Chapter 1

The old jeepney sputtered to a stop in front of gates taller than any building Lia had ever seen wrought iron twisted into intricate patterns, topped with sharp spikes that glinted under the Davao sun. "Tiyo Berting, hindi po ba tayo maling daan, ito po ba talaga ang Villa Morte?" she asked, gripping the worn fabric of her dress as her uncle shifted nervously beside her. "Ang laki naman po ng bahay na nasa loob parang hindi tayo nararapat pumasok dito."

"Hindi tayo maling daan, anak," her uncle said, his voice shaking as he lit a cigarette with trembling hands. "Dito tayo pupunta para makipag-usap kay Sir Felix Velasquez. Alam mong may utang ako sa kanya limang milyong piso, Lia. At hindi ko na kayang bayaran pa."

Lia's eyes widened in fear. She'd heard stories about Felix Velasquez the mafia billionaire who controlled half of Mindanao's underground businesses, whose name alone made grown men shake in their shoes. "Pero Tiyo, ano po ang gagawin natin dito? Baka po hindi tayo bigyan ng pagkakataong makausap siya!"

"Hindi lang naman natin hihilingin na pahabain niya ang panahon para bayaran," he said quietly, avoiding her gaze. "May usapan na kami noon kung hindi ko mababayaran ang utang ko sa takdang panahon, ibibigay ko ang pinakamahalaga kong ari-arian."

"Ang lupa natin sa Cotabato?" Lia asked, her heart sinking. That small piece of land was all they had left the only thing that connected them to their family's roots.

"Hindi, anak," her uncle said, finally looking at her with tears in his eyes. "Ikaw."

Lia felt like the ground had disappeared from under her feet. "A-ako po? Tiyo, hindi po ba kayo baliw? Paano ninyo ako ibibigay sa isang estranghero? Lalo na sa taong tulad niya!"

"Wala akong choice, Lia! Kung hindi kita ibibigay, kukunin niya ang lupa at ipapatapon pa tayo sa kalye!" he shouted, then slumped back in his seat, defeated. "Sinabi niya na kung papasukin kita bilang trabahadora sa bahay niya, maaring maging bayad na ang lahat ng utang ko. Magsisilbi ka lang sa kanya at kapag sinabi niyang tapos na, makakauwi ka na."

Before Lia could say anything more, the gates swung open slowly, revealing two large men in black suits who walked over to their jeepney. "Mr. Santos?" one of them asked, looking at her uncle. "Sir Felix is waiting for you inside. Bring your niece with you."

They were led through gardens so perfect they looked like they'd been painted manicured lawns, colorful orchids, beautiful roses and a lot more, a fountain that sprayed water high into the air. Inside the mansion, marble floors reflected the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and every piece of furniture looked like it belonged in a museum.

"You're late, Berting," a deep voice echoed from the far end of the grand hall. Lia looked up and saw him Felix Velasquez, standing by a floor-to-ceiling window, his broad back to them as he stared out at the city below. He was wearing a black suit that fit him perfectly, his dark hair slicked back without a strand out of place.

"Pasensiya na po, Sir Felix. Medyo natraffic po kami papunta rito," her uncle said, bowing his head like he was talking to a king.

Felix turned around slowly, he was startled when he saw the very innocent and soft-looking face in front of him, and because of that, he felt annoyed with the woman. While Lia felt her breath catch in her throat. His face was sharp and handsome, but his eyes dark brown and cold as ice made her want to run as far away as she could.

"Traffic is no excuse for wasting my time. I don't like waiting, Berting you should know that by now." He looked past her uncle and straight at Lia, his gaze making her feel like she was being stripped bare. "This must be her Lia, right?"

"O- opo, Sir Felix. Ako po si Lia," she said, forcing herself to stand tall even though her hands were shaking. "Ang sabi po ni tiyo ay -"

"I don't care what he told you," Felix cut her off, walking toward them with long, confident strides. "From this moment on, you work for me. You live in my house, you eat my food, you wear the clothes I give you which means you belong to me. I own this house, I own everything in it, and that includes you."

Lia's jaw tightened with anger. "Hindi po ako bagay na pag-aari, Sir! Tao po ako may sarili akong isip at damdamin!"

Felix stopped just inches from her, and she could smell the expensive cologne on his skin mixed with the faint scent of cigarettes. "In this house, you don't get to have opinions, Lia. You get to follow rules. My rules. Because if you don't, your uncle's debt doesn't just stay unpaid it doubles. And trust me, he can't afford that."

Her uncle grabbed her arm, squeezing it tightly. "Lia, tumahimik ka na! Sundin mo na lang ang sinasabi ni Sir Felix!"

"Let go of her, Berting," Felix said, his voice low and dangerous. "She's mine now you don't touch what belongs to me." He turned his attention back to Lia, his eyes burning into hers. "Now listen carefully, because I won't say this twice. Rule number one you obey me at all times. Whatever I say, you do it. No questions asked. Rule number two you stay in the areas I assign you to. The east wing is off-limits unless I give you permission. Rule number three you don't talk to anyone outside this house without my approval. No phone calls during work, no visitors, nothing. Rule number four you keep your mouth shut about everything you see and hear here. And rule number five you never, ever disobey me. Do you understand?"

"Hindi po ako makakaintindi ng mga patakaran ninyo kung parang sa preso ninyo akong tratuhin!" Lia shot back, her anger getting the best of her. "Hindi ko po gusto ang mga sinasabi ninyo! At hindi ko po kakayanin na mabuhay dito na parang wala akong buhay!"

Felix laughed a cold, empty sound that made her skin crawl. "Like it or not doesn't matter, Lia. You're here because of debt your uncle's mistake, your burden. If you want him to be safe and your land to stay with you, you'll learn to like it. Or at least pretend to. Now, Maria the head housekeeper will show you to your room. You start working at 5 AM tomorrow morning. If you're late, you'll regret it."

He turned his back on them again, dismissing them like they were nothing more than dirt on his shoes. Maria, a stern-looking woman in her fifties, stepped forward and gestured for Lia to follow her. "Halika na, anak. Hindi ka makakaganti ng sagot sa kanya mas mabuting sundin mo na lang ang mga patakaran para hindi ka mapahamak."

As they walked toward the servants' quarters at the back of the house, Lia looked over her shoulder at her uncle, who was already bowing and thanking Felix like he'd just been given a gift. Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She hated Felix Velasquez with every fiber of her being and she knew that hate was mutual.