The beginning of the story

A little girl sat in the garden, reading a book. Her father was a sailor who had gone on many adventures, which made her love reading. She recalled memories with her father.

Ella's father always talked about his journeys with her.

Ella's father: "This is the ocean, all of it is covered with water. It's where I work."

Ella excitedly: "Father, I want to see the sea up close."

Ella's father: "Let's go one day together." He smiled.

They had many good days together.

 Two years later, Ella's father married a woman who had two daughters.

Ella greeted her stepmother, Termina: "Nice to meet you."

Termina frowned and walked past her.

Anastasia: "Look, this self-important girl is going to be our sister?"

The stepsisters also frowned as they walked past her.

Ella felt a bit sad, but she thought they could eventually get along.

Ella was sitting alone in a corner. Her father came and sat beside her: "What's wrong? Why are you so sad?"

Ella said: "My stepsisters are very mean to me."

Her father patted her head and said: "They will gradually understand how good you are. If you have any problems, tell me." He smiled.

Ella smiled and hugged her father: "Father, I love you very much."

Ella's father: "I love you too, more than anyone else." He gently kissed Ella's forehead.

From afar, Termina looked at them with jealousy. She thought to herself: "That girl is the biggest trouble for me." Her extreme jealousy turned into resentment, which became the main reason for the stepmother's hatred toward Ella.

A few days later, Cinderella's father went on a sea voyage, leaving Cinderella alone with her stepmother and stepsisters.

Drizella slapped Ella: "You insolent girl, how dare you show your face to me?"

Termina grabbed Drizella's hand and shouted: "Treat your sister properly!"

Ella felt very sad and heartbroken. Termina tried to be as kind as possible to Ella because mistreating her husband's daughter would cost her dearly.

For several months, Ella was away from her father and had to endure her stepmother and stepsisters. But she didn't lose hope. She waited for her father to return from his journey.

Days passed, and Ella eagerly awaited her father's return. 

One day, Termina received a letter. Ella, excited, said: "This letter is from Father!"

Termina opened the letter and read it. Suddenly, she fell to her knees in shock.

Ella, terrified and covering her mouth: "What happened?!"

They held a funeral for Ella's father. Ella looked at her father's grave in sorrow, unable to hold back her tears. Things got worse for everyone. Since Ella's father had passed away, their hardships began. One of Ella's uncles supported their living expenses. Termina had to send all the servants away. Living under these conditions was certainly tough. Termina did not skimp on her own children, but she treated Ella poorly.

Ella: "Why do I have to do these hard tasks?"

Termina had forced Ella to wear a servant's dress and work for them.

Termina: "If you stay idle, there will be no dinner for you tonight." She said harshly and left.

Ella went to clean the fireplace, and suddenly, a cloud of ashes covered her face.

Anastasia: "Look at this, how about we call you Cinderella from now on?" She mocked Ella.

Drizella: "That name suits you perfectly." She laughed.

Ella was very upset by her stepsisters' behavior, but she decided to ignore them and continue with her work. 

For three years, they treated Ella like a servant. Ella had become accustomed to it and said nothing.

One day, an invitation was sent to all the young women in town. The king had ordered that all the young women be brought to the palace so he could choose a wife for his son.

Termina rushed into the girls' room.

Drizella, bored, said: "What's wrong, Mom?"

Termina: "Hurry up and get ready. Next week we're going to a big party."

Ella overheard them from behind the door. She was happy and decided to try her luck.

Ella had a dress from her mother as a keepsake. She had saved a little money for emergencies. With that money, she went to town to buy the right materials for her dress. When Termina saw Ella happy, she smiled wickedly.

Ella returned to her room happily, only to find it in disarray and her mother's dress torn.

Ella, horrified and covering her mouth, said: "Who did this?!"

Termina entered her room and took the basket of supplies from Ella's hands.

Termina: "Thanks for buying the supplies." She looked at Ella mockingly and left.

Ella ran away from home in distress. Tears filled her eyes as that dress was her last keepsake from her mother, and her heart was broken. Ella was running through the meadows when she saw a young man with a slingshot aiming at a bird. She became so engrossed in watching him that she forgot she was crying.

The young man looked at Ella. Ella turned her head in fear.

Young Man: "Are you alone? Why are your clothes so ragged?"

Ella: "There's no reason I should answer your question."

Young Man: "Interesting, you have a lot of guts." He laughed.

Ella: "I should go home now, with your permission-"

Suddenly, he grabbed Ella's hand: "You're an interesting girl, I'm starting to like you."

Ella, frightened, pulled her hand away and ran off.

Servant: "Master, are you alright?"

Young Man: "Find out where that girl lives."

Ella returned home in distress.

Termina: "So now you're running away from home? I won't give you any dinner tonight to make sure you don't dare run away again!"

Ella: "I'm sorry. I promise I won't run away again."

Ella went to her room and lay down on her bed.

Ella: "Why am I so hopeful? A girl like me doesn't stand a chance." She said this and fell asleep from exhaustion.