Chapter 1

Katiya stood in the kitchen, washing the dishes used from dinner. Who would have thought the first daughter of Richmond Enterprises, the second biggest real estate group, would be subjected to doing household chores and other unspeakable activities?

"Katiya!" Alexia , her stepmother, called out and she rinsed her hands and dashed out to meet her. 

She arrived and stood a few feet away, her head low and hands behind her back. She looked like a starved maid with her bony frame and dirty clothes. "Yes, mother," she answered.

"We need to discuss your father's situation," Alexia said with a sigh and it made Katiya fidget.

Katiya's heart was beating loudly, "Did something happen to him? Is he dead?” she asked with a low voice, tears brimming at the edge of her eyes, threatening to spill. 

"No, no, no," Alexia replied, shaking her hands. "No dear, he's fine. I'm just afraid he might not be for much longer," she said with a smile. 

“What happened, mother?” Kat asked, worried and Alexia replied, "Your father's medical expenses are becoming overwhelming and the company isn't making enough money to cater for his bills. He would be sent out of the hospital soon if we aren't able to pay up his bills but we don't have the money." 

She sighed before continuing, "I spoke to the Niel family and they agreed to invest in our business and make it rise but on one condition, they want you to marry their son, Cole."

Katiya was dumbstruck, she was only 19 years old and she knew the Second Master, Cole Niel. He was one of the most eligible bachelors of the Oscaria but he had a tragic past that was kept a secret from the public. 

Noticing her discomfort Alexia quickly added, "I already rejected the offer. I couldn't marry you off to the Niels because of money for medical bills. Your father wouldn't forgive me if I did that. I'd call them to….”

"I'll do it!" Katiya's voice sounded and Alexia raised her head in surprise. 

"What?" Alexia asked to confirm Katiya's words. 

"I'll get married into the Niel family. Anything for my father," she said firmly and Alexia stood up and hugged her. 

"That's perfect dear. Hurry up and rest now. I'd call the Niel family and schedule the engagement for the coming week. The earlier the better." She said and dismissed Katiya.

Katiya turned around and left for the kitchen to complete her chores and think of the hasty decisions she just made. 

"Psst" she heard a male voice and looked up to see Luke, her stepbrother calling her from the stairs. "Come to my room when you're done!" He ordered and left. 

Katiya shivered at his voice. He had always made sexual advances to her ever since she hit puberty but she always had an excuse to run away from him. His thoughts made her shiver in disgust so she sluggishly wasted time and cleaned the kitchen again to avoid him. 

As she tiptoed to her room, the voices of people being intimate filled the corridors. She knew where the sounds were coming from. It was from Luke's room. He always watched them when he needed to jerk off or satisfy himself and she couldn't care less about his business.

She entered her room and closed the door. She quickly changed into her bathrobe to have her bath before Luke noticed she was upstairs. 

Katiya stepped out of the room, tiptoeing to the bathroom when she suddenly screamed, "ahhhhh."

She found herself pinned to the wall by Luke, his hands holding her neck in place and his lustful gaze sweeping along her body. He was the true definition of the saying, "If looks could defile someone."

He looked at her with lust and his pupils dilated and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down, giving away his naughty thoughts. "Let me go!" Katiya ordered but he didn't and instead, he moved closer to her to reduce the space between them. 

He breathed onto her skin and she immediately had goosebumps, not from arousal but from irritation. Luke began to inch closer, his frame covering hers, his lips merely inches away from hers. 

"Is he trying to kiss me?" Katiya asked herself and she struggled to break free from his clutch but he was stronger than her. 

His lips were a few centimeters from hers when a loud voice sounded across the room. 

“Luke!!!” Alexia yelled out in anger. "What do you think you are doing?" She asked but got no reply. He stood there, staring at the girl like prey not sparing his mother a glance.

"She might not be blood-related to you but she's still your sister!" She shouted and his grip loosened. 

"She saved you tonight, next time I'm going to have you!" Luke whispered into Katiya's ears and left her, not giving any reply to his mom.

Katiya rushed over to the shocked girl glued against the wall. "That son of mine would ruin my plans if I'm not careful," she murmured.

"My dear, are you alright?" She asked Katiya, assessing her neck for any bruises. 

Katiya cleared her throat and nodded. She was fine, her throat hurt but it was just a little. 

"Go and take a shower and rest dear. The engagement is in a week so I want you to use this week to take care of yourself. There will be someone coming to clean the house so you don't have to bother," Alexia said with a smile and Katiya reciprocated it and left for the bathroom. 

Alexia was acting too nice and it made Katiya uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Alexia went into Luke's room, so she could warn him to stay away from Katiya.

A little mistake from him could ruin all her plans to get rid of Katiya and transfer all the Richmond properties into her name.