Chapter 2

My heart hammered against my ribs after hearing that conversation. The anxiety was overwhelming. I always knew they didn't like me, but I never imagined they would actually plan to kill me. They spoke about ending my life as calmly as if they were discussing a business deal. Their voices were steady; they were absolutely certain about what they were going to do.  

I couldn't stay in this mansion a moment longer. Every second I spent here felt like my life was being drained away. My life was in serious danger.  

Moving as quietly as possible, I crept back to my room. I didn't own any fancy clothes, so I just packed three pairs of my old outfits into a worn-out bag. I quickly grabbed my savings—money given to me by Grandpa Edward—and hid it in the pocket of my old pants. It wasn't much, but I knew it would be a big help in getting away.  

Once I finished packing, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My naturally red lips were now deathly pale from fear. My curly hair looked messy. My blue eyes were shimmering with tears. My face was marked by scars from Auntie Melissa’s cruelty.  

A tear fell, and I quickly wiped it away. There was no time for self-pity; if my family caught me, I was certain I wouldn't live to see another day.  

I grabbed the blankets from my cabinet. They were already tied together because I often used them to sneak down to the garden whenever Auntie Melissa was being particularly cruel. I quickly secured one end to the metal railing of my balcony. Once the end hit the grass below, I tossed my bag down and prepared to climb.  

As I gripped the fabric that was my only way down, Auntie Melissa’s threat echoed in my mind: “You won’t get away from us”. I took a deep breath as I lowered myself down. I was going to prove her wrong. I was going to survive—not just for myself, but for Grandpa Edward, because he trusted me with everything he worked for.  

When I finally hit the ground, I didn't waste a single second. I walked quickly and carefully away from the mansion I had called home—even though that home never wanted me. As I reached the garden, the guards at the gate spotted me. I forced a smile, though I could feel it trembling.  

I gripped my sling bag tightly as the two guards approached.  

"Where are you headed, Miss Saera?" Joaquin asked politely.  

"Ah..." I cleared my throat to keep my voice from shaking. "I'm just going out to buy some ingredients for something I'm cooking".  

The two guards smiled at me. They were kind, and I was grateful because it made it easier to slip past them.  

"Do you want us to call a driver for you?" Juan offered.  

I shook my head quickly. "N-no, thank you," I declined nervously. If they called a driver, Auntie Melissa would definitely find out I left, putting me in even more danger. "I'll just commute," I added.  

Before they could say anything else, I hurried away. As I reached the gate, I prayed that none of my "family" would notice I was gone. I was only a few steps from freedom when Joaquin called my name again.  

"Miss Saera".  

My grip on my bag tightened so hard I thought the strap might snap. My breathing grew heavy as if I had already run a long way.  

"Miss Saera," Joaquin repeated.

I slowly turned around, my heart drumming against my chest.  

"Are you sure you don't want the driver? It would be less of a hassle," he said.  

I let out a long breath. "I'm really okay, thank you".  

"Alright, Miss Saera. Take care".  

"Thank you," I replied, then practically ran so they wouldn't stop me again.  

When I reached the road, I looked around desperately for a ride. Unfortunately, there were no cars passing by. It was the middle of the day, and public transport rarely entered this village when the sun was so hot. I was drenched in sweat—not from the heat, but from pure terror.  

Minutes passed, and the road remained empty. I prayed over and over in my head. Finally, I saw a car in the distance. Without thinking about whether it was a taxi or a private car, I stepped into the middle of the road and waved my arms to get it to stop.  

My fear began to lift as the car slowed down, but it immediately came crashing back when I saw the vehicle clearly.  

"He was just inside a moment ago," I whispered to myself. I dropped my arms instantly. The car stopped right in front of me. When the driver stepped out, my hands began to shake uncontrollably.  

"Where do you think you’re going?" Dash asked.  

It was him—my stepbrother was the one driving the car I had just flagged down. I had no idea how he had gotten out here so fast. I thought he was inside, planning my murder.  

Dash walked toward me, and I instinctively backed away. He smirked when he saw my fear.  

"Do you know what will happen to you since you didn't ask Mom for permission to go out?" he asked mockingly.  

"Don't come near me!" I shouted.  

His smirk widened, and he let out a loud laugh. While he was laughing, I tried to run, but he caught me easily.  

"Caught you," he said gleefully.