Chapter 2

In the early hours of dawn, Dante was wide awake, preparing to leave his apartment.

He couldn’t shake the feeling of unease as he thought about why Emilia had called him to pick her up from a hotel at this time of the day that had just begun.

There wasn’t anything inherently wrong with that, but the time of day, combined with the urgency in her voice as she insisted he hurry up, had him wondering what might have gone wrong.

He stepped out of his apartment, which was one of a hundred rooms in the tall building, and made his way to his 2010 Honda Civic.

He climbed into the driver’s seat, turned the key in the ignition, and listened to the familiar sound of the engine roaring to life. With a deep breath, he pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road.

After about twenty minutes of driving, he arrived at the grand hotel where Emilia was waiting. He parked the car and sat there for a moment, glancing around as he reached for his phone.

He dialed Emilia's number, and just as the phone began to ring, the passenger door swung open. Emilia entered the car, looking worse for wear, and quickly jabbed the door shut behind her.

“The hell, you look like you just came off a 24-hour shift,” he remarked, staring at her in disbelief.

Emilia took a deep breath, visibly relaxing into the seat. “Please just drop me off at my house first. I’ll explain everything to you once I’ve had a chance to sort through it all myself.”

“Wow,” he replied as he started the engine, concern etched on his face. “I really hope you’re okay, though.”

As he reached over to fasten her seatbelt, a strange cologne suddenly filled his nostrils, making him pause.

He leaned back in his seat and shot her one last glance, trying to confirm his suspicions based on her appearance. But he looked away before she’d notice his gaze on her.

That unmistakable scent, he could recognize it anywhere, at any time, no matter the situation. It was the cologne of his boss from Blackwood Pharmaceuticals where he worked. Damon Blackwood.

—----------

THREE WEEKS LATER

“Make a wish and blow out the candles!” Dante said to Emilia, a big smile lighting up his face. They were sitting across from each other at a table, a small cake placed right in the center between them.

The cake was decorated with two glowing candles shaped like the number ‘twenty-five’.

Emilia let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “Oh my God, Dan, this is so childish! I can’t believe it!” She continued to giggle, clearly amused.

“Who cares if it’s childish?” Dante replied with enthusiasm. “It’s your birthday! Today is all about you, Emy, so let’s just enjoy it without worrying about anyone else.”

Emilia beamed at him, her smile bright and genuine. She took a moment to close her eyes, making a wish before she opened them again and blew out the candles with a puff.

“Now for the grand performance, get ready, Emy!” Dante exclaimed, clearly excited.

Emilia gasped in playful horror. “No, no, no, Dan! Please don’t sing the birthday song!”

But her protests fell on deaf ears, as Dante had already launched into the song. “Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you…” His voice rang out, filling the air as Emilia tried to stop him, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment while curious glances from nearby tables fell on them.

“I have a special gift for you,” Dante said as they enjoyed their slices of cake from their plates.

“Don’t you always do? I can’t wait to see what this year’s gift is,” Emilia replied, a playful grin spreading across her face.

Dante reached into his small briefcase and pulled out an envelope, handing it over to her.

“Hmm, is it a letter this time?” Emilia wondered aloud as she carefully opened the envelope, revealing an invitation card inside.

Suddenly, her eyes widened in shock, and she jumped up to wrap her arms around Dante in excitement.

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! How did you manage to get this, Dan? It’s an invitation to Cleopatra’s Art Workshop! I can’t believe it!”

“I had to shell out quite a bit of money and, well, I pulled some strings to make it happen,” he explained, a proud smile on his face. “But honestly, it was worth every penny because I know how much this means to you.”

“You’re the best childhood friend anyone could ask for! Thank you so much, Dan! Thank you!” she exclaimed, her heart swelling with gratitude.

As a painter who had been struggling to gain recognition, this opportunity felt like a stepping stone for Emilia. She couldn't wait to attend!

“It’s your 25th birthday, Emy. I wanted to do something just as amazing as what you did for me on my 28th birthday,” Dante said, looking pleased. “And right now, I’m really happy that I could make this happen for you.”

After the small celebration wrapped up, Dante drove Emilia to her family home, where she still lived. As they approached, they noticed something unusual parked outside—the unmistakable presence of a luxurious car.

“Looks like your stepdad has some guests over,” Dante suggested, glancing at the fancy vehicle.

“Yeah, well, is there ever a day when he doesn’t? Marcule is such a shameless jerk. He always brings people over just to beg for money,” Emilia replied, irritation clear in her voice.

“Maybe you could spend the night somewhere else if you’re not comfortable with this…” Dante offered, trying to be supportive.

“No, Dan, I can’t do that. If I leave, Mum will be alone in there. I need to be around in case something goes wrong,” Emilia insisted.

Dante sighed, understanding her point, and nodded in agreement. They exchanged their goodbyes, and he drove away, leaving Emilia to face the old mansion that loomed in front of her. An eerie feeling settled over her as the evening shadows grew longer.

This mansion had once been a dream for her father, who had built it with the hope of living there happily with Emilia and her mother, Sarah.

But tragically, death had taken him away far too soon. Afterward, Sarah fell into a deep, trance-like state of prolonged dissociation. Emilia was still very young at the time and couldn’t take care of her mother, so Sarah’s siblings had stepped in to help.

They ultimately arranged a remarriage for Sarah, leading to Emilia’s current life with the most despicable man she had ever known—Marcule Hales, her stepfather.

Emilia shook off the unsettling feeling that had settled over her and stepped into the house. She made her way up the stairs, intending to retreat to her room, but as she walked past the dining room, she was caught off guard by the sounds of laughter and chatter coming from within.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to change her course, quietly entering the large dining room, hoping to go unnoticed as she often did. However, it turned out that she was the very reason the strange guests had gathered.

“Well, well, well, look who’s here—the star of the day!” Marcule exclaimed with a booming laugh as he rose from his seat and gestured for Emilia to come closer.

Not wanting to appear rude in front of the unfamiliar guests, she reluctantly stepped forward to join Marcule at the table. “What the hell is going on?” she whispered, her voice barely audible as she stood beside him.

“You, my dear, are about to save your family from the brink of poverty. Today, you’re I and your mother's ticket to billions, Emilia! Billions!” Marcule declared, his excitement palpable and leaving Emilia feeling utterly bewildered and hatred for the raggedy looking man.

The only good thing about Marcule was that he truly loved her mother. Even though Sarah seemed like a live corpse, doing nothing but breath and stare all day, Marcule loved her dearly. He may treat Emilia badly but he was a whole different person when in Sarah's presence.

One of the men stood up and approached Emilia, extending a document toward her. “This is the seal for the marriage. You’ll need to sign it yourself, Miss Voss,” he said, his tone serious.

Marriage? What the hell? Emilia blinked in utter confusion as she took the document from the man, her hands trembling slightly as she opened it and began to read through the contents. As she absorbed the information, her eyes widened in shock, disbelief washing over her.

Without wasting a moment, she turned to Marcule, her voice urgent and demanding. “We need to talk privately, Now!”

Marcule's expression, which had been filled with excitement just moments before, quickly shifted to one of infuriation. “You. Will. Marry. Into. The. Blackwoods!” he declared, each word dripping with finality.

Emilia felt her face go pale, her blood draining as she stared at Marcule in disbelief. “You’re actually selling me off to the Blackwoods? How dare you even think of doing this?” she exclaimed, her voice rising in protest.

“The money is for Sarah’s treatment!” Marcule shot back, which made Emilia quiet down.

“Don’t even think about making a scene,” he warned, his tone cold and unyielding. “Even if you refuse to sign the seal right now, they’ll take you by force, and you’ll end up signing it later anyway. This is not something you can escape, Emilia.” He then turned to the other men in the room, his voice commanding. “I believe we’re done here, gentlemen. You can take her away now.”

Before Emilia could voice any further protests, two of the five men swiftly lifted her off the ground, carrying her away with ease.

Emilia screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice filled with desperation as she threatened and cursed at Marcule. Her cries echoed down the corridors, but it felt like no one was listening.

Tears began to stream down her face as she called out for her mother over and over again, hoping against hope that her cries would reach her.

But deep down, Emilia knew the truth. Her mother, who was likely sitting in a wheelchair in her room, staring into space as usual, was as good as gone and wouldn’t be able to save her now. No one could come to her rescue.

In that moment, it hit her hard—there was nothing she could do to change her fate.