Sophie’s POV

Everyone was already sitting on their chairs, talking to each other when I finally arrived with my hair all over my face because of running my way just to make it on time. ”S-Sorry I’m late.” I said as I sat next to Sebastian. He smiled as soon as he saw me.

“It’s alright, Sophie. At least you came.” Said dad.

“Can you see yourself right now, Sophie? We’re having dinner with a very important person and you’re there wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of black jeans with your hair looking like you just woke up?” my stepmother suddenly said to me.

I lowered my head, “I’m sorry, I just came from school so I wasn’t able to change my clothes.”

“It’s alright, Sophie. Even if you wear rags, you’d still stand out.” Sebastian suddenly said so I nudged him when I saw Sera and Samantha glaring at him.

“Are you a fool? You just look like us so if you say that we’re ugly, it’s like you’re saying that you’re ugly too.” Samantha retorted.

Dad suddenly cleared his throat. “Stop that childish argument, okay? Our visitor will finally arrive soon so fix yourselves.”

“I’m still wondering who that visitor is.” Aunt Natalie said.

“You’ll meet him later.” Dad just replied.

I fixed my shirt and combed my hair using my fingers. Me too, I’ve been thinking about that visitor. I wonder who that is because he seems to be so important to my father. Although I can also see him drinking some water every minute, he looks so nervous and I don’t even know why. “Sophie, I have composed a new song again, you should hear it!” Seb whispered to me.

“Really? Can I hear it now?”

“Sure!”

Seb then took out his phone and was about to put his earphone in my right ear when we suddenly heard loud footsteps coming in our direction. Everyone of us turned our heads towards the entrance of the restaurant. Dad suddenly stood up and so we all followed him.

Men wearing black suits were walking towards us. They all look familiar to me, I just can’t remember where I saw them. “They look like a gang, or maybe agents,” Seb whispered.

Then they form a line and made a way in the middle. A tall man started walking in the middle, only his footsteps could be heard. He was wearing a black tuxedo vest that perfectly fitted to his bulky and masculine body. His black hair was slicked back, and it was shining as if it has been waxed. He was holding a cigarette in his right hand while he was puffing a smoke.

I stared at his face, and that’s only the time I knew who he was. My eyes widened as I pointed a finger at him. “Y-YOU?!”

Everyone looked at me, including the man. He looked surprised upon seeing me too, he threw his smoke to the ground and smiled cockily. “We meet again.”

“D-Do you know him, Sophie?” dad asked me.

“Yes daddy, he was that man who—” I wasn’t able to continue what I was saying after realizing that it was so embarrassing. “I mean… yes, we already met yesterday…”

“Daddy? You mean, that woman is your daughter too?” The man asked daddy.

Dad nodded, “Y-Yes, she’s my youngest daughter.”

“Your daughter, huh? She doesn’t look like you.” Said the bastard while looking at me. I glared at him and looked at my dad who just nodded to me and smiled.

“Why don’t we have a seat first? This restaurant serves delicious food, I’m sure you’ll like it, err….”

“Vincent. You can just call me Vincent.” Said he.

Aunt Natalie nodded with a smile, “Vincent, what a handsome name. My name’s Natalie, I’m Albert’s wife. And these two girls here are my daughters.”

“H-Hi Vincent, I’m Stephanie.”

“And I’m Sera.”

The two of them were looking at Vincent, smiling, but the bastard just ignored them and shifted his gaze to me instead. “Why don’t you introduce yourself too?”

“I’m Sophie.” I said without looking at him.

“Sophie, beautiful name.” he said.

Dad cleared his throat again, “Should we order some food already?”

“T-That’s right, let’s call the server.” Aunt Natalie agreed.

Minutes have passed and we already started eating. I couldn’t focus on my food because I can feel Vincent staring at me from his seat. That mere fact already makes my blood boil in anger. “He looks like a Mafia Boss, don’t you think?” Seb whispered again to me.

“You’re right, he looks like a nymphomaniac.” I said then we both laughed.

“By the way, Albert, have you told them already the reason why we’re here?” Vincent spoke again. Why does he talk like that to my father? He doesn’t really have manners and respect.

Dad almost choked so I handed him a glass of water. “Thanks, Sophie.”

“Just eat slowly, dad.”

“Oh, so you haven’t said it yet?”

“Said what?” Aunt Natalie asked.

Vincent crossed his arms. “Your husband owes me a huge amount of money. He couldn’t give me his company so we came into a different agreement instead.”

“D-Dad owes you money?” I asked as I looked at my dad to confirm it. “Is that true, dad?”

Daddy looked at us especially to me before nodding, “T-That’s true.”

“But that’s impossible dad, we don’t have debts. Why don’t you just pay him? We have lots of money anyway.” Said Seb.

“So sorry to say but even if you pay me with all of the money that you have, it wouldn’t lessen even fifty percent of his debt.”

My eyes widened. “D-Dad, is that---

“Yes, that is true. I owe him everything, V-Vincent was the one who helped me build our company. We got to build that because of him…”

“Dad…”

“But what agreement did you have if we can’t pay you that huge amount of money?” Aunt Natalie asked.

Vincent leaned on his chair with his arms crossed, “He said he’s willing to give one of his daughters to me.”

All of us were shocked. We all looked at daddy and he just lowered his head, confirming it. “Albert, how can you do that to our daughters?!”

“Daddy! Why did you do that?! You agreed to this man?!” Seb yelled.

“I’m so sorry… I had no choice… I’m so sorry…” Dad kept on mumbling.

Vincent suddenly stood up, “So, can I have the payment now?”

“Vincent… can we just talk about this? I-I already changed my mind, I-I’ll just pay you. I don’t care if you take my company from me… just don’t…don’t take any of my daughters away from me…” Dad pleaded.

“You should have said that earlier. I changed my mind now; I don’t want money because I have that already. I want your daughter.” Vincent said.

“V-Vincent…”

“I’ll get that woman beside you.” Vincent said while looking at me.

Sophie’s POV

“I won’t go with you!” I yelled as Vincent started to walk towards me.

One of his brows rose up. “You have no choice, baby. Your dumb father owed some money from me and he offered you as the collateral.”

I looked at my dad. “D-Dad please… I-I don’t want to go with that man!”

“Sophie…. V-Vincent, can we just talk about it again? C-Can we—

“Are you trying to fool me?! We already had an agreement and now you’re saying that we should talk about it again?!” Vincent snarled which made all of us shiver in fear. His loud yet deep voice reverberated through the restaurant.

“S-Sorry… I already changed my mind. I-I don’t want to give my daughter…”

We were all surprised when all of a sudden, Vincent pulled out a gun and pointed it at my father’s head. “You know I hate people who break their promise. Now, just choose. Will you give me that woman or I’ll blow your brains out?”

“Father!”

“Honey!”

“No! Please no!” I yelled. “I’ll go with you! I’ll go with you, just don’t kill my father, please!”

Vincent shifted his attention to me and smiled cockily. “Are you sure?”

“Sophie…” Seb was already crying.

“I-I will go with you so please drop that gun!”

“Fine.” He said as he put his gun back in his pocket.

Aunt Natalie and my step-siblings ran towards daddy and hugged him.

“Let’s go now,” said Vincent as he grabbed me by my hand but I stopped him.

“C-Can you just let me get my things in our house? Can I sleep there and be with them for one last time?” I asked which made his brows furrowed.

“What?”

I bit my lower lip. “Please… I will go with you tomorrow… I promise…”

“And do you think I believe you?” he said.

“You should believe, I’m saying the truth. I’m not planning to escape, I just want to be with them for one last time… please?” I pleaded as tears started to run down my face.

Vincent stared at me for a while before he turned around and started walking. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning. Just make sure I’ll see you there or I’ll surely kill your father. Even if you try to escape, I have my people to find you.” He threatened.

“I-I promise. Just kill me if I lie.” I said bravely.

“Let’s go.” said Vincent to his men. We were just looking at them as they started walking outside the restaurant. I heaved a sigh of relief.

***

“Sophie, are you really sure about this? You’re going with that killer?” Seb asked me while we were inside my room. I was already preparing all the things that I will bring tomorrow.

I looked at him. “I have no choice, Seb. That man could obviously do everything he said. He’s a mafia boss, we don’t have any chance to fight against someone like him.”

“It’s all dad’s fault. If he didn’t agree to have an agreement with that man, then you won’t have to do this!”

“No Seb, don’t blame dad. For sure he just did that for us. He didn’t have a choice.”

“That’s why he voluntarily offered you to that man?! Sophie, you don’t know that man, what if he does something bad to you? What if he kills you?!”

I shook my head. “I won’t let that happen, Seb. I’m sure he won’t kill me.”

“How can you be so sure? You don’t even know that man.”

“I just know. And if he ever tries to do something bad to me, I’ll make sure to punch his face or kick his precious treasure down there.” I kidded thinking that Seb would laugh, but he didn’t. He just looked at me with a sad look on his face.

I then moved closer to him and gave him a hug. “Everything would be alright, Seb. You don’t have to worry about me, I can take care of myself. And besides, you can always visit me, or maybe I’ll ask him to let me go here to visit you then we’ll listen to all of your new songs.”

“I don’t think he would even allow you to go back here.”

“He will Seb, he will. Trust me.”

After few minutes, someone started knocking on my room’s door. “Sophie, are you still awake?”

“Y-Yes dad, I’m with Seb.”

Seb stood up and walked outside as soon as dad entered my room.

“Dad. I-Is there something you want to tell me?”

“Sophie… I’m so sorry… I’m such an awful dad… I’m so sorry Sophie, I hope you could still forgive me… No, don’t forgive me. This is all my fault, I shouldn’t have made a promise with Vincent… it’s my fault, Sophie… I’m so sorry…”

I embraced him in my arms. “No, dad. I understand you, it’s not your fault. I know you just didn’t have any choice. I don’t want you to get hurt too…”

“I should have just let him kill me; I should’ve just let him take everything that I have…”

“That will never happen. Please don’t say that dad, I don’t want you to get hurt. I’d rather suffer while living with that man forever than seeing you hurt.”

Dad gently moved away from me and cupped my face. “You really are the best daughter I could ever have. Just like your mother, you are so kind. I don’t know what face can I show you… I’m sorry Sophie, I’m really really sorry.”

“Don’t worry about me, dad. I’m not mad at you.” Tears started streaming down my face. “I-I just want you to know how much I love you, dad. I’ll no longer be there beside you all the time so please take care of yourself. Sera, Stephanie, and Seb need you. They are all counting on you. I will always be your daughter, right?”

“Of course, honey. You will always be the best daughter I could ever have.”

Sophie’s POV

“I already served the breakfast, let’s eat now!” I merrily said as soon as I was done preparing our food on the table. They were already sitting at the table with no emotion on their faces. “What’s the matter? Why do you all look so sad?”

“Are you really going there, Sophie? I mean, can’t you just stay here?” Seb said to me.

“Are you crazy, Sebastian? Do you want that man to kill us all?!” Aunt Natalie retorted.

I heaved a sigh. “Aunt Natalie’s right, Seb. That guy is powerful, I think he’ll really do what he said. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Come on, don’t be such a pretender now Sophie. We all know you were so happy when she chose you. That man is freaking hot and super handsome, who wouldn’t want to go with him?!” Samantha suddenly said.

“She’s right! For sure you’re so happy now because you wouldn’t have to wash the dishes, prepare our food and clean our rooms anymore!” Sera added.

“That’s not true, Sera, Samantha. I’ll never want to go with that man. I just don’t have any choice…”

Samantha rolled her eyes. “Just say it and don’t pretend, we won’t be fooled by your innocent facade. Pretending to be so innocent and doesn’t care about hot and good-looking guys when the fact is, you’re such a flirt!”

“Can you just stop being so insecure with Sophie?! She’s going to be taken away with a bad guy, okay?! She could be killed, she could be raped. That man obviously has no soul and for sure he’s going to hurt Sophie and yet you’re still complaining about how lucky she is?! Is that really how dumb and insecure you are, huh?!!” Seb suddenly blurted out, so I held his hand just so he would calm down, but he brushed it off and looked at me. “This is all dad’s fault. How can you even sell your own daughter to that mafia leader?!”

“Sebastian, stop talking like that to your father!” said Aunt Natalie.

“Enough now! Stop fighting in front of our breakfast, okay?! It’s Sophie’s last day here so why don’t you just at least show her some gratitude for serving you for so many years!” dad yelled. “I know it’s my fault, okay? But what can I do? We can’t do anything about it anyway, we can’t just let that man steal the company.” Dad lowered his head. “I didn’t want this to happen, okay? And don’t worry Sophie, once I finally get to pay my debt, I’ll take you back from that man, I promise.”

I reached for dad’s hand. “I’ll hang on that promise, dad. I’ll wait for you.”

“I’m sorry, Sophie…”

***

After eating breakfast, I finally started packing my things. Tears kept on running down my face while I was getting ready to leave. I looked around my room and remembered how long I’ve been staying in this house. I already made so many memories in this room, in this house, and with the people inside it. I can’t believe I’ll have to leave it someday when I lived my whole life here. “Miss Sophie…”

I quickly wiped the tears in my eyes when someone suddenly knocked on my door. I fixed myself and put all my clothing inside my bag before I stood up to open the door. I was surprised to see our maids standing by the door while crying. “W-What are you guys doing here?”

“Miss Sophie… we already know the truth. You’re going to leave us already, right?” Patricia asked, she’s the youngest maid in our house, the one I’m also closest to.

I averted my gaze to hide my eyes, which were being filled with tears again. “I-I need to leave for now. B-But don’t worry I will come back when everything turns well. I promise I will come back, and I will visit you here more often too.”

“Miss Sophie, we’re going to really miss you.” Jaycel added while crying. I wiped the tears from her eyes and hugged her.

“I will miss you all too, I’ll surely miss you all…”

I have been so close with all of our household staff here in the mansion. I’ve been with them more than I have been with my step-siblings that’s why they are really important to me.

“Take care of yourself there, Miss Sophie. Promise us, please…”

“I promise. I will take care of myself and so you have to take care of yourselves too, okay? And also, please take care of them, especially Seb and dad. I won’t be able to stay here with them anymore so please do that as a favor from me.”

They all nodded. “Yes, Miss Sophie, we’ll take care of them for you.”

“Thank you…”

We hugged each other one more time and we cried our hearts out before they were finally called by Aunt Natalie. “Sophie…”

“Dad…”

Dad walked towards me and embraced me in his arms. “I’m really sorry, Sophie. Please forgive me…”

“Dad… I already told you that I’m just alright. You don’t have to say sorry, okay? Just take care of yourself. I’ll be okay.”

“Oh, my daughter Sophie…”

“I love you so much, dad…”

“Hey Sophie, the man’s already here.” Aunt Natalie suddenly said so dad and I moved away from each other.

I looked at dad. “I’ll be going now, dad.”

“Take care of yourself, Sophie. I’ll take you back, just wait for daddy, okay?”

I just nodded with tears filling my eyes. “I will.”

I turned around and walked outside my room carrying my bag with me. As soon as I stepped outside the mansion, I saw so many men in black suits standing by our doorway while looking at me. Two of them walked towards me and took my bag. “Please get inside the car, Miss Sophie. Boss is already waiting for you inside.”

“O-Okay…”

I was about to get inside the black limousine when Seb suddenly called me. “Sophie! Sophie wait!”

“Seb…”

He ran towards me, and we embraced each other. “I will miss you, Sophie…”

“I will miss you too, Seb… Take care of yourself, okay? I will visit here some other time…”

“I’ll take you back, Sophie. I’ll take you back from that bastard, I promise you. Just wait for me, Sophie. I’ll work hard…”

I moved away from him and kissed him on his forehead. “You are the best sibling I could ever have. You are the only one who treated me like a real part of your family… I will miss you, Seb…”

“Me too, Sophie… me too…”

“What the fuck are you still doing there? Can you stop that damn drama and get inside this damn car?!” the man suddenly opened the door of the limo and yelled at us. “Get inside now, woman!”

I looked at Seb once more. “Goodbye, Seb…”