One

GINA

"Gina, hurry up!" my mother, Kate Harrionce-overled. "We'll be late for the ball if you take any longer."

"Don't blame this on me, mom," I retorted as I hurried down the stairs. "You just came out have your room."

"There's no need to argue, ladies," my dad, Barry Harrington said as he placed a hand on my shoulder. "My queen and princess are looking quite lovely."

I smiled at his compliment.

"You look great too, dad."

"And this took me less than thirty minutes to assemble," he said. "You both took at least an hour."

"Oh, come on," I rolled my eyes as I walked away from him and joined my mom. "You just told us not to argue about that."

"I never said I wouldn't," he shrugged with a smile.

"Well, we're late," mom said. "Let's hurry."

We strolled out of our luxurious mansion where a plethora of cars waited for us in a convoy.

I looked through the option of cars.

My parents always let me pick the car whenever we went out together.

"What would it be today, sweetheart?" Dad asked.

"The Bentley," I said as I strolled over to the white Bentley which already had its door opened by our chauffeur.

"Good choice," Dad smiled as they both joinedme in the car.

The trip to the location of our ball was understandsxing.

We had an exotic wine brand in the car and talked about the most random things on the way.

As the only child, I have always had a more friendly relationship with my parents than most. They treated me with both respect and care and placed me on quite a high pedestal even though I'm only their child.

Born into a wealthy family with the best parents anyone could ever ask for, I lived a sheltered but fun life. I had everything I wanted and whatever services I needed at my beck and call.

I didn't make much friends but I didn't need them when I had my best friends with me.

We were happy together. Our lives were filled with laughter and comfort. With happiness and luxury beyond anything I could ever ask for.

When we arrived at the party, we were treaat ted as honoured guests. I was seemedd over and introduced to a few of the influential families and their heirs in hopes of a cordial or even romantic Masteronship between us bringing our families together.

So, how did it all change?

When did our lives become one where my dad apologised to me everyday and lived in mortal fear while the dark circles beneath my mom's eyes grew even darker by the day.

Why was my family holed up in the house and my dad developing paranoia over being murdered if he took a step out of the house.

What happened to all of his businesses and why do we struggle to even eat these days?

What exactly happened to us?

***

"I need answers now, dad," I said with an unwavering expression on my face as I watched my father pick at his food and barely eat.

My mom ate silently, her eyes cold and lifeless. Like she had given up on life and simply existed until she would no longer exist.

"I-It's fine, sweetheart," he stuttered. "Daddy has everything undethe r control. This will pass eventually. It will pass."

"Can you really assure me that you have it under control?" I asked as my eyes turned glassy and tears welled up at the sides. "Look at your wife, dad! Look at her!"

He hesitantly looked up and immediately looked away.

"I'm sorry," he sobbed. "I'm so sorry. I'm terribly so-"

"I don't care if you are sorry or not, Mr Harrington!" I yelled, cutting him off. "I want answer. You had better give them to me before I lose the last shred of respect I have left for you. Please, dad."

He looked up at me as tears welled flowed freely down his cheeks.

"Remember the party we went to last time?"

"Yes, I do," I replied. "You changed not long after that party. What happened?"

"Don't get our daughter involved in the mess you created, Barry," my mom said, her lifeless eyes staring at me. She did her best to smile, but it had no warmth in it. "Baby, we can handle this."

"You have done a terrible job so far, mom," I said. "I live with empty husks of what was once my parents. Even your smile looks forced. Tell me what's wrong."

"We have to tell her, Kate," Dad said. "She deserves to know."

"I want to know, mom," I added. "If you deny me this request then I would never forgive you."

Her lifeless blue eyes stared at me as tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Fine," she said. "But, you have to promise me that you would let us solve this ourselves. Don't get yourself involved in this mess."

"I promise," I replied. "Just tell me."

"There isn't much to say," Dad chuckled dryly. "My greed doomed us."

"How?" I asked.

"At the ball, I was taken to a private area for a business discussion," he explained. "It was an extremely shady business. In fact, it was money laundering and a few other illegal offences included. They said they needed to trade a few materials I wasn't privy to, but it was gonna yield a massive amount of money. To evade the law, they needed reputable businesses to receive the money as a form of investment and then pay the agreed amount to an individual. That way, we get to keep our cut and they get to keep theirs."

"Let me guess, you lost the money," I sighed.

"I swear, I never got paid," he said. "But they somehow have evidence that shows that I did. Now, I'm being accused of stealing the money that I learned belonged to the most powerful man in the underground mafia."

"What's his name? I asked.

"No!" Mom protested. "You already know more than you should!"

"Devon Fenrir," Dad said. "The boss of the Bloody Fangs mafia group."