CHAPTER 01

CASSANDRA

"Cassandra, what did I tell you? Clean my room." Christina, my older sister, screamed. I still have class in an hour, but Christina wants me to leave when I clean her room. I want to complain, but no one will listen to me. It's better to do it, or I'll be sporting bruises later. I don't have a voice in this house. The only thing I need to do is to obey every command my family asks me.

I went to Christina's room while she was in the bathroom and cleaned it. I wouldn't say I like it when she is present while I clean her room because she sometimes hits me if she's not satisfied with how I clean her room.

After cleaning her room for thirty minutes, I hurried to my room in the servants' quarter and ready myself for school. My family gave me a room to stay in the servants' quarter. I'm not allowed to stay with them because they saw me as their servant and nothing else. I have already accepted this. I'm only thankful that at least they gave me a roof over my head and let me go to school, but I need to work for my expenses.

They paid me monthly, and I used my salary for tuition, but it wasn't enough, and Mama Amara helped me. She doesn't have a family, and we treated each other as mother and daughter. She's the only person who cares for me and Jaxon. He is my boyfriend. He is good to me and treated me well. He's a good boyfriend too. Even though he's from a wealthy family, he doesn't look down on me. He is the other person who gave me the strength to go on living and reach my dream so that I could leave my heartless family and have a better life that Jaxon can be proud of.

I smiled at the thought of Jaxon. He is always caring and gentle when we are together. He even bought me a necklace, and I always wore it to show him I appreciated his gift.

I dress up for school in a hurry. I only have thirty minutes left before my class starts and I need to take a bus for twenty minutes to school.

"Ma, I'm leaving. I will wash the clothes later after my class.

"Don't worry about it. I'll do it later after I finish my work. Hurry, you're going to be late."

"Okay, Bye, Ma, see you later."

"Bye, Dear. Take care."

"I will." I replied as I ran out of the mansion."Good morning, Uncle Allan. See you later."

"Good morning, Miss Cassy. Take care." I waved at him as I ran to the bus stop. I'm thankful I didn't wait long before the bus arrived. I hopped on the bus and texted Jaxon.

"Babe, good morning. I'm on my way. " I smiled and kept my phone in my pocket.

"When the bus reached my stop, I smiled when I saw Jaxon waiting.

"Good morning, Babe." He greeted me, embraced me, and pecked my lips. You only have five minutes before your class. Let's hurry. " He smiled and held my hand, and we jogged to the school with a smile plastered on my lips.

I'm relieved my professor hasn't arrived yet when we reach my classroom. "Please see me later at lunch. "

"Okay. " I smiled when he kissed my forehead before he left. I stepped inside my classroom and saw Diane, My brother's girlfriend, smirking at me. I ignored her and settled on my seat. Our professor came, and our lesson started.

I met Jaxon at the cafeteria during lunch. He was already at our table with our food. I smiled, occupied the seat beside him, and kissed his cheek. He smiled, but I could see worry in his eyes, and he looked nervous.

"What's wrong, Babe? " He smiles, looking behind me. I turned around and saw Kris, my brother, his girlfriend Diane, Jake, Marco, Lisa, and Rose. They are all my brother's friends. They used to be Jaxon friends but stayed away from him when we started dating. One of the reasons why I love him so much is that he chose me over his friend. But why they are here now? "

"Jaxon bro. Hello maid. " Kris greeted us. He never failed to mock me every time he talked to me. I lowered my head and ignored them.

"Jaxon, Babe. " I looked up and saw Rose move beside Jaxon, peck his lips, and grin at me. I moved my eyes to Jaxon, but he avoided my stare.

"Babe, what is this? "

"Babe? "Rose burst into laughter, and the other followed, catching the attention of all the students inside the cafeteria.

"How long did you fool her, babe? Oh, five months. Now you win the bet, and we can be together again. " Rose chuckled.

"Bet? Jaxon, what is she talking about? " My lips quivered, and I tried hard to hold my tears. Kris handed Jaxon a bundle of money, and he took it.

"You win. This is your money. You're a great actor. You fool this maid for more than five months." Kris laughed, and the others followed. The tears that I was holding rolled down my face.

Jaxon only looked at me without uttering a word. "Is it true? It's all about the bet? "

"You think he will replace me with a maid like you? Please take a look at yourself. My grandmother is better looking than you. Stop dreaming that an heir of Garcia's Corporation will fall in love with a maid like you. " Rose chuckled.

"Jaxon says something. If you tell me they were only making up a story, I will believe you. Remember what I told you: I will always believe your word before I listen to others. You can't do this to me, right? You love me. You said it to me." My tears streaming down my face. I know I'm only embarrassing myself more, but I'm holding to a thread that Jaxon didn't fool me. He looked sincere when he told me his feelings. And I love him so much, and I would be devastated if what they said was true.

"It's true." Those two wards were like a knife that Jaxon drove into my heart. "I came for you for a bet. I need money to retrieve my car from the loanshark, or my parents will kick me out of our home. Now I got the money I needed. I don't need to pretend anymore. I feel like throwing up every time I kiss you. I feel disgusted every time you act sweet and kiss me. After this, I will soak my body in the bathtub full of disinfectant." He chuckled.

I picked up the plate of spaghetti and slapped it to his face. The students around gasped in surprise. Rose, who was fast to recover from her shock, tried to slap me, but I caught her hand, pushed her away, and hurriedly left the cafeteria.

I'm stupid. Why didn't it cross my mind that an heir like Jaxon would never fall to a maid like me? Why? Why? I still believe that there's someone out there who would love me unconditionally. How could I think that when my own family didn't love me? Because I'm a stupid, dumb fool."I cried while I was running without direction.

I only stopped when I bumped into someone and fell to the ground. I cried more. "I'm foolish, crying for someone who doesn't deserve my tears.

I dried my tears and stood up, dusting myself. "I'm so sorry. I'm not looking where I was going. " I apologized, bowing to the person in front of me.

"Are you okay? "

"Yes, I'm sorry again. "

"You are crying. Here, take this. " I looked up when I saw a strong hand holding a handkerchief in front of me, and I saw a handsome man in front of me, but he looked scary despite how tender he was talking to me.

"I'm okay, but I can't take it, sir. I'm sorry again. " I bowed again and resumed walking while wiping my tears occasionally.

I looked around when I felt my feet were already hurting because of walking, and I couldn't recognize the place where I was. "Where am I?" I'm not familiar with other areas away from home because I'm only allowed to go to the market, school, and home, and this place is unfamiliar.

I looked around, but I was in an empty street. I feel nervous instantly. I turned around and hurried back to where I came from, hoping I was going to the right place, but I screamed in fright when someone grabbed my hand, and a cloth covered my lips. My heart pounded in fear, and I struggled to free myself, but there was something on the fabric, and it was making me dizzy and weak. And after a few seconds, all my strength left me, and I lost consciousness.