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…”

Sophie’s POV

My mouth automatically went agape as soon as I stepped out of the limousine. Right in front of me was a vast mansion, I don’t think it was a mansion, more like a palace, I can say. We have a somewhat big manor but this one’s different. “Stop standing there and follow me inside.” the mafia boss nonchalantly told me as he started walking towards the mansion’s entrance.

I came back to my senses, then I followed him inside, and there I saw so many maids and butlers lined up while lowering their heads. “Margarette.”

He called out a name and one maid raised her head and walked towards him.

“S-Sir?”

“Bring Sophie to her room. And also, give her a change of clothes.”

The maid nodded. “I understand, Sir.”

“Go with her.” He said to me.

“O-Okay,” I said without looking at him.

After that, he started walking upstairs while his men were following behind him. I wonder what are they going to do upstairs?

“M-Miss Sophie, please come with me.” the maid said to me with a sweet smile on her face.

“O-Okay.”

I just followed the maid until we reached a room upstairs. She opened the door for me as we came in. It was an immense room with pastel-colored walls and pieces of furniture. There was also a gigantic crystal chandelier hanging on the ceiling, which made it look more sophisticated and classier. “Miss Sophie, this room would be your personal room from now on. The bathroom is over there while the walk-in closet is on the left side of this room near the balcony.”

“Thank you. Err... may I know your name again?”

“My name is Margarette, Miss Sophie,” she said with a huge smile on her face. She was a cute woman with auburn short hair right above her shoulders. She has two cute little dimples in the corners of her smile.

“It’s nice to meet you, Margarette. I’m Sophie by the way.” I said as I reached for her hand.

She nodded and accepted my hand. “It’s so nice to meet you too, Miss Sophie. By the way, Miss Sophie, you should take a bath and change your clothes now. The other maids are already preparing your dinner downstairs and of course, Sir Vincent doesn’t like it when someone comes late.”

“I-I understand. I’ll be taking my bath now. See you later, Margarette.”

“See you later, Miss Sophie.”

As soon as Margarette went out, I heaved a sigh and sat on the bed. My new room is way bigger than the room that I have in my dad’s house, but I’m more comfortable there. I don’t even know if I could sleep peacefully in this room. That man, that mafia boss who brought me here, I still don’t know what he’s planning to do to me. I’m scared, I’m super scared, but what can I do? I don’t want to risk my family’s life just for my sake.

I took my mom’s photo inside my bag and put it above the side table. “Mommy, please guide me. I still don’t know what waits for me here but I hope dad and my siblings will be okay. I will be strong mommy, I know it would be hard but I will be strong.”

***

“I-I’m sorry I’m late,” I said when I arrived at the dining hall. The mafia boss was already sitting there, crossing his arms while looking at me.

“Take your seat and let’s eat.” He said, with no emotion on his face.

The table was so long as if there would be a feast. I sat on the other end of it while he was sitting on the other one. I wonder if his servers always serve as many foods as we have a right in front of us now.

“From now on, you’ll be living in this mansion with me. You can do anything you want, wander around, shopping—anything. If you need some money then tell it to me.”

“I-I’m still studying, and I have a part-time job.”

“Then quit your job.” He nonchalantly said.

I looked at him with my wrinkled brows. “There’s no way I would quit my job!”

“You don’t have the right to yell at me, woman.” He said with sharp eyes.

“I-I apologize… but please, just let me do my job. That is the only thing that makes me happy. Please let me work, I promise I would work here in your house too.”

“Call me Vincent.” He suddenly said, which made me look at him.

“H-Huh?”

He put his cutlery down. “Call me Vincent from now on. Fine, I’ll let you work but after that, go home straight here. I’ll be assigning two bodyguards to look after you.”

“I-I understand, thank you…”

“And if it still isn’t clear with you, I didn’t bring you here just so you could live the life you had before. Once you become my wife, you will finally become my property. You have to stay beside me and follow everything that I’ll tell you to do.”

“W-What? M-Marry you?!”

“That’s right, you’ll be my wife. And you can’t complain about anything because this is all your father’s fault. If you don’t want to marry me, then let me just kill your father.” He said sounding so natural.

My eyes widened. “No! Don’t do that! I will follow everything that you’ll say just promise me that you’ll never hurt my family!”

“Sure, I won’t hurt them as long as you promise to obey my orders.”

“I-I promise. I-I will obey all your orders…”

“That’s my girl.” He stood up. “By the way, our wedding’s already tomorrow, so some people are going to show up here tomorrow to get you dresses. Make sure you’ll come home early.”

“Tomorrow?! B-But—

“That’s an order.” He said before he finally walked away.

That night I just cried and cried inside my room. Tomorrow would be my wedding with that jerk, and I don’t know what would happen after that. He said that I need to obey all of his orders or else he would kill my dad.