Chapter 3

Flashback

"How will you fix the mess you made, Steven?!" My Mom's voice was filled with desperation and hatred.

"How about you stop talking?" Dad slammed the spoon and fork he was holding on the table. "You're no help!"

"If only you were not easy to fool, this wouldn't happened!" Mom grabbed the wine glass and threw it into the ground, making a loud noise as it shattered.

"Stop!" I couldn't bear hearing the words they threw at each other. "You can argue and fight all you want, but not in front of food. You two are being disrespectful." I was looking down; I couldn't bring myself to stare into their faces because I knew all I would see from them was how miserable and upset they were.

Silent filled the room. No one from them wants to talk, neither do I. But the quietness is too loud. I have to break it, "I lost my appetite. I'm going to sleep now." I didn't bother waiting for their answers; instead, I hurriedly walked upstairs straight into my room.

I Locked the door and sat on the floor, leaning on the side of my bed while hugging my knees. It's been like this for a week now. Our life, which was once perfect and peaceful, no longer exists. I felt like I was in hell. All the loud noises and shouting inside the house torment me.

"Look what you've done!" Even if I was already in my room, I could still hear my parents fighting downstairs. "How will we live now? Huh?!"

All of this is happening because of my foolish Dad. Our business is dying. Soon enough, we will live with nothing but ourselves in the cold streets. Only if Dad were careful making friends, this wouldn't happened.

Fernando Weiss, who befriended and gained Dad's trust, revealed everything about Dad's wrongdoings and secrets to the public. I was shocked, too, to know how terrible my Dad is. I couldn't believe it, but they were right. Everyone has a dark side.. even me; I have that.

Dad has been killing and experimenting with innocent animals for the company's quality clothes. He beats his employees too, he has a drug history, and lastly.. what shocked me the most was that he has a connection with the Mafias. I know that the officials will come and get Dad sooner or later. We will lose our house, we will lose every car we own, we will lose the company and the business. We will drown in the ocean of debts.

At this point in my life, I just want to end myself. I wouldn't be able to pursue psychology, my second profession, because we would lose everything now, including money. I didn't like managing a business. I was forced to take that because of my parents. They want me to inherit the business but now it's gone. It's useless.

"Damn," I whispered. Tears slowly start to build in the corner of my eyes. I could feel the heavy weight on my chest.

What will happen to me now? What will be my future?

Will we be able to recover from this?

~ ~ ~

"Stop!" My mom tried to stop the men from taking our furniture including her favourite vase she bought from France.

"Miss Collin, we have permission to do this," the man wearing a black jumpsuit with a black cap replied and returned to take things from our living room.

I couldn't do anything but watch those men taking our furniture and my mother, who wouldn't stop begging them while crying. When one of the men took the elephant glass from our coffee table, a memory from my past came back to me. That elephant glass used to be my favourite toy when I was a child. Mom would get angry at me because that was meant for decoration and cost a thousand dollars, while my Dad always defended me.

"Please! Stop doing this to us!"

I could not bear witnessing how miserable and desperate my mom was. My Dad needs to do something. This is his responsibility, and yet, he's running away. I need to talk to him.

I went upstairs into my parent's room. "Dad?" I called him and waited for his answer but minutes had passed and still no answer. I grabbed the doorknob, attempting to open the door but it wasn't locked, so I entered inside.

It was quiet inside, though the place was a mess. It was like a tornado had just landed here and messed everything up. My gaze went into the bathroom where the door was slightly opened but It wasn't enough to see inside.

"Dad? Are you.. there?" I started to walk towards the bathroom. I don't know why but my heart kept on beating so fast that I could not breathe properly anymore. With every step I took, I felt like my foot was getting heavier and heavier.

Once I reached the door, I stood in front of it. My hands are shaking as I slowly push the door. It was dark. Completely dark. I couldn't see anything. I tried to find the light switch and turned it on.

The sudden brightness of the light made me close my eyes. Slowly, I opened them and saw my Dad. I froze. My eyes widened and my knees weakened, making me instantly drop on the floor.

"Dad.." I call his name while staring at his body, hanging and lifeless. "No.. this can't be happening.." I shook my head, refusing to believe what I saw in front of me.

I tried to pinch myself to wake up from this endless nightmare but no matter how many times and hard I pinch myself, I'm not waking up from this horrible dream. I'm still here. Sitting on the floor, with no one but my thoughts alone, scared and confused.

-

Half a year passed.

I was in a fast food restaurant where I am currently working, washing plates when I heard Shannon calling me from outside the kitchen.

"Nieva!"

I turned my head on her; she was already at the door, and her hands were resting on her knees while she was catching her breath. I frowned, what's happening? Why the rush?

"Shannon?" I call her as I am wiping my hand using my apron.

She walked towards me and I didn't like the look on her face. Her eyes are cloudy and there is a hint of bad news.

"Nieva.. your..." she bit her lower lip. She's having second thoughts telling me.

"What is it Shannon?" I could feel my heart beating so fast.

"Your mother.. she got hit by a car."

The moment I heard what happened, I quickly went to the nearby hospital where they rushed my mother. She was in the Emergency Room. She's undergoing a surgery.

I was walking in a circle like a zombie outside the ER while crying and thinking about my mother. There is a witness and he told me that my mother intentionally threw herself in front of the car but of course, I don't believe him. My mother will not do that. She promised she would stay. She will not leave me just like how Father left us.

"Ms. Hillstone?" A doctor from the surgery room came out.

"Yes, yes, it's me." I walked in front of him.

"I have a good news and a bad news." I could tell he was trying to make me feel calm. "Which one do you want to hear first?"

"The good news."

"Your mother is alive."

"And the bad news?" I slowly asked, not breaking eye contact with him.

"She's in a comatose state."

After hearing the bad news, I felt like the world had stopped moving, time had stopped counting, and thousands of rocks were thrown at me.

"You can visit your mother now, and let us discuss the bill later."

The doctor kept talking, but it felt like I was too far away. I couldn't hear him clearly and loud. I couldn't understand him. I couldn't understand why this was happening to me. I thought it was all over. I thought I was slowly recovering from everything that had happened to my family, but I guess I was wrong. Hell is just about to start.

-

"I'm unsure whether you'll survive that job, Neiva."

"Shannon, please? I need an extra job. How am I going to pay all the hospital bills? I can't afford them. I can't ask our boss for advance either. She's had enough with me." I hold her hand while trying to stop my tears from falling. "No company wants to accept me because of my family name. You know this, right? So please Shannon, whether that job is illegal or not, I need that."

I ended up working in a fast-food restaurant because no company wanted to get involved with me. At first, I didn't want to work here. I hate physical labour, but I have no choice. If I don't work, my mother and I will starve to death and we will continue sleeping on the streets. Shannon is the one who helped me get this job; she saw me struggling on the street with my mother. She asked me if I wanted to work with her in her auntie's fast food restaurant.

"That job will be hell for you." Concerns are showing all over her face.

"I am already in Hell, Shannon," I answered quietly. "The moment my family fell, my life has been hell."

She took a deep breath and then held my hand, "this job.. is all about sleeping with men. You sleep with them and they give you money."

Shannon guided me and gave me all the information I needed. Her Auntie is the one who gathers fine customers and we will be splitting the money. She led me to a big apartment and now I am in front of my first customer's door. I pushed the doorbell a few seconds ago and just kept staring at the door, waiting for it to open.

I heard the door knob move and saw the man whom I'll sleep with tonight. He is tall, with tanned skin, brown eyes, and an average body build. The moment his eyes laid on to mine, his lips curved.

"She's not lying. You truly are beautiful." He smirked while checking me out.

I started to feel uncomfortable. My throat felt so dry I couldn't speak. I wanted to run away but my feet were not moving. It felt like they were glued to the floor.

"What are we waiting for?" He asked, then grabbed me and pulled me inside his room.

After closing and locking his door, he pinned me on it. His grip on my wrist was too firm and the light was dim. I couldn't see clearly.

"I am your first customer, right?" He whispered as his hands started to explore my body.

I nodded. Words are not coming from my mouth. I am too scared to speak.

"Does that mean you're a virgin?" I gasped when I felt his hand cupped my vagina. "Oh, you don't have to answer. We will find out later." He started to kiss me and massage my body.

I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream and I wanted to push him hard but I couldn't. All I could do was stand and watch him do things to my body. I needed the money, so I needed to endure this.

"I'm not a virgin.." I said quietly between our kisses.

"Oh?" He stopped kissing me. "Then I won't be gentle." He suddenly lifted my legs and I felt his erection pushing against me.

I had a boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend. I thought he loved me but I was wrong. He loved my family name and the money.