CHAPTER 02

CASSANDRA

Cassy, Cassy dear." I sat up, and Mama Amara's worried face greeted me. I noticed I was inside my room. How did I get home? I remember someone grabbed me while I was walking on the street and covered my mouth with a fabric, and I lost consciousness.

" Ma, how did I get home? Someone grabbed me earlier and covered my lips with a fabric, and I lost consciousness."

"A man sent you home. He said he saw what a man high with drugs did to you. He took you from that man, got your address from your school Identification card, and brought you home. " You got me worried. You were so pale when he brought you home. "

"I'm sorry, Ma. Do you know the name of the man? I want to thank him for saving me."

"He's in a hurry. I wasn't able to get his name. But he looks scary and wealthy man. Like your father's car, he is riding in the latest BMW model."

"Whoever he was, I hope to meet him again."

"What happened? I thought you had class. Why did the man say he saw you near the abandoned building away from school? " I burst into tears and told Mama Amara everything.

She also cried after I told her what happened at the school earlier. "

"That Jaxon and your brother are heartless. How could they do this to you? And your brother, I hope he'll experience what he did to you. And that Jaxon guy isn't worthy of your tears. It's his loss, not yours, so stop crying. He couldn't find a caring, loving, and understanding woman like yours. Don't worry, dear. You'll find the man who will love you unconditionally. You are still young. "

"Let me cry more. I'll be better after crying. I'll tell Dad what Kris did to me. I'm sure he'll take my side this time. "

"Okay, but stay here for a bit. Your parents will get mad if they find out you skipped class and didn't work at home. "

"Okay, Ma. Thank you. "

"Okay, are you feeling better now? I need to return to my work. "

"I'm okay now, Ma. Don't worry. "

"Okay, call me if you need me. "

"Okay. I watched her leave my room, and my tears burst in my eyes again.

"Jaxon is my first boyfriend. I thought he truly loved me, but all of it was only an act to fool me. I was foolish to believe him. Money, it's all about money." I cried.

When I heard my father's car approaching, I fixed myself and left my room. For the first time, I wanted my father's comfort. I waited for him in the living room, my eyes brimming with tears.

"Dad! "

"I'm glad you're here. Sit. I have something to tell you." I blinked my tears away and sat beside him.

"Come in." He called out when someone knocked at the door. Uncle Allan pecked inside. "Sir, they are here. "

"Okay, let them in." Two men stepped inside, and they looked scary. One has a tattoo on his right arm, while the other has a long scar on his neck. It look like it was a wound caused by a knife.

"Mr. Rivera. We are here to collect your debt."

"Have a seat. By the way, this is her. "

"Dad, what is this all about? "

"You are going with them? "

"What? Why? "

"Stop asking questions. You're going with them, and that's it. "

"I'm not going with them. I don't know them."

"You are going. "

"No!!

"Miss, your father owed us a large sum of money, and he used you as collateral. "

"What? Collateral? How could you do this to me? I'm also your daughter, Dad. I'm not a thing you could use to pay for your debt. I'm human, and your daughter. " I cried.

"I don't want you. Think of this as a way for repaying me for raising you for eighteen years," He said casually. I chuckled without humor.

"I already repay you. I've been serving you and as a punching bag of this family since I was six years old. I won't use myself to pay your debt. You pay it yourself."

"I'm sorry, Miss, but you are the payment my boss asked for. He won't accept anything else."

"I don't care about your boss. I'm not the one who owes him but this man, so you take it from him." I winced when my father slapped me.

"You go with them whether you like it or not. " My father screamed.

"Mr. Revira, my boss already owns her. You don't have the right to touch her. If you lay a hand on her again, I won't hesitate to cut your hand, " one of the men warned, and I saw fear in my father's eyes.

"I hate you so much, Carlos Rivera. I hate this family so much. I'll make sure this family will pay, and those who hurt me. I'll make all of you pay." I screamed.

"Cassy, what's wrong? "

"Ma!! I rushed to her and burst into tears. " This heartless man used me as collateral for his debt, and these men are here to collect me. "

"What? Sir Carlos, she is your daughter. How could you do this to her?"

"You stay away from here, Amara. You don't have a right to voice out your opinion. Go back to your work."

"You're a heartless man. I won't let these men take Cassandra. We will leave this family. Come on, Cassy. "

"You can only leave this house if you go with us, Miss Cassandra. " One of the men said.

'She's not going with you. "

"Stay away from here, Amara. " Dad screamed and tried to slap Mama, but I'm glad one of the men caught his hand before it hit her. The man pushed Dad harshly, and he fell to the floor.

"I'll take this woman as an interest for not paying over a year, and I am warning you, Carlos, don't do monkey business behind my boss, or your brat son and daughter will pay.

"Miss Cassandra, let's go. This man doesn't deserve you as his daughter." One of the men held my hand, and the other held Mama. I followed the man while crying quietly. I don't have the will to fight anymore. I'll better accept what fate awaits me wherever these men bring me.

They helped us inside the car, and I fixed my eyes outside the window with tears streaming down my face.

"How much does that man owe to your boss? "

"Five million. " The one who is the leader because he's the only one talking, answered.

"So that's how much I worth for my father, five million." I chuckled. I guess I was only born to suffer." Mama Amara pulled me into her embrace, and I wept. Today is the worst day of my life. The man I love fooled me, and my family abandoned me. I thought treating me as an enslaved person and beating me was the worst my family could do to me. It didn't cross my mind that a father could use their daughter for money. I always believed that family is the greatest gift from God, but I was wrong. My family is the worst gift I received from him.

I am curious to know how long we traveled. I only pulled away from Mama Amara's embrace when the car stopped, and I saw a beautiful mansion a few meters away.

A guard opened the gate, and the car continued moving. It stopped in the garage with two other vehicles. I'm unfamiliar with cars, but I'm sure these cars cost millions.

"We are here, Miss Cassy. Please follow me. " I stepped out of the car nervously, holding Mama Amara's hand as we followed the man to the front door.

He knocked at the door, and a man, I guess the same age as Mama, opened the door. Is he my owner? Fears washed over me. What is he going to do with me? Please, god, help me. I don't want to become a sex slave to this man.

"Welcome, Miss Cassy." I gasped when he bowed and stepped aside. Six other people were inside, lining the side of the wall.

"Welcome, Miss Cassy. " They chorus and bowed their heads. There are three women and three men.

"I am Harold, and I am the butler of this house, and these women and men are the workers in this house. Please come in, and we are here to serve you. " I look at the men who took me here, and for the first time, they smiled at me.

"I'm sorry for scaring you earlier. We only want to scare Carlos. We meant no harm. By the way, I am Billy, and this is Jack. Starting today, we are your bodyguards to ensure your safety and make sure no harm will come your way.

"Starting today, this is your home, and these people will serve you 24/7, and everything inside and outside this house is yours."

"What?