One

CHAPTER 1

New York.

The soft smell of roses and lavender broke through Cassandra's sense of smell as her mother, Annalise, tightened their embrace that night. The rain outside didn't stop Annalise and Marvin - her husband of ten years - from taking a business trip to Paris.

“Alright, it's time to go, Cass,” Annalise whispered, she released the hug slowly, afraid that it would make her daughter feel sad.

Annalise's blue eyes looked at Cassandra, her daughter was only ten years old when Annalise made the biggest decision of her life; going back to work with her husband. It was a difficult choice, but Annalise had wanted this for a long time. She wanted her career, to shine after a ten-year vacuum from the clothing industry that made them all billionaires.

Cassandra looked up, she wiped both eyes roughly. "I don't want Mom and Dad to leave tonight. Can you guys stay here?"

But the question was taken over by Marvin, he already looked ready to go on a business trip. The shiny black suit and white shirt from his own company, Alpha's Fashion, made Marvin look formal and elegant at the same time. "We'll only be gone for a few days, Cass. Uncle Lionel will help you. You don't have to worry, OK?"

Marvin gently stroked his daughter's hair. The smile on Marvin's lips seemed like a formality to calm Cassandra's anxious heart.

“But I want you to stay, please?”

Uncle Lionel, Marvin's assistant who had worked in his luxurious mansion for over twenty years, moved forward. He was just standing at first, but after Marvin used eye movements to give a code, Uncle Lionel could immediately guess what the boss and his wife wanted.

"Miss Baker, how about we watch a movie and cook your favorite caramel popcorn? It's a nice weekend."

Cassandra pursed her lips as Uncle Lionel's hands touched her shoulders, trying to restrain the girl from continuing to whine to Marvin and Annalise. The car brought by their personal driver, Paul, finally arrived. A gleaming black limousine stopped right in front of the mansion, welcoming the two passengers who were getting ready with two large suitcases in their hands. Paul did his job well, loading the suitcases and opening the door. While Annalise and Marvin rolled down the car window to see their daughter who could only stand and stare at them unwillingly.

"We'll be back soon. Take care, Cass!” ‘Bye, sweetheart!’

Annalise's waving hand only made Cassandra even sadder. She bowed her head as the car began to leave the spacious, flower-filled grounds of their mansion.

Uncle Lionel took over, he patted Cassandra's shoulder gently. “We'd better go inside and-” “TWOARRRRRR!”

An explosion had just occurred. Cassandra and Uncle Lionel ran towards the source of the sound, it was right in front of the mansion. Cassandra's heart was racing as she got closer. The flames that burned the limousine in the distance, made Cassandra's feelings even more chaotic.

"Mom! Dad!"

But Uncle Lionel stopped Cassandra in her tracks. He hugged Cassandra from behind, restraining her who was now struggling to reach her parents who were already burning inside the car.

"Mooooooom! Daaaaaad!"

“Cass,” Uncle Lionel whispered, he held his tears there.

****

Fifteen years have passed and Cassandra Baker's life of luxury has turned into a different story.

Marvin and Annalise's deaths still leave an unsolved mystery, as the police suddenly close the case halfway through. There was only one name that Cassandra kept in mind, and she was sure... that man must be the one who was responsible for her parent's death.

“Cass, can you help me clean up the dishes in the kitchen?”

Aunt Marrie packed all the things into a suitcase, she looked rushed and bothered, but Cassandra just walked over to her casually. Cassandra's blue eyes scanned, before she finally began to speak, “Are you going to run away from this house, Aunt Marrie?”

Aunt Marrie laughed, then picked up her suitcase that had just finished locking. "If that's what you want, then I can't grant it. Oh, one more thing, can you feed the pigs in the barn? I have to leave now."

"Really, Auntie? I have to go to work you know."

“Don't you want to return the favor to my husband who was so important in your life, little girl?”

There's that sarcasm again. Cassandra rolled her eyes lazily, then said, “Alright, alright. You always know how to end an argument."

But Aunt Marrie just smiled there, she put her suitcases into the blue pick-up truck and sat beside Uncle Lionel. She looked different from fifteen years ago. Her skin was getting wrinkled, while the hair on top of her head was white and starting to fall out.

“Don't be too harsh on her, Marrie.”

Marrie chuckled, she fastened her seatbelt and waved to Cassandra who was standing outside the car. "She knows that's how I love her. Bye Cass, take good care of my pig. OK?"

Cassandra waved and smiling, she let the car go through the big black gate in front of her house. And the smile on her lips faded. "Damn pigs. I have to go now."

“Don't you want to return the favor to my husband who was so important in your life, little girl?”

Pulling her gray backpack from the sofa, Cassandra walked to her car. She forgot about Aunt Marrie's request to clean the dishes and feed the pigs. Come on, there was a case that Cassandra had to handle right now. And this case was much more important.

But just before the car left the house, Cassandra received a call from someone familiar. Jessica Wallan. “Hello, Jessica?”

[You sound busy anyway.]

“I'm always busy,” Cassandra said, backing up the car. “If you're calling just to let me know that the guests at the club are getting annoying, then I'm going to turn the phone off.”

[Nope! You'll be happy with this news!]

One of Cassandra's eyebrows rose even though Jessica couldn't see it. “I hear you now.”

[The man you're looking for is here.]

“What man?”

[The man who killed your parents. Antonio Franches.]

CKIIIIITTT! And just like that, Cassandra hit the brakes under her feet abruptly.

“What did you say?”

[Antonio Franches was at my club. Haven't you wanted to meet this handsome killer for a long time, Baker?]