Chapter 3

"No! No way!" Sophia violently reacted to their father's announcement.

"Dad, please tell us this is a joke." Ava hoped their father would laugh and say that he was kidding, but he didn't.

"Hija, your wealth is rapidly decreasing, and if you don't do anything about it, you will lose everything," Lorenzo speaks up. "I am offering you a better future out of the kindness of my heart."

"Yeah, our wealth is rapidly decreasing because of his gambling!" Sophia retaliated. "Why don't you marry them instead, dad?"

"Watch your mouth, kid!" Gregory warned him.

"Watch my mouth!" Sophia already had enough of his father. "You want to sell us to these ugly, sweaty retards so you can keep your wealthy status! What kind of a father are you?"

"How dare you insult my sons in front of me!" Don Lorenzo angrily stood up." Let's go, boys. We're leaving." He called his sons, who are both bowing down. "I will never forget this, Gregory."

Don Lorenzo and his sons left the mansion. Gregory tried to apologize to him, But he will no longer listen. The insults that Sophia threw in his sons' faces are something that he can't forgive.

"What have you done!" Gregory was raging when he approached Sophia and slap her hard.

"Dad! What the hell!" Ava stood between her father and sister.

"What have I done? I just saved my life from being ruined!" Sophia talked back, holding her reddened cheek and crying. "Did you seriously thought that we would just say yes to your plan!"

"You arrogant, selfish brat!" Gregory tried to grab Sophia, but Ava protected her sister. "I fed you! Clothed you! I took care of you! Both of you! And this how you will repay me! Selfishness!"

"Dad, are you hearing yourself? Do you even what you're talking about?" Ava couldn't stay quiet anymore. "We didn't have a choice on who our parents are going to be. We never asked to be born in this family. And it is your responsibility to feed us, clothe us and take care of us. You're our father. You're not supposed to sell us. Do you think Mom would be happy to see you like this? A gambling addict? You turned from a respected businessman into a piece of trash!"

Ava was stunned when his father slapped her hard. Tears are about to fall from his eyes bug he's obviously trying to keep it together. It was the first time that Ava talked to her father that way. Even she didn't expect it. But enough is enough. She won't allow their lives to be ruined because of him.

"Get out of my face—both of you. I don't want to see you. Get out of here!"

Sophia left without a second thought while Ava went out to their garden. It was her mother's favorite spot. Every day, she would come to the garden and look at the roses. She used to say flowers calm her down. If only her mother is still alive.

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London, England

The Lanesborough is the grandest hotel in all of London. The biggest names in the city and around the world stayed or celebrated their special occasions in the hotel. And as the newest business partner of L'etalon, a manufacturer of the fastest race cars and sports cars globally, Marionne Castello was invited to the inauguration of L'etalon's latest creation. Étalon Sauvage is a series of sports cars that ranges from forty-five million to two hundred million dollars.

"Marionne Castello, the iconic gentleman." The CEO of L'etalon welcomed him. "Come, follow me." He took Marionne to a VIP table dedicated only to him.

"Ladies, gentlemen, our special guest has arrived—the man who rose to the top by sheer will, dedication, wit, and perseverance. Please give a round of applause, you L'etalon's newest business partner, Marionne Castello."

Marionne received all kinds of praises as he makes his way to the makeshift stage. Twelve years ago, when he walked to the very first stage, he ever walked in his entire life. The day he graduated. And the day that his heart got shattered into tiny pieces. It was the day that he realized that heaven and earth would never meet. If she could see him now, what would she think? A question that suddenly rang in Marionne's mind.

The event went on smoothly. Marionne met so many famous faces from the British show business and Hollywood. Even members of the queen's court are present together with some younger members of the royal family. All of which are vying for his attention so they could present a business deal with him.

There was a time when Marionne was the one in their position, even worst. He needed almost to beg people just to buy the products he was offering. He knew what it felt to be at the bottom. To be belittled, humiliated, disregarded. Those experiences made him what he is today.

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While Marionne was busy representing their company, D.A is also busy flirting with the beautiful British women of London. Lesbianism has long been accepted in the country, and more and more women are turning their attention to lesbians like her. Tall, fair complexion, good body figure. It's not hard for D.A to find a woman who has an interest in her.

"Are you really a lesbian?" The British lady asked D.A. "I'm sorry, you just don't look like one. You look more manly than some of the men I've met."

"I guess that makes me more interesting, isn't it?" D.A smiled while staring at the lady's lips. She has a naturally red lip that will make you want to kiss her right then and there.

"I think so." The lady blushed because of her stare. "Where do you stay here in London?"

"Why? Do you wanna come with me?" D.A asked playfully.

Wearing a Casio MRG-B2000SH, a William Westmancott Bespoke, driving a Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta that he just purchased from a London car company before they even arrived. Any woman would turn their heads to D.A. And she has met some of the women who would lay in the middle of the street just to get her attention. Women who thought they would get a taste of luxurious life with her. But D.A's motto was always "been there, done that." Before she even met Marionne, she would flirt with older women in exchange for financial support.

She's been called a gold digger, a lesbian whore, and many more. But she never cared because she was doing all of those things for her family. Especially for her mother. The woman who gave birth to her and her siblings love them and took care of them until she got sick. And she will continue to do everything for her family.

"What if I say yes? I wanna come with you?" The lady became flirty after looking at D.A from head to toe.

"Nah, I'm busy, sorry." Just like that, D.A left the lady dumbfounded. She can smell opportunist and gold diggers from a mile away. She can't be played by a game she invented.

D.A decided to go back to The Lanesborough. When she arrived, the event is almost done. She was about to take the elevator when a familiar and annoyed voice called her from behind.

"Where have you been?" Marionne asked her with a blank expression.

"Nowhere." She replied as she pressed the elevator button.

"You were supposed to be here," Marionne said as he followed her to the elevator.

"I know, but you know how I feel being with so many socialites," D.A said it like she's actually irritated. "Besides, I know you can handle it, bro. Anyways, have you seen the news?" D.A remembered the F******k post and the overseas news she watched earlier.

"Gregory Rothschild being dragged out of the High Stake Poker?" Marionne said after smirking.

"Yeah, their properties abroad are being sold," D.A stated. "One of my clients told me that Gregory sold his L.A mansion to him."

"Serves them right." Marionne clenches his fist as he remembered how Gregory humiliated him.

"Don't you even feel bad for Ava?" D.A asked Marionne, testing his real emotion.

"Feel bad about her? Why would I?" Marionne asked her back?

"You loved her, bro. She's the first woman you ever loved," D.A responded.

"And she's the first and last woman ever to break me," Marionne said with finality.

D.A always knew that Marionne never let go of the hatred he felt towards the Rothschild. He held on to it and made it an inspiration to succeed. She tried everything to make him let go. Introduced her to so many women, pushed him to strive harder. But even then, he is still imprisoned by his hatred. That is the reason why Marionne never had any serious relationship again. He became cold and distant. He was burying himself to work.

Even though every sacrifice he made paid off, Marionne still doesn't look happy. D.A sometimes finds him looking at nowhere, thinking. She knows that Marionne can feel the emptiness in his heart.