Chapter One

In a dimly lit room, Cassie sat on the couch, her hands trembling with nervousness. With anxiety and desperation, she stretched her hand to place a paper on the table. The room wasn't very bright, and her actions revealed the stress she was feeling.

The paper she laid out showed the hefty amount of money her mom's hospital bills amounted to. Seeing the significant figure, Cassie felt worried. She looked at her dad with eyes filled with stress and fear, hoping he would understand. In her mind, this was her last hope. Her facial expressions spoke volumes about the weight of the situation.

"Dad, can I borrow $50,000? Mom needs kidney dialysis, and I'm utterly without means," she implored, her voice a delicate thread in the heavy silence.

Across the room, Mrs. Winnie, her eyes narrowing in scrutiny, accidentally knocked her steaming coffee over, the liquid cascading in a moment of disbelief. Her disapproving tone sliced through the air with astonishment and disdain.

"How shameless to beg us for money," she sharply remarked, her judgment hanging in the room like an unspoken accusation.

She turned her attention away and directed it toward Mrs. Winnie, who, interestingly enough, is her father's second wife.

Tears welled up in Cassie's eyes, each drop a testament to her desperation and sincerity. "I'll pay you back, I promise," she pleaded, her voice a fragile melody echoing through the strained atmosphere.

Mr. Raymond's furrowed brow betrayed his concern as he gently suggested, "Maybe we could help her; it's for her sick mother." His eyes carried the weight of empathy, mirroring the compassion in his words.

Winnie, her face a canvas of disbelief and disapproval, couldn't contain herself, sharply retorting, "Still thinking about your ex-wife?" Caught off guard, Raymond denied it, but Winnie insisted with growing intensity, "This is your family now. Without me, you'll have nothing.”

In the tense environment, emotions surged and sparked like a spreading wildfire. You could see it in the deep lines on Mr. Raymond's forehead, revealing his inner turmoil, and in the challenging look in Winnie's eyes, as if she was standing strong against the storm of emotions.

"Do I need to remind you this is your family now?" Winnie asked, her weariness evident in the two hands she raised as if demonstrating the weight of her frustration. "Raymond, without me, you'll have nothing," her voice carried a growing sense of frustration.

In walked a tall and slim girl, wearing a beautiful, flowing dress that made her look like a model due to her really thin frame.

Her voice cut through the air like a chilling wind, "Awwww, if it isn't my loser step-sister begging for money like a beggar? How pathetic," a mocking tone echoed, accompanied by a dim, contemptuous smile.

Cassie couldn't help but cringe upon hearing the voice of Sarah, someone she strongly dislikes. Mustering up her courage, inhaled deeply, trying to hold back the tears that were welling up inside. She picked up the paper from the table,

A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she proclaimed,

"It's evident that coming here was a mistake." As she rose from the sofa, prepared to go, her movement signaled the end of her time in the living room and fell into a heavy silence, everyone's gaze fixed upon her.

However, Sarah steps in, her hand gently halting Cassie. "Wait," she says, her voice a blend of empathy and determination, her fingers resting reassuringly on Cassie's shoulder.

At that moment, Cassie was genuinely stunned, as her irritating stepsister attempted to speak in a sweet tone. To make matters even more surprising, she felt the touch of her stepsister's hands on her shoulder, a gesture that was quite unexpected given their usual interactions.

“We'll give you the money “

The room undergoes a sudden transformation, relief washing over Cassie as unexpected kindness emanates from Sarah, creating a shift in the atmosphere.

"What!!!" Winnie's sharp voice sliced through, a surprised edge coloring her tone.

Cassie looked shocked, but knowing her sister, she expected more to come.

"If you marry Anderson Klein in my place," she concluded, a devilish smile gracing her lips. Sarah continued with a proud chuckle.

"Hahaha, my daughter is so smart." Winnie beamed with pride, her emotions evident in the proud curve of her smile.

"That's a good idea," Cassie remarked, disappointment dripping from her words. "Anderson Klein, the illegitimate son of the Klein family? Isn't he in jail right now?"

"Yup," Sarah responded, a sly smile playing on her lips. "He's a dirtbag and a good-for-nothing loser; that's why I can't marry him.”

Dad went ahead and signed this whole contract thing with the Klein family to boost his business, and I know that you're the one he's got in mind for getting hitched to him, and not me. Cassie said firmly

Winnie, her gaze fixed on Raymond, suggested, "Cassie is also your daughter. She could be the one who marries Anderson Klein."

Cassie jumped in, her voice sharp, "No, not happening. I won't sell myself like that." Her strong refusal showed she was standing up for herself and dealing with mixed feelings inside

"Do you want us to pay for your mother's medical bills or not?" Sarah interrupted, her irritation visible on her face. The atmosphere in the room became tense, awaiting a response, as her eyebrows furrowed and her lips tightened with impatience.

In a moment that shattered the silence, Cassie's mind raced with a resolute realization. "I must do this to save my mother; there's no other choice," echoed in her thoughts. Speaking with a blend of resignation and defiance, she uttered, "Fine, I'll marry Anderson Klein.”

Leaving the place, Cassie carried the weight of her tough choice, making the room feel heavy and sad. Everyone stared at her, watching closely and making the room quiet.

~~~~~~~~

In a chilly jail room, a good looking guy rested on the bed, his fancy shoes quietly seeing his capture. The air felt tense. A cop came in fast, breaking the quiet. "Hey, Klein, time to leave," the officer said, keeping it short and to the point.

Mr. Anderson Klein sat casually on the bed, looking relaxed with his legs crossed.

"Geez, officer, what's the rush?" he responded, impatience coloring his tone.

"Most people want to get out of here fast," the police officer retorted, a hint of frustration evident. "I respect you, Anderson, and I can't lock you up here more than today." The emotions in the confined space wavered between impatience, respect, and the palpable tension of the prison environment.

"Don't drive recklessly again; next time, it won't be just 2 days," the police casually warned. With a smile curved on his cheeks.

"I can't make any promises, officer, but this cell is indeed sweet," Anderson replied, signing the necessary papers. Laughter echoed through the room, a strange camaraderie forming between the officer and Mr. Anderson.

Exiting the station, a sleek black Rolls Royce limited edition car awaited Anderson, his manager at the door. Tension lingered as Anderson approached him, inquiring, "Daniel, is everything going according to plan?”

"Yes, boss," Daniel replied with a sense of accomplishment, "your stint in jail is the perfect alibi; your father doesn't suspect a thing."

The atmosphere carried a mix of relief and strategic satisfaction.

Daniel was that one individual who truly comprehended Anderson on a deep level, going beyond just being a business partner. Their connection surpassed the confines of a mere professional relationship.

Curiosity etched on Anderson's face, he probed further, "And what about the Raymond's family? Any issues there?" His brow furrowed as he observed Daniel keenly, searching for nuance in his reactions.

"No issues at all," Daniel reassured, a reassuring smile playing on his lips, "the Raymonds have agreed to marry one of their daughters to you." His response carried a note of assurance, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Huh, very interesting," Anderson remarked, a spark of intrigue lighting up his eyes. A small quirk appeared on his lips, revealing a satisfied smile. "They kept their end of the bargain. This is the final puzzle piece," he declared with a confident look, setting the stage for what lay ahead.

With eager anticipation, he got into the car, and Daniel, patiently brimming with composure, awaited the signal to close the door, as the engine roared to life, they set off on their journey.