!" he declared, which made both of them smile widely and laugh out loud.  "Honey! Did you see that! Our son..." Erma said, looking astonishingly at her son and the girl from Farsight.  "Yes...sweetheart! Our son is great. He has already made friends with her. Now it's all easy for adoption!" He chuckled greedily.  "Excuse me, Mr and Mrs Beckett!" Suddenly, Abigail's father's lawyer comes from behind, and they look at him.  "Yes! Mr James!" Dale immediately smiles upon seeing him, while Erma shows a soft smile and stands silently beside her husband.  "The papers are ready to sign! But did you meet Abigail?" The lawyer asked.   Both husband and wife looked at each other before meeting Mr James's gaze. "No, we don't meet her! But we know she will be happy to see us!" Dale grinned with confidence. Seeing their confidence, he asked. "How do you know that, Mr Beckett?" He raised his brows.  "Mr James! Just turn your head and look in that direction!" This time, Erma spoke out while pointing in the children's direction, where Abigail and Caleb were laughing.  Mr James saw the scenario and felt glad.  "Our son has already become best friends with her!" Dale laughed.  Mr James turned to them again.  "It's good then! Now you can proceed then!"  Hearing him, their eyes filled with joy. "Ohh, that's great! Then let's go! Mr.James! We want Abigail in our home as soon as possible! We want a daughter, and she's the one who can fill that position!" Dale showed a lovely father character to make Mr James believe in his words.  "I'm happy that you, both great people, wanted her to become part of your family!" Mr James said while showing a small, happy smile.  "Let's go now!" He added.  The husband and wife smirked happily.

8 YEARS LATER "Happy Birthday, Abigail!" Caleb's eyes looked at Abigail, who had now turned into an eighteen-year-old, beautiful young woman.  As he glanced at her from top to bottom, he couldn't help but hug her the next moment.  Suddenly, hugged by Caleb, Abigail's face turned redder as her arms wrapped around his back, hugging him back.  "Thank you, Caleb!" She happily smiled, feeling great joy in her heart. After a quick hug, he released her from his arms and glanced at her face with a smile, while her amber eyes also constantly looked at him with softness.   The next second, his attention was attracted by her dress as his eyes moved to her appearance. His eyes first move to her clothes, where she is wearing a white floral sundress, which is just above her knees and has a small sl*t cut in the corner of it. The dress was given by him to her as a birthday gift. The dress hugs her upper parts while the waist side flows freely. It shows her delicate waist, which is too slim and gla