CHAPTER 1

"Dad, you can't do that to my sister!" Kiana shouted at our parents.

I just bowed my head and just listened to them in their decision for my life.

I lived my entire life like this. Controlled and manipulated by my adoptive parents. We're blood related because Mom is my biological father's sister. I was just adopted by them when my parents died due to plane crashed when I was just five years old. And because Kiana was missing that time, they want me to be their own child. To fill the emptiness they're feeling.

They legally adopted me months after my parents burial. It is also because my parents entrusted me to them. I somehow, learned about to love them as my real parents. At the first ten years, they're good at me. They all treated me well. Even sometimes I get scolded, especially when they are hot-headed and beat me, that was fine with me because I knew that was part of disciplining me.

Until they saw their daughter, Kiana, when I was sixteen years old. I was happy for them when they found their missing child. I was grateful because finally, I have a playmate, I have a sister to be with every time.

But then, that's the beginning of my loneliness and emptiness. They became cold to me. They became mistreating me at all times they could possibly have. They became harsh to me to the point I feel humiliated by them every time they turn me down.

But I accepted that because I need them in my life. They are my parents. Even though I don't come from them, I'm still related to Mommy. I know... they still have love for me even after their real child came back to them.

"You should at least ask her permission before you do what you want to do in her life!" Kiana continued, but our parents are hardheaded.

They stayed firm and manipulative.

"What do you want us to do, honey?" Dad's soothing voice filled my ears.

I closed my eyes tightly, waiting for my sister to speak.

"Let her live her life free, Dad. Let her choose a man who will love her—" Dad's heartily laugh interrupt Kiana's words.

"You want me to what?" he asked with so much mockingly.

"Let her choose a man on her own!"

"Kiana," I grabbed her hand that was under the table.

"That's not gonna happen, Kiana. That's the list thing she could do in this family!"

I want to cry. I really want to talk but I can't. I know, Dad. I know that that's the list thing I can do in this family but how could you marry me to a person I do not know? It's just for your own whims. For your own satisfaction.

"And it's convenient for the possible merging of two companies, hija." Mommy interrupted.

"And Hailey is the solution?" Kiana scoffed in disbelief. "You're being so unreasonable, Mom, Dad. How could you trade your own daughter just for your company to bloom?"

Dad's expression darkened as he look at Kiana. I tugged Kiana's hand to stop her from talking.

"Maybe you forgot..." he trailed off, then his gaze darted to me. "She's not your real sister." he's not pointing at me, but his gaze didn't left mine.

"She's still our relatives in blood, Dad, maybe you're forgetting." Kiana was still arguing. Not letting this argument go.

I know why they want to marry me to someone else. Because they don't want Ate Kiana to be separated from them and suffer from whatever they will face when they get married. I know Daddy has a plan. Just looking at the glint of his eyes, I know him too well. I have been with them longer so I know them both. I think maturely even though I was homeschooled until senior high school. Even though Kiana came back, they still didn't let me study in a real school.

Dad sighed heavily. "My decision is already final, Kiana Jane. No one can change my mind, even you, my daughter." he said with finality.

I bit my lower lip and bowed my head a little more for him not to see my vulnerable eyes.

"Dad..." Kiana was about to speak when Daddy got up from the table and left. Mommy followed him shaking her head.

Kiana groaned frustratedly. She even hit the table because of annoyance. I remained bowed and did not speak. A drop of my tear fell on my hand. It was only then that I learned that I was worthless when it came to my parents.

I want their attention. I want their love. I want their care. I want them to look at me with gentleness. Because I didn't feel any of those things my whole existence ever since my biological parents died. Because my adoptive parents gave me a rough childhood.

But for the past years, I've got used to it. I'm almost 26 years old but I'm still under their wings. I'm still kind of a useless daughter. I'm already working but still, they see me as a worthless daughter. I'm not the real heiress, that's why.

"I'm sorry, Hailey." I looked up at my sister, Kiana and smiled bitterly.

"It's okay, Kiana. There is nothing we can do. They will also be followed and not us. So... I'll just accept what will happen to me if... I marry what Daddy says." The bitterness of my system spread throughout my body especially when I saw the sympathy in his eyes. "Please, Ate, don't pity me. I'm fine. I will be fine no matter what. I'm strong, right? Besides... Maybe if I do what Mommy and Daddy want, they'll give me the love I've been wanting for a long time, right? From them."

My tears fell so I wiped them away. But it's like a faucet that flows one after the other. I didn't realize that I was sobbing and Kiana was hugging me while crying.

"Everything will be fine. I just don't know what kind of behavior Daddy is going to marry you. And if he doesn't treat you well, I'll take you from that man. Just tell me and I won't hesitate to take you there, even if Daddy gets mad at me." I nodded at what she said.

Even though I think the opposite. Of course I won't tell. Whatever happens to me when I get married, Ate Kiana is out. I don't want Mommy and Daddy to get angry. She's too precious to me I can't ruin her image to our parents.

Maybe I'll be fine when I get to hear what Daddy and Mommy are saying.

"Ma'am Hailey, Sir Nathaniel asked you to go to his office." My chest immediately pounded heavily as the maid informed me.

I looked at Kiana and saw concern in her eyes. As well as the anger she was trying to hide.

"It's alright, Kiana. I'll be fine, don't worry." I squeezed her hand and smiled at her, assuring her that I will fine.

"Are you sure?" there was even concern in her voice. I smiled to assure her.

"Yes, my dear sister. I'll be fine. I can do it alone. I'll... just talk to Daddy." I stood up and didn't wait for what she had to say.

The maid took me to Daddy's office and she also knocked on the door and opened it. I took a deep breath before entering the office.

"Dad," I called him with a firm voice. I don't want to look vulnerable in front of him. He doesn't want that.

He tought us to be prim and proper. To look intimidating and look powerful. Because I'm carrying his name under my name. I should act like a powerful de Guzman. Like what he tought us.

"I won't waver any more, Hailey." his cold and dark voice gives chill inside me. "Whether you like it or not, you will marry Mr. Villanueva. He's a colleague of mine. An investor too in our company. He's one of the famous and successful bachelors in Asia. He also want to marry someone because of some matters connected to business. And I said he should only marry you. I showed him your pictures and he liked it. That's why he agreed. Tomorrow he agreed to meet you." I was surprised by what he said.

Tomorrow? Immediately? It's like he just told me that I'm getting married.

"Tomorrow?" he raised an eyebrow at me.

"Why? When do you plan to meet your fiancée? Next year?" he said sarcastically. "You must be good and acceptable when you face Mr. Villanueva. You're not going to be dealing with just any other person tomorrow. He's a known businessman, fix yourself."

I nodded and did nothing but to agree to him.

"If you do not agree or if you run away, I will disinherit your sister. I will drive you out of here and I will make sure that you will suffer worse than humiliation and more than you are expecting. Remember that." he threatened.

"I understand, Dad."

I took a deep breath before saying goodbye and leave his office. I went straight to my room and vented my anger there. Angry at everything that is happening in my life right now.

Actually, I can back out if I want to. I can not show up if I want. But in exchange is Kiana's suffering. I don’t want that to happen. I don't want her to suffer because of my negligence. She will suffer from what I do.

So there is nothing I can do but marry whoever Mr. Villanueva is.

I just stared at the ceiling of my room wondering what would happen the next day. How will I approach Mr. Villanueva? In a formal way? Casual? What? I don't know either.

That's why the next day I woke up around noon. The housekeeper said that Mr. Villanueva and I will meet later tonight. Daddy and Mommy are with me so I feel a bit more secure because I have someone with me.

I didn't do anything all day but be preoccupied. Kiana is not here because she is in the company now. I had taken a shower and dressed in a white fitted dress and paired it with white pumps. I just sat on the edge of the bed and was stunned.

I will meet my future husband later. The man I will be with every day now. The man... I don't know.

“Ma’am Hailey, your personal make-up artist is downstairs.” I came back to myself when I heard a maid's knock and what she said.

“Uh...” I cleared my throat.. "Just let them come up here to my room." I said in a rather strong voice but had no appetite to talk more.

“Alright, miss,” I heard it leave so I took a deep breath and went to my vanity mirror.

When my personal artist came in I gave her a friendly smile before telling her to start. She was talking while doing make-up with me but my mind was flying to another dimension.

“Your complexion is really beautiful, Miss Hailey. So only light make up really suits you. Angelic.” I smiled at what he said while looking at my own reflection in the mirror. “Not like your sister, Miss. Brave. She’s too fierce.”

Yeah, we really have different features. Because we’re not real sisters. But we have the same blood. Because of Mommy.

“It also suited to Kiana. And she’s also kind person.”

“So true, Miss! Your sister is very smart and kind, just like you. It's just that it doesn’t look like she don’t have a man dating yet,” he just shook his head.

Actually, she have a boyfriend. But they kept it a secret. Because Daddy will surely be angry when he finds out who Kiana's boyfriend is.

When I finished I went down. Mommy and Daddy are already there, waiting for me. They didn't hesitate any longer and asked to leave. I was in the backseat and was almost freezing as we approached Daddy's so-called restaurant. My chest was pounding constantly while my vision is outside.

“We’re here, hija.” I came to my senses and got out of the car.

“Reserved room for Mr. and Mrs. De Guzman, this way, Sir, Ma’ams.” the usher led us inside.

I sat quietly on the couch. Mommy and Daddy are on my right side.

“Fix the deal and the conversation, Hailey.” Daddy said threateningly.

I just nodded and didn't speak.

Until the door of the VIP room we were in opened.

“Mr. Villanueva,” Daddy greeted politely and even stood up to shake hands with the man who came.

I closed my eyes tightly before standing up and facing the man. I stopped shaking hands when I saw the man.

“Callum Travis Villanueva,”