"How dare you bully our precious little Lily! Get on your knees and reflect on your actions!" A middle-aged woman glared at the small girl in front of her, brandishing a broom threateningly.
"I don't know why we ever brought you back. If I were your birth parents, I wouldn't want you either!" she spat, her words dripping with disdain.
The woman's actions weren't so much shooing as they were outright abuse, the broom striking the little girl's fragile body repeatedly. The servants nearby didn't intervene, seemingly accustomed to such scenes as they continued their work, oblivious to the child's torment.
The little girl appeared to be only about three years old. She wore an ill-fitting, faded dress that clashed starkly with the opulent living room surrounding her. Despite the dirt smudging her face, her features were remarkably beautiful, reminiscent of a delicate porcelain doll. Her eyes, in particular, were striking - bright, beautiful, and as clear as a mountain spring.
Fear evident on her face, the little girl cowered, her tiny head bowed as she looked up at the woman timidly. In a soft, helpless voice, she tried to explain, "A-Auntie, I... I didn't bully Lily..."
Sophia was the reincarnation of a four-leaf clover, destined to bring good fortune to those around her. Yet, she had grown up in an orphanage with no memories of her life before. Being the youngest at the orphanage, she was often bullied by the other children, with Lily being the ringleader.
At mealtimes, they would put bugs in her food. During playtime, they'd throw stones at her. When they were in a bad mood, they'd drag her to secluded spots to vent their frustrations. Over the years, her small body had accumulated countless injuries.
She had tried seeking help from the orphanage director, but instead of support, she received only scolding.
"Sophia, can't you go one day without causing trouble? I'm already exhausted from work!" the director would say. "You're the most troublesome child in the entire orphanage! If you were more sensible, you'd try to get adopted quickly so I could make some money off you!"
"If they're bullying you, there must be a reason. Have you ever considered why they only pick on you?"
In her naivety, Sophia had believed that the bullying must indeed be her own fault. She tried desperately to improve, giving away her toys in an attempt to win their favor.
But her efforts only led to more ruthless torment...
Eventually, they began taking her toys and snacks by force.
Over the years, several families had shown interest in adopting Sophia. However, each time, Lily had sabotaged the opportunity.
Lily's words still echoed in Sophia's mind: "Sophia, a child like you doesn't deserve a family! No one will ever adopt you!"
And so, Sophia remained unadopted.
Later, when new staff arrived at the orphanage, the director stopped letting her meet potential adoptive parents altogether.
Sophia couldn't understand what she had done wrong, why they treated her so cruelly...
One beautiful day, a fashionably dressed couple visited the orphanage. Upon seeing Lily, they immediately embraced her, tearfully telling the director that Lily was their long-lost daughter.
They wanted to take Lily home and gave the director a substantial sum in gratitude for her care.
Just as they were about to leave, Lily, clutching her newfound parents' hands, suddenly refused to go. She ran to Sophia, saying she wanted to bring her along too.
Sophia's heart soared with joy, all negative memories of Lily vanishing in an instant. She thought her efforts to be good and likable had finally paid off.
She believed she might, like other children, finally have parents and a happy family.
Little did she know, this was just the beginning of her nightmare...
Lily had only agreed to bring Sophia home to continue bullying her more conveniently.
When her parents were out, Lily would sneak up to Sophia's tiny attic room. The room was small, dark, and cluttered with junk, leaving barely any space to move. There was no light, and at night, Sophia could hear the scurrying of rats.
Lily stood before her, resplendent in a pink princess dress, looking down at Sophia with smug superiority.
"Sophia, you're nothing but a dog in our house! You belong beneath my feet, understand?" Lily sneered.
"From now on, you must call me 'Princess' and obey my every word without question!"
"If you disobey me, I'll have Mom and Dad throw you out! Then you'll be a worthless street urchin! The orphanage won't take you back, and you'll end up begging like a homeless person!"
Lily's words echoed constantly in Sophia's mind. She was terrified of being unwanted, of becoming a child no one cared for...
"What are you looking at? I told you to get out! Are you deaf?" The middle-aged woman's angry voice snapped Sophia back to reality. She looked up fearfully at the woman before her.
Lily, lurking in the shadows, shot Sophia a triumphant glance before nestling into the woman's arms, her voice suddenly sweet and innocent.
"Mommy, Sophia was bullying me! She stole my doll! She's so mean! I don't like her!"
The middle-aged woman's face instantly softened upon seeing her daughter, her smile warm and doting - a complete contrast to the harsh woman who had been wielding the broom moments ago.
She gently tapped Lily's nose. "You silly girl, weren't you the one who insisted on bringing her home from the orphanage?"
Though her words were chiding, her face remained indulgent. She could sense that since Lily's return, their family business had flourished. Even the prestigious Sullivan family had started cooperating with them!
Lily was truly their family's little lucky charm!
So even if her daughter was a bit willful at times, she wouldn't say much. After all, Lily was just a child.
Lily pouted, feigning hurt. "That's because I didn't know Sophia would bully me! Mommy, I don't like Sophia anymore!"
Hearing this, the woman's dislike for Sophia deepened. She roughly grabbed Sophia and threw her towards the front door of the villa.
Looking down at the trembling child with disdain, she declared, "If Lily doesn't like you, you'll kneel here and apologize. When you've kowtowed ten times to our satisfaction, then you can beg to come back in!"
"SLAM!" The woman shut the heavy door without a backward glance, leaving Sophia alone outside.
Sophia stared at the closed door, her head hanging low in dejection. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Suddenly, a yellow Labrador appeared at her feet. The little girl's tears receded as she gently patted the dog.
"It's okay, Buddy. Sophia won't cry. Don't worry about me."
The dog nuzzled against Sophia, seemingly trying to comfort her. When Sophia remained motionless, Buddy gently took her sleeve in his mouth and began tugging her away.
"Buddy, I can't leave. If I go, I'll have no home..." Sophia said, her head drooping again in sadness.
She longed for a home, a real, warm place that truly belonged to her...
Sensing Sophia's despair, Buddy barked twice more and continued pulling her forward.
Unable to resist, Sophia followed the dog. Buddy led her with clear purpose to a nearby park.
The park was filled with various play equipment - seesaws, swings, slides, trampolines...
Sophia suddenly understood. Buddy wanted to cheer her up.
It was wonderful to have Buddy by her side. Unfortunately, Buddy belonged to the neighbor's family and couldn't always be with her.
Buddy was a poor child just like her...
"Woof! Woof! Woof!" Buddy circled Sophia a few times.
"Thank you, Buddy," Sophia said softly.
"Little girl," a voice suddenly called out. Sophia turned to see an old man with a long white beard smiling kindly at her. "I've divined your fortune, and you are destined for great wealth and honor. What you're experiencing now is merely a trial sent by heaven. I can help you overcome this hardship. Would you like that?"
