Chapter 2: MIA GOES TO THE HIDDLESTON'S HOUSE

At home, Mia is also restless because until now, Asher has not returned. Was it a failure or was it a success? Because Asher told her that if he is accepted, he will stay there and send her a letter telling her the good news. Asher left with confidence, Mia also tells herself to trust her brother. She resumes her farm work under the gray sky. Maybe it's going to rain.

The rain fell, each drop sliding and heavy like Asher's heart. The rain is getting heavier and heavier, so he can only hide under the eaves of a house on the street. The boy secretly thinks about the rice seeds that will sprout when bathing in the rain, imagining the happy faces of his family and neighbors. Because of the drought these past few days, the appearance of such rain is enough to cool everyone's hearts. Asher smiles bitterly, shrinking from the cold weather.

He glances at the rush of people on the street. There are a few girls who quickly put up their skirts and runs into a nearby restaurant, there are lovers holding umbrellas and holding hands, and a family is sitting in a luxury car to return home,... This city is so beautiful! This place and the land where he grows up are two opposites. Poor and rich, happy and miserable, lowly and powerful. Asher sighs, lacing his red fingers together, silent.

Is he everyone's last hope? For the first time, he feels this is a burden. Asher hates himself for not being more prepared, he also hates the rich people who always speak harshly. But, after all, he is only a farmer with muddy hands and feet, and he has no right to criticize anyone.

Asher stays in the city center for two more days trying to get a job, but because of his lack of experience, he is always rejected. It is also thanks to the owner of a cafe who gives him food and water that he has the strength to stay until now.

 “Hey! I still think you should come back instead of wandering around here forever” – The owner of the cafe is clearing the tables and preparing to close the door. She is advising Asher.

 “Thank you for helping me, Ms. Elena… Tomorrow I won't bother you anymore”

She smiles softly at Asher and says:

 “That is not what I mean. Don’t call me like that, just Elena! But do you want to stay here to live?”

He shakes his head.

 “I just want to earn money to pay off my debt and provide for my family”

The girl is surprised, staring at him.

 “You look so young that you are married? How old are you, Asher?”

 “I'm 18 years old…”

At this point, she realizes that she misunderstands Asher's meaning, so she only smiles wryly and apologizes:

 “So that means I'm 3 years older than you! Life is hard, isn't it...”

After helping the girl, he politely greets her and leaves.

 “I'm sorry I can't help you… Good luck! If there is a chance, I would like to meet and talk to you again. And I hope then you won't be cold anymore”

Asher understands her preoccupation when he sees the empty scene of the cafe she is opening. He still wants to try and find another job, but he has traveled most of the city to no avail. Helpless, Asher can only walk home.

‘Perhaps I'm only suitable for farm work...’ – He thought wistfully.

The boy moves continuously from dawn to dusk and then arrives at his home in the evening. Asher walks to the point where his body was about to fall apart. When he reaches the door of the house, he can not stand it and falls, right when his parents have just finished work, they rush to help him inside to rest.

 “I'm sorry… mom. I can’t do anything”

 “It's okay. I am so happy when you return peace”

Asher is looking around with his tired eyes, takes a large sip of water, and asks:

 “Where is Mia?”

The woman is holding back her tears, saying in a trembling voice:

 “She went to work...”

 “What? Go work? Where is she?”

His mother hesitates, under his urging, she also has to tell the whole truth.  

It was on the day he left, that night, that the Hiddlestons came and took Mia away. They threatened that they would put Mia's parents and Asher in jail for not paying the debt on time, so she had only one way to accept it, go there to help and pay off the debt. Just then, the woman covers her face and cries. After hearing that, Asher sits up and asks quickly:

 “Why did you let her go there? Do you also know the Hiddleston family's reputation for cruelty and wickedness? If… then I would have been able to stop her I would have taken a carthorse into the city to bring her back… Definitely couldn't let Mia live in that horrible house”

 “You can not, Asher... He rarely lives here… I have heard that he often lives and works in another city. So… even if you go in there you might not find Mia”

After hearing that, Asher blames himself, he just hopes that at that time he wasn't stubborn and stayed for too long.

 “She has left you a letter” - The woman is giving a torn piece of paper to Asher. On this letter is the squiggly handwriting that Mia left:

‘Asher, when the Hiddleston arrives, I knew that things were not going our way. But it's okay, try to help your parents and live well! Don't worry too much about me or my money. I will try my best to give us a better life. Maybe I have to go far away, so it takes a long time to see everyone again.

Take care,

Mia'

In the following days, Asher keeps trying to inquire about the Hiddleston family, but to no avail. He can only pray for his sister with all his heart.

The second night after Asher left...

At that time, Mia was still busy taking care of the orchard planted in front of the house. It's called an orchard, but actually, there are only 2 guava trees and a banana tree. In her heart full of thoughts, she was so busy thinking that she didn't hear the noise behind her approaching.

 “HEY!”

The sudden noise startled her, dropping the bucket of water she was holding in her hand. She looked back, bowing politely.

 “Yes... who are you looking for?”

The man with a ferocious gesture approached, closely observing Mia's troubled face.

 “Well, you must be Mia Blair, right?”

 “Yes! Do you find me for anything?”

Her parents heard the noise of the car and ran out to check it out. Seeing the elegantly dressed and dignified man, they immediately fell to their knees in fear.

 “Looks like your parents know me. The Blair family's debt is due. Come on, hurry up. Don't make us wait long”

 “Please...” - Mia immediately knelt, not daring to raise her face – “Please wait a little longer, we will try to pay in full. Our family… has never stolen money from anyone, it's just that this time business is not good, so…”

He laughed loudly.

 “That's your business, isn't it? We have no obligation to help you. If all were like the Blair family, wouldn't we be the ones suffering?”

 “Please... forgive us” - Mia's father begged.

The man stroked his beard and looked at Mia.

 “That's fine, but the important thing is, does Miss Mia agree?”

Surprised girl, she asked again:

 “Me?”

 “Yes, as long as you will come to the Hiddleston family to work, we will gradually deduct the debt for your family”

Not waiting for Mia to answer, her mother voiced her refusal. The old man angrily pushed her parents down, turning ferocious eyes toward the daughter.

 “If you don't agree, your whole family will be sent to prison. Even the younger brother is wandering in the other city”

Immediately, Mia accepted and begged them not to harm her family and keep her promise. Then, she asked them for some time to pack up the luggage and then used that time to write Asher a letter. Her parents sobbed as she prepared to get in the car to leave. Mia hugged the two and gave a gentle smile:

 “It'll be all right. Parents try to stay healthy, please give this letter to Asher”

Sitting in a luxury car, passing by the rows of green trees that she had seen thousands of times, the poor village was swallowed by the dim darkness. Mia's heart is extremely lonely and lost. She tried to hold back her tears, comforting herself by fantasizing about a better future.

 “You are so lucky!” – The man was driving, looking in the mirror – “The face is as good-looking as they say. But it is still not called excellent beauty, I am afraid that with this beauty, it will also be eliminated soon”

 “I… I will try to please everyone”

 “Anything anyway?" – He asked again.

Mia nodded.

 “Okay! I'm William Jean, nice to meet you, Mia Blair”

 “Me too, sir...”

Because the road is quite far, the girl takes a short nap, and when she wakes up, she has completely set foot in a new land. At that time, it is still not there.

 “It is far, isn't it? I had to run for almost a day to get to your house” – The man says.

 “Thank… you!” – The girl rubs her eyes as she speaks softly.

When Mia finally arrives, after a long journey, her mind begins to spin. As soon as she steps out of the car, she immediately falls due to dizziness. Mia put her hand on the car door, trying to stand up. Before the girl's eyes was a magnificent mansion, with a large gate painted white. She suddenly felt a shiver. The man rang the doorbell, and a woman came out.

 “Hello sir, is this Mia of the Blair family?”

 “Yes, tell him I brought her here”

After that, William Jean gets in the car and drives off.

 “Ah! My luggage is still on it...” - Mia follows the car with her eyes.

The woman opens the door for her. Unpleasant look.

 “Just a bunch of junk. Hurry up!”

 “Yes… nice to meet you”

She doesn’t answer, just walks inside. Mia only knows how to follow closely, she looks around the large campus, feeling extremely surprised. She does not think that a place like this existed in the world. In the middle of the courtyard is a large fountain, at the top of which is a statue of a small dragon. The yard is paved with marble slabs, this is also the first time she has seen this slab. Everything in this mansion surprised and intrigued her. Mia is like a child enjoying a strange life. The two sides are rows of trees that are carefully trimmed into circles, and triangles,... This house also has a very large parking space, the girl glimpses more than 4 cars of different colors and styles, different shapes.

Just the yard is enough to prove the wealth and luxury of the Hiddleston family. Enter each step to get inside. Mia is even more surprised because the interior is beautifully decorated, with bright chandeliers dangling above. The living room displays a variety of statues and medals. There are 3 long leather sofas are placed opposite a large stone table. White curtains are covering a large glass door on the side. On the wall hung landscape paintings and a deer horn. Mia does not know if it was real or fake. At the housekeeper's words, she continues up the stairs and reaches the second floor. They enter a rather spacious room, inside there are quite a few girls around Mia's age sitting there. When everyone sees them, they bow politely.

 “Sit down and listen carefully!” - The woman advises.

Mia sits straight and listens to the housekeeper's instructions, the girl doesn’t notice the eyes that are staring at her, they give her annoyed and glared looks. Their attitude probably stemmed from Mia’s faded dresses with patchwork, along with her slightly burnt blond hair. Mia's current appearance, from top to bottom, 'declares' that she is a country person. But the girl has never really paid attention to any gossip that hurt her because Mia lives for herself. Before, when the girl refused the marriage proposals, those guys were humiliated by failure, so they started spreading false rumors and putting bad things about her. Faced with such a situation, Mia chooses to ignore everything. She does not want her life to be arranged or forced into any framework. Thanks to that, Mia always keeps her smile and dynamism.

The rules in this house are quite a lot, and they make Mia bored because she is afraid she will not be able to remember them all.

 "If you don't want to be punished, you better not offend the master. And do not arbitrarily step up to the 4th floor without the permission of the master. Miss Lita, please give Mia more instruction”