Chapter 2

Ava didn't know what happened to them. One day, they were a wealthy family, and the next, they can no longer afford to travel abroad. It all started when his father got into gambling. Without their knowledge, her father already sold some of their properties abroad. He can't stop anymore. All he wants is to gamble. No matter how much money he wastes, he no longer cares.

"Ava, this has to stop. People are talking about us!" Ava sighed when the first thing she heard as she came out of her is her sister's complaint.

"Sophia, what do you want me to do?" Ava asked, feeling drained early in the morning.

"Be the big sister! Talk to dad, for god's sake." Sophia pleaded.

"Haven't I done that already?" She asked her sister. Ava talked to their father numerous times, but all she got was a nod.

"He can't go on like this. Sooner rather than later, we will be living in the streets." Sophia looked seriously stressed out about the situation.

"I don't know what to do anymore. If you want, be emancipated, Soph. There's nothing we can say or do to make him stop." Ava replied with a tone of surrender.

Eva walked away from her sister. She had done everything she can do to make their father quit gambling. Her patience has reached its limits, and she's done. She's earning money for herself and her future. That's all she cares about now. With their father's gambling addiction, she is no longer expecting an inheritance from him.

As she walked to her car, she passed by the spot where a particular incident happened—something that she still dreamt about sometimes. It was the night that she lost something she didn't know was important to her. Laughing at her petty reminiscent, Ava get in her car and left.

Thirty minutes later, she arrived at the shopping mall where one of her store branches is located. After her college graduation, she worked at their company for a short while, but she never liked being there. Her father's presence is something that makes her ashamed of herself since that night. So she decided to put up her own business.

For ten years, Ava worked her ass off to succeed. At first, it was hard because of the tough competition. But eventually, her clothing business rose to the top. She finished business administration, but her passion has always been fashion designing. Now, she designs and manages the production of her clothing line. For the past five years, she has had six branches and two huge production sites.

"Good morning Ms. Ava."

"Good morning, Ma'am Ava."

"Good morning, Ma'am."

Her employees greeted her with a smile as she walked to their office lobby. Ava's most important lesson in life is to be good to your employee. Her mother taught her that. Vivienne Rothschild is the kind of mother anyone would hope for. She's loving and caring. And she has a golden heart. As Ava grew older, she understood that the attitude and mindset they acquired from their father might have turned their mother from her grave.

When she died, their father influenced them to be boastful and rude to the lower class. He made them think that they are better than those people who were not lucky enough to have the life they enjoyed. Ava brutally realized that mistake.

"Good morning, Ms. Rothschild. Here's the report about the biggest names in the industry." Her secretary, Linda, greeted as she passed the file Ava requested.

"Thank you, Linda." Ava skimmed through the file. It was a compilation of businesses and their owners—Ava's competitors. She was almost finished when she saw a familiar surname.

Montez-Castello Industries

Castello

- Flashback-

"Ava, look. He's staring at you." Laura teased her as she secretly points a young man across them. "I think he likes you."

"He's so gorgeous, right?" Emma exclaimed. Yes, he is handsome.

"Yeah, he's gorgeous for a squatter boy." Hilary sarcastically said.

"Hey, I just had a brilliant idea." Sabrina whispered."

- End of Flashback-

That was the beginning of the biggest mistake she had in her life. They planned everything how she would entertain his attempts to befriend her, how she would act that she likes him. She agreed to their plan even though she knew it was wrong, but she thought it was fun. Ava did have fun for a while. She enjoyed seeing him follow her like a lost puppy. Until her acts slowly became real. She had to stop before she became a laughing stock. But she never planned it to end that way. It was not supposed to end like that.

------

Sophia was left alone in their mansion. She's rising a star with a bright future ahead of her. But her father's gambling addiction put her in the wrong spot. Tabloids publish blind items about a star from a wealthy family with a gambling addict as a father. Movie and commercial offers became less and less. She can't even get out of the mansion without paparazzi following her around or reporters trying to get a scoop about her family.

"Oh my God!" Sophia exclaimed as she browses through her F******k feeds.

There's a photo of her father getting dragged outside a well-known casino. The post caption stated that her father was carried by security because he refuses to leave after losing all his money on a poker game. Sophia started crying and thinking that the situation just got even worst. Producers will no longer take her even as a supporting role because of this scandal. Sophia screamed out of frustration. She just managed to calm down when she saw her boyfriend's name on her phone's screen.

[Hey, I just saw the F******k post about your dad, are you okay?] Gavin asked on the other line.

"No, I'm not okay!" Sophia cried even harder. "I want to get away from him!"

[Well, I can help with that. My mom just purchased a beach house. If you want, we can stay there for a while.] Gavin offered.

"You'd do that for me?" She emotionally asked Sophia.

[Of course. So, I'll pick you up later? 8 o'clock so we can avoid traffic.] He said.

"Okay, see you."

Sophia's mood slightly changed after talking to her boyfriend. His idea is something she needed, especially at this point. She needs to get away for a while, from her father, from show business, from her life.

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Gregory Rothschild immediately called his lawyer as soon as he gets into his car. He is seething in anger because of the shame he had to face. He can't believe he got dragged out of a casino after spending millions on the establishment. He wants to get back at them. He will sue them for shaming him.

"Atty. Delos Santos, I want you to file a lawsuit against High Stake Poker." Gregory said in an authoritative tone.

[Greg, you can't even pay me anymore. If I were you, I'd go home. Bye, Greg.] His attorney responded on the other line.

"What—hello! What the!"

Gregory had no choice but to drive away from the casino. He can't wrap his mind around the reality that he no longer holds any power. The only thing remarkable in him right now is his last name—a name which he inherited from a long line of wealthy aristocrats who excelled in various aspects.

While driving, Gregory thought of the easiest and fastest way to regain their status. He realized that he needs to utilize what resources are available in front of him. He decided to meet with some of his old friends to offer them a deal. One of them agreed and was excited when he heard about Gregory's plan.

Six o'clock when Gregory arrived at their mansion with Don Lorenzo Aguilar. A wealthy mining company owner he met a few decades ago. Lorenzo was the one who provided him the diamond he used when he proposed to his late wife.

"Ava! I'm glad your home; where's your sister?" Gregory asked his oldest daughter.

"Upstairs," Ava answered coldly.

"No, baby. Stay here." Gregory stopped her from ascending the stairs. "Norma, will you call Sophia?" Gregory ordered their maid. "Come here, sit down." Ava started to get confused when she saw an older man she remembered from way back and two younger men beside him.

"What is it this time, Dad?" Sophia greeted her father the same way as Ava.

"Sweethearts, meet my dear friend, Don Lorenzo Aguilar, and his sons, Michael and Francis." Gregory introduced them. "We have a very important matter to discuss. Come on, sit down."

Ava and Sophia had no choice but to sit down on the couch in front of Don Lorenzo and his sons. Ava and Sophia are secretly cursing their father in their mind. When Sophia saw Francis smiling at him, she almost vomited. Ava, on the other hand, is trying her best to stay hospitable and friendly even though she can feel goosebumps all over her body.

"Dad, what's going on?" Ava can't wait anymore.

"We're here to discuss your marriage." Gregory smiled at both of them.