Chapter 5

"This is so unfair, Dad! You allow Cecile to have a boyfriend while you let me get involved with an addict!" Caroline shouted. She closed her eyes and let the tears flow from her eyes. "You're so unfair! You're taking away my right to do things that make me happy! I've been a good daughter, Dad. I followed everything you said. But it's completely wrong to involve me with that person!"

"Sir, the person you've been waiting for is here," their maid Marikit announced.

Samson sighed. "Let him in."

Caroline wiped her face with her hands. Glenda sat down on the couch with a huff before sipping her tea. She glared at her daughter.

Samson greeted Caroline's newly hired personal bodyguard. Glenda smiled and followed her husband.

"I'm glad you made it. It's perfect timing as our rebellious daughter just got home," Glenda said, glancing at Caroline, facing away as she wiped her face.

Caroline clasped her hands. She had never been a rebellious child. She didn't understand why her parents saw her that way.

"Come here, Miguel," Samson said with a smile as he guided the young man towards the couch. "I want you to meet our daughter." Caroline slowly turned and looked up. "This is Caroline, our second daughter. You will be watching over her."

Caroline furrowed her brow when she saw Miguel, her one-night stand, again. He was now dressed in a black suit. She couldn't move from where she stood. The man smiled at her before approaching to introduce himself.

"I'm Miguel De Castro. Your bodyguard, Ma'am."

"You won't leave the house without him—"

"No!" Caroline cut off her father. "I don't need someone to watch over me, Dad. I'm not a child anymore!"

"Caroline!" scolded her mother.

She glanced at Miguel. He stood there, still and head bowed. She sighed as thoughts of their one-night stand flooded back into her mind. She couldn't forget the man she had been intimate with because she would constantly see him around. She had no idea that he worked for her parents.

Caroline clenched her hands. She needed to find a way to get Miguel out of the job.

"Miguel, you will be responsible for our daughter while we are on a business trip. Report everything she does and everywhere she goes to us," Samson said.

Miguel simply nodded and glanced at Caroline, who looked at him with disdain.

"Damn it!" Caroline shouted before walking out.

After Caroline's parents spoke with Miguel, he headed straight to his room. He packed his things and lay down on his bed. He had no idea that the woman he had been with the night before was the daughter of his new boss.

Miguel sighed as he calculated the amount of money he would need for his sister Michelle's operation. The savings he had for her treatment were not enough. He had already sold the house and land he owned, but it still wasn't sufficient.

He would work for Caroline's family as her bodyguard for five months. If he performed well, there was a possibility he could stay in his job.

The tasks were not new to him since it was similar to his previous job. He had stopped working as a bodyguard for his former boss because the pay was better with Caroline's family.

Miguel got up from his lying position to call his mother and talk to his sister. It had been a while since he visited his family as he had been busy looking for a high-paying job.

"Hello, Miggy. Did you call for a reason?" his mother, Mary, asked.

"How are you? How is Michelle doing?"

Marry hesitated to answer immediately. She was afraid to tell Miguel that Michelle's condition was worsening.

"How are you? How is Michelle?" Marry did not immediately respond to her son's question. She was scared to tell Miguel that Michelle's condition was deteriorating.

"Your sibling is sleeping." Marry let out a deep sigh before continuing to speak. "Miguel, the doctor told me yesterday that Michelle's condition is worsening. I don't know what to do. I can't reach your father either. You know he has a new family now."

Miguel took a deep breath before speaking. The money he had saved for his sister's operation was still not enough.

"I'll find a way. I'll talk to my boss if I can request a cash advance."

"Thank you so much, Miggy."

"Please tell Michelle that I'm sending my regards. Tell her to keep fighting her illness. She'll undergo surgery soon with a little more patience."

After speaking with his mother, Miguel sent her money that could be used at the hospital. He closed his eyes, feeling a headache coming on. He didn't know where to get more money. They needed to complete the amount required for the operation as soon as possible because his sister's life was at risk.

***

Caroline spent the whole day locked in her room. She rejected the food brought by the maids. She just wanted to rest as her head and a private part of her body ached. She didn't realize she had given herself to her bodyguard.

She grunted as she remembered how mischievous Miguel was earlier in the morning, and now he was acting formally in front of her parents. She felt deceived by Miguel, thinking he was a model or a famous person.

She turned towards the door when she heard a knock. Quickly, she hid under the blanket and pretended to be asleep. She heard the door open.

"Caroline..." Alexander called out to her. She cursed in her mind. "I brought you some food. Tita said you haven't eaten yet."

Alexander carefully placed his food on the table. Caroline didn't listen. She had no intention of talking to the young man. She was exhausted from constantly turning down Alexander's advances. She didn't know what she should do to make him stop courting her.

"Eat up. Would you like me to feed you?" Alexander smiled and sat on Caroline's bed.

Caroline became even more annoyed with Alexander. She felt like everyone still saw her as a child. She was 22 years old, yet her parents still strictly forbade her from having a boyfriend.

"Is Caroline still asleep, son?" Glenda asked as she entered the room. She approached Caroline and woke her up.

"It's okay, Tita. I'll just wait for her to wake up." Alexander stood up and stood beside Glenda.

"You can just go home tomorrow. Stay here for the night."

Alexander scratched his head before speaking. "I feel embarrassed. I'll just go home later."

"Don't be embarrassed, son. After all, you'll be my daughter's boyfriend and eventually her husband when you get married. Just be patient with my daughter. Caroline will eventually warm up to you," Glenda said, patting Alexander's shoulder.

Caroline felt even more anger towards her mother. She hadn't even had a boyfriend yet, and she was already being forced to marry someone she despised. Meanwhile, her sister Cecile was free to do as she pleased and get everything she wanted in life.