Amid her parents’ constant arguments, Bella finds solace in her drawings. But during a picnic, she’s shocked by her stepmother’s greed and decides to find some solitude. Wandering off, she stumbles upon a mysterious well and discovers something that puts her honesty to the ultimate test.
Bella sat in the back seat of their old car, a sketchbook balanced on her knees as the countryside whizzed by. She was lost in her world of lines and shades, drawing characters and landscapes only she could see. Her father, Thomas, gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white from the pressure, while her stepmother, Denise, ranted about his shortcomings.
“Your car is an embarrassment, Thomas! Your salary is a joke compared to my friends’ husbands!” Denise’s voice pierced through Bella’s concentration, making her stomach churn.
“Bella, turn to me!” Denise demanded, snapping Bella back to reality.
“I want to go to art school,” Bella said softly, her heart racing.
Denise’s laughter was harsh. “Art school? Why would we waste money on that?”
Thomas defended her. “If she has a passion, why not support it?”
As they arrived at the picnic site, tension filled the air like a storm cloud. Bella, feeling stifled, noticed trash scattered around and decided to clean it up. Just then, she spotted something shiny in the grass—a wallet. Excitement bubbled up inside her.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Look what I found!” Bella exclaimed, rushing to her parents.
Thomas opened the wallet, but as he began to call the owner, Denise’s eyes fixated on the cash inside.
When the wallet’s owner arrived, his relief quickly turned to confusion when he discovered his money was missing. Bella felt anger rise within her as Denise lied, claiming they found it that way. Unable to bear the deceit, she fled into the forest, seeking a place where honesty reigned.
After wandering, Bella discovered an old mansion with an overgrown garden and an ancient well. Curiosity led her to peer inside, where she spotted something shiny. As she lowered a bucket, she lost her balance and fell into the well.
Inside, she found a beautifully crafted jewelry box, dusty but intact. Ignoring her shaken state, she climbed out and opened it to reveal sparkling jewels and a letter addressed to “Rosa.” The letter spoke of a hidden inheritance meant for the writer’s daughter.
Denise’s voice interrupted Bella’s thoughts, her greed apparent. “We could use that money! Just give it to me!”
Bella stood firm, clutching the box. “No, it belongs to its rightful owner!”
Determined, Bella ran to the mansion. An elderly woman answered, her eyes lighting up when she recognized the box. “This was my mother’s! I’ve been searching for these!”
Rosa, overwhelmed with gratitude, asked if she could repay Bella. Flustered, Bella shook her head, but Rosa noticed her sketchbook and encouraged her talent, saying, “Kindness always comes back to you.”
When Bella returned, Denise erupted in anger over her decision to return the jewelry. But Thomas stood up for Bella, declaring, “She did the right thing. If you can’t accept that, maybe you should find a new family.”
The tension broke, leaving Bella feeling lighter. As they drove home, she realized that honesty and kindness truly mattered most, no matter the challenges she faced at home.
