Chapter 1

Chapter One

Elena’s POV

“$7,654,274.68.”

“Dollars or cents?” I whispered, my brows folding as my eyes scanned the faded paper glued to the blackened doorframe.

The smell of smoke clung to the air. Ash floated like dying snowflakes around me. My chest rose and fell so fast it felt like I was choking.

“No… no, no, no,” I muttered, stumbling back. The restaurant that once smelled of fresh garlic bread and roasted chicken was now nothing but burnt wood, broken glass, and gray dust.

I staggered forward, my hand trembling as I touched the charred door. The paper crinkled under my fingers. That number stared back at me in bold black ink. Underneath, a bank account was scribbled, messy and cruel.

My voice cracked. “Papiiiiii!”

The sound tore out of me like a wounded bird. I shouted again, louder, until my throat burned. “Papiiii! Where are you?”

Tears streamed down my face. I tried to push through the rubble, but smoke bit my eyes, and my body shook all over. My lips quivered so badly I could barely breathe.

A woman with a scarf tied around her head stopped and grabbed my wrist.

“Child, stop. He’s not inside.”

“What do you mean?!” I gasped, my voice wild. “Where’s my father? Where is he?”

Her eyes softened. “They arrested him last night. Men in black suits. Said something about debts.”

My knees buckled, and I pressed my palms into the ashes. “Arrested? No… no, that’s not true.”

“I’m sorry, dear,” she whispered. “Your father… he fought. But they dragged him away. And then …” Her voice faltered, “… they lit the place on fire.”

I clutched the paper from the door and yanked it off with shaking hands. My nails tore against the wood, drawing blood, but I didn’t care. I ran.

My legs carried me through the streets, past cars honking and people staring. Dust clung to my hair, my skirt slapped against my knees, my lungs screamed. Still, I didn’t stop.

By the time I reached the police station, my feet were raw and bleeding, my chest heaving. I slammed against the iron gate.

“Open this gate! Open it now!” I screamed.

The officers inside turned their heads. One came forward slowly. “What’s the matter, miss?”

“What have you done to my father?” I cried, my voice cracking. “Where is Papi? What have you done to him?”

The officer’s face softened at the sight of my tears. “Calm down, young lady. Who is your father?”

“Carlos Nakuru,” I said, choking on the words. “He owns the little restaurant by the old cathedral. The one you burnt down!”

“We didn’t burn it,” the officer said quietly. “That was no police action.”

My chest clenched. “Then who?”

Before he could answer, a voice rose from behind the bars.

“It’s okay, Elena.”

My head snapped around. There he was my father standing behind the iron mesh. His hands cuffed, his face bruised, but his eyes… those gentle, tired eyes… fixed on me.

“Papi!” I rushed to him, grabbing the bars, pressing my face between the gaps. “What’s wrong? Why are you here? Why did they burn the restaurant?”

He swallowed hard. His lips trembled. For a moment, he just stared at me. Then, finally, his voice broke.

“I am sorry, Elena. I took a loan… a private loan. To pay for your school. To make sure you had the best.”

My heart stopped. “Loan? What loan? Papi, you told me I had a scholarship. You said the university gave me one because you worked part-time in their cafeteria!”

He closed his eyes, tears slipping down his cheeks. “I lied. I didn’t want you to feel guilty. Your mother wanted you to be a nurse. She died bringing you into this world. That restaurant… It was her memory. But I couldn’t let poverty stop your future. So, I borrowed. I thought I could pay it back. But business slowed. The new coffee chains took our customers. The interest… it grew, Elena. It grew into a monster.”

My whole body shook with rage and sorrow. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you hide this from me?”

“Because I am your father,” he whispered. “It is my duty to carry the burden, not yours.”

I banged the bars with my fists. “And now what? They arrest you? They burn the only thing we had? Papi, that place was Mama’s memory! Every brick, every tile it was all her!”

He turned his face away, his shoulders trembling. “I failed her. And I failed you.”

“No, Papi,” I sobbed. “You didn’t fail. You tried. You gave me everything. You gave me love. But now… now I will fight for you.”

The officer cleared his throat. “Visiting hours are over.”

“No!” I screamed, clinging to the bars as they pulled me back. “Don’t touch me! I’m not leaving him here!”

My father raised his chained hands. “Go, Elena. Be strong. Do what you must.”

“I’ll get you out!” I cried, tears flooding my vision. “I swear, I’ll get you out, Papi. Even if it kills me!”

I stumbled out of the station, clutching the cursed paper against my chest. The number blurred through my tears. My body felt like glass fragile, breaking, but somehow still moving.

I stood on the sidewalk, staring at the world like it had tilted sideways. My breath came in short gasps.

Then one thought pierced the haze. Luka.

My fiancé. My perfect, wealthy, well-connected Luka. He had promised me the world, promised me safety, promised me forever.

“Yes,” I whispered to myself. “Luka will help. He has to help.”

I raised my hand, and a yellow cab screeched to a stop. I climbed in, slamming the door.

“Where to?” the driver asked.

“Downtown,” I said, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. “The silver mansion. Just drive.”

The car pulled into the night. The city lights flickered across my face. My heart beat like a drum in my chest.

“Hold on, Papi,” I whispered. “I’ll save you. Even if I have to kneel before the devil himself.”