Chapter 1

Money isn‘t everything.

Tinakpan ko ang tenga ko habang naririnig ang mga magulang ko na nag aaway. Naka upo ako sa sulok ng kwarto ko habang pinipigilan ang pag iyak.

“Anong problema mo? Pa ulit-ulit nalang tayong ganito Amira!” sigaw ni Daddy habang nakapikit ang mga mata at hinilot ang kanyang sintido.

“Anong problema ko? Mas inuuna mo ang trabaho mo kaysa sa amin ng anak mo!” Mom exclaimed while crying. 

Bigla na lang ako nakarinig ng mga nababasag, pinunasan ko ang luha ko at tumayo para silipin ang nangyayari sa ibaba. Binuksan ko ang pinto ng aking kwarto at bumaba nang dahan-dahan sa hagdanan.

Biglang tumahimik ang kusina kung saan nag aaway si Mommy at Daddy. Namataan ko na naka upo sa sahig si Mommy at tulala habang umiiyak. Si Daddy ay umalis na naman sa bahay. Ganito palagi ang eksena sa loob ng mansion, kung hindi nag aaway ay hindi naman nag uusap.

I feel suffocated in our own home. What an irony, I feel like a stranger. It doesn‘t feels right. It doesn‘t feel like home anymore. I miss the feeling of being loved. I really want to be loved by someone. Someone who cares for me, who will love me unconditionally, and faithfully.

I am known as a sophisticated woman in the country because of my social status. Everyone’s eyes are on me, just a simple mistake could ruin our image. That‘s why our family is very secretive when it comes to family problems. It is hard to be on top in the field of business. So I maintain to be a so called educated and elegant daughter of a rich business man. 

I desire to be loved, it‘s always been my dream. It‘s tiring to pretend that we are a happy family in front of other people when the truth is, we're rotten inside. 

Today is my eighteenth birthday. My Mom and I planned everything beforehand. I choose a black, gold and red theme. Inspired from my favourite colors and epitome of elegance. 

The chosen venue for my debut is in a five star hotel. The invited guests are required to wear formal long gowns and tuxedos that fits the colour pallet. The invitations are unique and customised for security. Each invitations has different scanner codes. 

My debut is at the penthouse of the hotel, big enough to cater almost eight hundred guests. A red carpet and paparazzi‘s are waiting at the entrance door. The red and gold flowers backdrop, ruffled black, gold and red curtains alternately arranged, the walls are painted gold. I look at the ceiling, a decoration of red roses and cloth hangs elegantly. Hanged flowers and lightnings filled my eyes. 

The black tablecloth and gold plated utensils made me smile even wider. I am wearing a long black satin tube dress with red and gold sequins. The gown shows my collar bone and cleavage, it hugs my body perfectly and it made my curves define more.

My debut started, then the host announces the eighteen roses dance will start. He call the names of my guy friends, cousins and relatives. Inalok ni Dad ang kanyang kamay at inaya ako sumayaw sa gitna ng maraming tao, he smiled from ear to ear and greeted me. I thought the dance is already done. 

I was about to return to the stage until a tall man wearing a black tuxedo with a red necktie walk towards me. He grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to him. The wonderful night song played as we start to waltz following the rhythm of the song.

I can‘t help but to stare at him. Heart shaped face, black thick brows, almond shape eyes yet so ruthless to look at. High nose bridge and heart shaped lips. He look to his right and it made me see his jawline, he look so handsome. The color of his tuxedo and his skin color compliments each other. It look like it was customised, only made for him. 

My admiration to him is getting too much, I look away, but I can’t help it. Even other women in my age are smiling and eyeing him.

“Who are you?” I questioned him in the middle of our dance. 

The musicians and singer surely take their time, my dance with him lasts more than five minutes. 

I noticed him staring at me. I look at him his hazel brown eyes. He smirked and pulled me closer to him, “Why, are you interested?” he whispered, and he left me dumbfounded.

He let go of my waist and hand, then he bowed to me cueing that the dance is over. I almost forgot that we are still in the middle of the crowd, I raised a bit the hem of my gown with my thumb and pointy finger I bowed to him. 

The Eighteen roses dance is over, the guests returned to their assigned seats. “Now that we are done with the  eighteen roses, we will now serve the food, please wait to your assigned seats as the waiters and waitresses will serve your food,” the host announces enthusiastically. 

Iginiya ako ni Daddy papunta sa aming lamesa kung saan tanging mga kakilala lamang namin ang naka upo. Pahaba ang lamesa at mahigit labing dalawang tao ang kasya. Dad introduced me to his business partners, I smiled sweetly to them and offered my hand for a handshake.

Nang makaupo ako, napansin ko ang pamilyar na mukha. Lumingon ako sa aking kaliwa at nagtagpo ang aming mga mata. Ang lalake na huli ko na naka sayaw kanina ay nakaupo sa lamesa namin. 

I didn't break the eye contact, but the more I look into his eyes, I feel like I am being hypnotised. It‘s making me dizzy. Bumalik ako sa katinuan nang tinawag ako ni Mommy. Napagitnaan ako nina Mommy at Daddy, habang siya ay nasa harapan ni Dad nakaupo.

“So Wilson, should we announce it?” he said, sabay lingon sa lalakeng tinawag niyang Wilson. Halata sa ngiti at kilos ni Dad na kinakabahan siya.

“Dad, what announcement are you saying?” I asked and look at him confused. 

My Dad‘s friend smiled and formally introduced himself again. 

“I am Seven Wilson, you can call me Mr. Wilson hija, and this is my wife, Rayne and my son, Shuhn.” he said calmly, and pointed his hand to the boy that he called son.

My mouth formed into an o at the same time my eyes widened, my last dance is his son! 

The man named Shuhn stand up and fixed his tuxedo‘s button smoothly, “ Shuhn Raj Wilson milady,” he said with a playful tone. He grab my hand and kissed it while looking at me.

“U-uh Rhiedly, Rhiedly Lurein Fuentes,” I stuttered. I reminded myself that I need to calm down, I am losing my poise in here.

“Rhiedly, you are eighteen now. The time has come for you to know. You and Shuhn are engaged. We set you three dates for you guys to get to know each other and we hope that both of you will develop feelings eventually," Mom added with her monotone voice.