Kiera’s POV
Clang!
The shrill shattering sound of the plate hitting the floor jolted me awake, my eyes flying open in alarm.
“What’s going on there?” Dahlia descended the stairs, her eyes blazing profusely.
Without hesitation I stooped to the floor, collecting the shattered pieces.
“You stupid clumsy girl! Do you know how much that plate cost?”
Before I could speak, her hand struck my face leaving her devilish mark on my cheeks. Streams of tears gathered in my eyes as my mouth shook in pain.
“Oh.. you will pay dearly for this,” her teeth gritted in barely contained rage.
“I’m sorry Dahlia, I’m so tired after staying up all night doing the laundry you asked me to do. I could use Elise’s assistance in doing some of the chores around the house but she’s never around. God Knows what she’s been up to these days.”
Her eyes instantly grow larger, “How dare you speak about your sister in such a manner? Wherever Elise goes and whatever she does is none of your business. The only business you have in this house is to cater for the bills, do the chores religiously, and look after that dimwit you call a father. Take my daughter's name out of your wretched mouth.”
Trying so hard to hold my tongue from lashing out the venomous anger brewing within me, I lowered my eyes and swallowed hard.
“I’m going out now, make sure the house is sparkling when I return,” she hissed, heading towards the door, “Oh.. and check my bedside drawer for the grocery list,” her expression twisting into a cruel smirk as she walked through the door.
Judging by her floor-length white chiffon gown, pearl necklace, and diamond stud earrings, I surmised that she was headed to a special occasion, probably one with lots of rich folks.
Dahlia was my mom’s best friend, once so sweet and kind, according to my papa. But after my mom died in a terrible car accident when I was only 2 years old, she wormed her way into my father’s life, and a year after, she had Elise, my stepsister. For 24 years, I’ve lived under her terrible regime, and she has been my nightmare ever since.
It was 9 am when I finished all my chores, and I went to my Papa’s room only to find him standing right in front of the calendar and mumbling some words.
“Ah Mija, you’re here…” he paused, his gaze contemplating. “But aren’t you supposed to be in school or you missed the bus again?”
My heart sank as I stared at him. No matter how much time passed, I could never get used to seeing him this way. 4 years ago he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, and his memory and behavior have been deteriorating ever since. That’s just one of the many terrible things that my dad has endured over the years. 6 years ago, Dahlia introduced him to some businessmen, and things went south, drowning my dad in a bottomless pit of debt, and what’s worse? Now, I have to work 3 jobs to keep up with paying all the bills and clearing the debts.
Elise is the real definition of like mother, like daughter, because aside from joining forces with her mom to make my life miserable, she never contributes a penny towards the house expenses instead she jumps from one man’s house to the next, so I've heard.
“No papa. I graduated 4 years ago. Which means I wouldn’t have to go to school again,” I smiled, placing a kiss on his cheek.
“Oh… I wasn’t a… aware.. when di—”
“4 years ago. Come now papa, your breakfast is getting cold,” I cut him off, holding back the tears that formed in my eyes.
After feeding him breakfast, I cleaned up and rushed to the grocery store to grab the items on the list Dahlia had left me.
The moment I entered the grocery store, I felt a sudden tug on my wrist and as I pivoted, I found myself face-to-face with a tattered-looking man, and instinctively, I pulled my wrist from his grasp.
“Please Ma’am, can you assist me with some money? I’m homeless and I’ve been starving for a week, and no one wants to assist me,” he muttered, his voice raspy.
There was something about him that felt strange. Although he had a horrible stench attached to him in addition to his disheveled hair and unshaven beard, he was still one of the most handsome men I've ever seen. How did someone like him end up being homeless?
My eyes were still big on him, as I stared incredulously, my mouth gaped both in shock and speechlessness.
“Ma’am are you okay?” He asked, catapulting me back to the present moment.
“Yeah.. Yeah, I'm fine. I… um… I don’t have so much on me, but I could spare a $20 note. I hope it will get you a few things, even though it isn’t much,” I said.
“You're far too gracious ma’am. Thank you so much. This would save me from starving another week,” he said, his excitement towering above the clouds.
After handing him the money, I turned around to continue shopping and his voice came through,
“My name is Gabriel.”
Before I could tilt my head, he was already at the threshold of the grocery store.
“Weird guy,” I muttered and continued picking items from the rack.
As I stood in front of the cashier, Mae, whose crush on me had persisted since I was 17, despite my repeated rejections, my eyes were drawn to the television.
There, to my horror, I saw Miguel and Elise getting married at Royal City Hall – the live broadcast was playing on the screen.
I rubbed my eyes vigorously, unable to process what I was seeing.
“Miguel!” I screamed, my eyes twitching with tears.
The pain I felt overwhelmed me drawing the attention of everyone around.
Miguel and I had been dating for a year, but 3 whole months had passed without a single glimpse of him, under the excuse of traveling out of the city for business. Miguel kept our relationship private because he didn’t want unnecessary attention on us. Only a few of his bodyguards knew about us.
Of all the men in the world, Elise chose the only man who ever made me feel special other than Papa. It’s common knowledge that Dahlia was also heading there this morning.
“Kiera, are you okay?” Mae asked.
“Yeah… I’m … I—”
Suddenly streams of tears came running down my cheeks, as my body wracked with sobs.
“Oh my God Kiera, what’s wrong?” Mae asked, her voice filled with concern.
At that precise moment, a man from the back of the line chimed in,
“Yoo.. If you wanna cry you can step out of the line and do that, and stop wasting our time.”
“F*ck off you insensitive mudaf*cker. If you can’t wait patiently till it gets to your turn, get the hell out of here,” Mae snapped.
Grasping my emotions, I brushed my face with my palm, cleaning my tears, “I’m okay Mae, you didn’t have to do that for me. How much do the items cost,” I demanded.
“I know you're never gonna open up to me, but I’m always here for you. And for the groceries, it’s on the store,” Mae smiled, handing me the plastic bag containing the groceries.
“Thank you,” I mouthed, fighting every urge to surrender to the overwhelming despair that threatened to consume me.
As I stepped out of the grocery store, my mind instantly went blank, and before I knew it, I found myself standing in front of Royal City Hall.
“What are you doing here?” A familiar voice echoed in my ears“Kiera!”My eyelids fluttered as I found myself back in reality. I glanced around trying to comprehend how I got here. I must have been so pain-struck that my legs instinctively led me here. “You shouldn’t be here Kiera,” Joe, one of Miguel’s bodyguards said sternly.Besides him, three other guards stood at the entrance. “I… umm… I … need to speak with Miguel,” I stuttered, still reeling from the devastating revelation.“You can't see Miguel now. Besides you can't go in without an invitation,” Joe responded, his tone unyielding.“Please, let me just speak to him once. I don’t know what Elise has given him, but I'm sure he isn’t thinking straight,” I pleaded, but Joe maintained his stand.Impulsively, I dived toward the guards trying to force my way through,“Stop creating a scene Kiera, there are paparazzi around, and I wouldn’t wanna do anything to hurt you, so please just go home,” Joe insisted.I fumed, as the pain that
Kiera’s POVThe room was suddenly flooded with light, causing my eyes to struggle to adjust to the brightness.As I looked around, I noticed several young girls, some younger than me, and others around my age. The walls of the room were old and I could see some cracks on them. There was a fireplace, bed, and a bucket filled with things I couldn’t clearly see. Then my eyes settled on him–The man who has absolute power over my fate, surrounded by six able-bodied men and 4 middle-aged women.“Strip!” He shouted, his voice echoing in the room.Suddenly, some of the girls began taking off their clothes, revealing their bare bodies.“What are the rest of you buffoons waiting for?” He shouted.Trembling, my hands began peeling my clothes off my body. My clothes were no longer moist, as they dried on me over the passing hours.I watched as my clothes fell to the floor and my hands quivered as I pulled off my pants. No man had ever seen my bare body, not even Miguel.“Now, turn around,” he inst
Kiera’s POVWe were assembled behind a stage, and shortly after, the four Madams came in with a box. Each of us was handed a set of lingerie and a pair of heels, as we stood in a straight line.“Put them on quickly,” Madam Naomi instructed.My hands quaked as I nervously removed the pajamas, and donned the lingerie. It was a bra and pant set. The lace-like material made it very transparent and anyone could clearly see our intimate areas.The Madams nodded in satisfaction as they observed us.“Tonight, some of you will get new masters, but that’s not the end. You have a 2-month probation period. Your masters can do whatever they choose to do with you. If after 2 months, they're pleased with you, then you become their permanent property. If not, you will be returned here, and your lives will be 10 times worse.”Madam Naomi's words sent a chill down my spine.“For the sake of the new girls, I’m gonna say this again. You have a maximum of one month to get a new master, if not, El Diablo’s
Kiera’s POVMy eyes grew wide like saucers,“You’re the homeless guy from the grocery store!”My mind instantly swallowed itself, struggling to understand how that could be possible. I rapidly blinked my eyes and shook my head, wondering if I was hallucinating due to the immense stress that I'd been through today.He took a few steps closer but I retreated.“I know it all seems impossible to you right now, I know you have lots of questions but I need you to calm down. I’ll explain everything to you once you’re settled and in a good frame of mind,” he said.“No, I need an explanation now,” I insisted.The ringing tone from his phone interrupted, and he excused himself to answer it.A couple of minutes went by and there was no sign of him. I tried opening the door only to realize that it was locked.“F*ck!”I cussed, kicking the bedside drawer, causing the lamp to fall and shatter. However, something caught my attention. There was a small booth picture lying on the drawer, it was beneat
KIERA’S POVThere’s no way I’m gonna just stay put and watch anyone take advantage of me again.Lifting myself from the bed, I walked to the door and opened it gently, glancing around and making sure there were no guards around.I tiptoed to the opposite side of the first floor, only to find a door moderately opened. My curiosity shamelessly dropped its pants, and I intentionally peeped into the room.What I saw, triggered a surge of goosebumps all over my skin, causing my heart to go offbeat.My eyes got stuck on a strange man’s shirtless body as he stood in front of the mirror, examining his features.Goodness me!My lips unconsciously folded in, as my fingers trailed around my chest.Who is he? I wondered.Like a runaway train, my heart hurtled forward, unstoppable and untamed as his hands tugged into his pants, in an attempt to take them off, and my eyes didn’t even twitch.At that moment, my body made contact with the door, causing it to emit a squeaking sound that sent a jolt of
KIERA’S POVThe rays of sunlight pierced through my eyelids, and I instinctively shielded my eyes with my hand. I let out a big yawn and rolled to the other side of the bed.“Do you always sleep so deeply?” A voice sounded behind me, instantly throwing me out of dreamland.“Jesus Christ!” I screamed, instantly grabbing the covers and wrapping them around me. I was fully clothed, so why was I being dramatic?Gabriel stood at the window, his body blocking the harsh rays from hitting me, and I propped myself up, squinting as I stared at his shadowy figure.“I’ll have one of the house staff get you a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Get dressed and meet me outside in 15 minutes,” he said, taking his leave before I could even open my mouth.I was ready and out in 15 minutes.“Get into the car,” he commanded.“Where are we going?” I asked, but he remained silent, striding over to open the front door for me.“Please get in,” he said politely.As I sat in the car, my eyes traveled to Damien’s wi
KIERA’S POVLike a flurry of arrows, his words pierced my heart, hitting every nerve connected to it. If there’s anything I dreaded more than my life back home, it was the haunting memories of the horrors I endured in that hellhole. It was a nightmare.He released a heavy sigh before entering the car and waited as I walked cautiously to the car, my legs trembling.As I settled into the car, beads of tears formed in my eyes, however, the deep measured breath he took was enough to relay the magnitude of his simmering anger.After a few seconds of regaining his composure, he started the engine and drove off. The oppressive silence and tension in the car were almost unbearable, and I silently prayed we’d arrive at our destination quickly.At last, we pulled up at an estate, and he swiftly hopped out of the car and opened the door for me. He stretched out his hand and I placed mine in his, my gaze pinned on the floor.“Hey,” he said gently, lifting my chin with his finger.“I’m sorry I la
MIGUEL’S POVI sat in the dimly lit room, smoke curling around me as I took a long drag from my cigarette. I gulped down a glass of whiskey relishing the fiery sensation as it coursed down my throat. Just as I flicked the ash from my cigarette, the door swung open, and Joe walked in. The look on his face was evident enough for me to know that he had something to say.“Speak up, before I lose my patience,” I said.Clearing his throat, his voice came forth, “Kiera showed up at the wedding venue.”Her name pulled a string in my heart, and I simply nodded and poured myself another round of whiskey.If I’ve ever felt any form of affection towards any woman, it would be Kiera. Cold as my heart may be, she fascinated me. Her beauty, innocence, her perception of the world, and everything about her made her special. But the affection I had for her was no match compared to the hatred I have for Gabriel. Despite the fact that our families have been sworn rivals for ages, the bastard was also res
KIERA’S POVThe water was warm as it surrounded me, but it barely registered. My thoughts roared louder than the two mega speakers together, consuming me in a whirlpool of emotions I couldn’t escape. My fingers brushed against my lips as if they still held the ghost of his kiss.Gabriel.The way he kissed me... it was searing, intense, and damn it—undeniably perfect. I hated that I loved it. I hated that it left me craving more, that it lingered in my chest like an ember refusing to die. Would I be crazy to say I had missed it so much? It was everything I had longed for and yet, every time I thought about it, guilt stabbed through me, sharp and unrelenting.Damien. His face flashed in my mind, his grin, the way he looks at me like I was his entire world. What would he think? How would he feel if he finds out what had happened between Gabriel and me?I let out a shaky breath, brushing my face. Two brothers were in love with me, and I was hopelessly drawn to both. I was torn between two
GABRIEL’S POVThe morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the bed. My eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the soft golden glow. The first thing I saw was her—Kiera, lying beside me, her face serene in sleep. In that moment, I was struck by her beauty. She was stunning in a way that made my chest tighten. Her hair tumbled in soft waves around her face, and her lips, slightly parted, looked so inviting. Watching the rise and fall of her chest was hypnotic, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away.For so long, I had held back my feelings for her, but the incident with Linda had pushed me over the edge. I had confessed my feelings without thinking, and ever since, Kiera had been acting a bit awkward around me.I knew she wouldn’t be thrilled about sharing a room, but I craved the closeness, the intimacy of just being in the same space. When Abuela suggested it, I felt like I had hit the jackpot. I pretended to argue against the idea, but deep down, I knew there was
DAMIEN’S POVI tossed and turned, the sheets twisting around me like a noose. Kiera’s face haunted me—her laughter, her touch, the way her eyes sparkled, her smile. But that wasn’t what kept me awake all night. No, it was the thought of her with Gabriel.I couldn’t shake the image of them together. The way he looks at her makes it seem like she is the last drop of whiskey in a dry bar. What if something happened between them last night? Did she look at him the way she looks at me? Did she touch him? The mere thought made my stomach burn.I flung the covers off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. Do I trust Kiera? The two of them in the same room felt like dangling cheese in front of a mouse—an invitation to disaster, too tempting, too dangerous. Even if Kiera held her ground, I knew that smooth-talking bastard Gabriel could charm the skin off an apple.Just as I was about to drown in my thoughts, a knock echoed through the room.I barely had time to collect my thoughts when Be
KIERA’S POVAfter dinner, the room felt like a chamber in hell, simmering with unspoken words. Gabriel and I barely spoke to each other, and I could tell she sensed the tension in the air, but she said nothing, her silence almost deafening.Gabriel eventually retreated to his room, leaving me across from Abuela, who was diligently knitting a scarf, her needles clicking like a clock.“Mrs. Vanessa?” I finally ventured, my voice almost swallowed by the silence.“Oh, come on, dear. We’re past the formalities, aren’t we? You’ll soon be my daughter-in-law, so you might as well start calling me Abuela,” she replied, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips.I forced a smile back, the warmth barely reaching my eyes, “Okay, Abuela. Thank you for the amazing meal. It’s been a long day, so I think I’ll call it a night.”Her gaze lifted, eyes sparkling with mischief that sent a shiver down my spine, “Rest well, my dear.”As I nodded, my heart raced with a flutter of anxiety.Upon our ar
ELISE’S POVI blinked rapidly, trying to process Hannah's words, “What did you just say?” I leaned in closer, my brows knitting together like two angry caterpillars.“Umm… Miss… Miss Freya is here,” Hannah stuttered, her confidence crumbling under my glare.“Are you stupid?” I bit out, my voice climbing an octave as I raised my hand, nearly striking her across the face. She flinched, stepping back as if I were a live wire and I halted mid-motion, catching myself just in time.I took a deep breath, my lips tightening into a thin line as I let my hand drop, “Where is she?” I demanded.“She’s, um… she…” Hannah cleared her throat, her finger awkwardly pointing toward the stairs as she scratched her neck, a nervous gesture that made my irritation flare.“Speak up already, you moron!” I snapped, my impatience palpable.Her eyes widened in fear, and she blurted, “She’s in the living room!”I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, my nails digging into my skin as I fought to keep my composure
ELISE’S POVI lay sprawled across the bed, feeling like a marionette whose strings had been cut, my body still throbbing from the wild, brutal passion of the previous night.The clock on the nightstand read 10 a.m., but the weight of my exhaustion kept me anchored to the sheets. Miguel had transformed me into his sex toy, exploring his dirtiest darkest fantasies. I knew I desperately wanted to be fucked, and touched by him, but I never signed up for this.Last night, he had bound all my limbs to the bedposts. The ball gag he used stifled my cries, rendering my protests useless. He fucked me till I almost passed out.When he was done, I tried to voice my discomfort, but he simply asked, “Are you tired of being in this marriage?” I didn’t need an encyclopedia to decipher what he meant. I realized then that I had only two choices: accept this new reality or contemplate the unthinkable—leaving him. But escape wasn’t an option I could entertain; I had too much to lose. So, I buried my feel
ABUELA’S POV“Catherine, would you be kind as to fetch my phone?” I called out from the backyard, the relentless ringing grating against my peaceful mid-morning.I took a deep breath and sipped my mango juice, feeling its coolness wash over me while I waited for her to arrive.“Here you go, ma’am,” she said, her voice warm as she handed me the phone.To my surprise, it wasn’t Gabriel’s name lighting up the screen but Rafael’s.A smile blossomed on my face, genuine and bright. I glanced at Catherine, a conspiratorial grin breaking free as I mouthed, “It’s Rafael,” followed by a soft giggle.“Hi, Mom,” he said, his voice like a soothing melody that instantly warmed my heart.“If I didn’t know you better, I’d swear you’ve forgotten all about your mother,” I teased, though my heart ached a bit as I said it.“Mom, that’s not fair! I’ve been swamped!” He replied, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his tone.“Swamped, indeed, but surely not too busy to give your mother a call? It’s been o
KIERA’S POVThe next thing that followed was a chortle of laughter, uncontainable until I was practically doubled over.Gabriel squinted in confusion, clearly thrown off as I continued to laugh maniacally, clutching my stomach.“O… OmG… that..” I gasped, still pointing at him as if he were the punch line to a joke.“That’s the most… the most hilarious thing I’ve ever heard.”But as my laughter began to fade, I noticed the serious look on his face, and suddenly my giggles felt inappropriate like I was laughing at a funeral. An awkward silence settled between us, and I was left fidgeting with my hair, my lips pressing together as I cleared my throat, avoiding his piercing gaze.“You.. umm.. you’re not joking?” I finally managed to ask, my eyes flitting around like a trapped bird looking for a way out.“Why would I want to joke with something as delicate as this?” He replied, his voice steady, almost too steady.My heart tumbled into my stomach, it was as if he’d thrown a grenade into my
KIERA’S POVI sat in the car scrolling absentmindedly through my phone yet my, fingers drummed nervously against my thigh, each tap a countdown to my rising anxiety.Every few moments, I shot a glance at the entrance, hoping to catch sight of Gabriel, but time seemed to stretch endlessly. What could possibly be taking so long? Was Linda okay? Or worse, was Gabriel in trouble? My stomach twisted, and I shifted restlessly in my seat, feeling like a lion trapped in a cage.Just then, my phone buzzed, jolting me from my spiraling thoughts. I looked down to see a message from Damien.[Hey]I replied almost instantly, my heart racing.[Hey][Are you okay?]His concern dripped through the screen, and I typed back rapidly, desperate for the connection.[Kinda][If it’s about what I said earlier, I’m sorry for catching you off guard, but I’m not sorry for telling you how I feel about you.]A smile broke through my worry, warming my heart. I could almost picture him, those charming eyes glintin