Prologue

Danley's eyes widened as she opened the door and saw an elderly man hunched over and heavily leaning on a cane.

The moment she recognized the old man, she began to feel nervous. He is the infamous Señor Irnes Leventis, the Leventis clan's leader.

"A-anong kailangan mo?" Danley's voice was filled with fear and dread.

The old Leventis was known as a violent, brutal person, making those who knew him fearful of him, including her, especially since her late father had an arrears with the old Leventis. The old man looked her over from head to toe before smirking, raising the hairs on Danley's body. Danley cleared her throat and tried to hide her nervousness, but it appears that the emotion she's hiding hasn't escaped the old Leventis.

"Didn't your parents teach you how to properly treat your guests? Won't you even invite me in?" says Irnes Leventis coldly.

Danley took a deep breath before opening the door to her apartment. "P-pasok po kayo—" but Irnes Leventis raised his right hand, which silenced Danley and frowned.

"Don't bother. I can't afford to enter," the old man paused and took another look at the interior of her apartment, which was now clearly visible due to the wide opening of the door, before returning his gaze to Danley and sneering, "small and cramped apartment." He goes on.

Kinuyom ni Danley ang kanyang mga kamao. Sure, the old Leventis is so skilled at insulting that she has forgotten she was once afraid of him. "Your apartment is simply the kitchen of our mansion." Pang-i-insulto pa ulit nito sa apartment niya.

Danley clenched her fists even more and bit her lower lip. She was about to curse the old man when she realized she couldn't. Who knows what the old man is capable of. She caught a glimpse of the old man's two bodyguards, who were standing just behind it. Both of the old man's bodyguards had large bodies, and she was confident that they could easily hurt her without anyone noticing.

"What exactly do you need?" she asked. Her earlier nervousness and fear have finally and completely vanished like a bubble. Now all she wanted to do was punch, stomp, and kick the old man. Or she could just break the old man's cane like what her favorite teleserye protagonist, Ivy Aguas, did.

Danley's interest was piqued again when the elderly Leventis burst out laughing, causing her brow to furrow. Danley then looked him in the eyes. Irnes Leventis was laughing despite his cold eyes. That stinging type of cold. That kind of cold that makes you fearful, but Danley didn't let herself be affected by it.

"I know what you're thinking, Ms. Palmer, and I can tell you right now that before you can do what you want to do to me, you'll be shot and lying on the floor of your cramped apartment. See these guys?" Tinuro ng matandang Leventis ang kanyang mga bodyguards na ngayon ay may hawak ng mga baril. "These bodyguards of mine were professionally trained, and they could kill, even women." Danley gulped as Irnes' voice became icy. Old Leventis' voice was as cold as his gaze. He is like a predator that is about to kill and devour his prey. And she is the prey. "But I'm not here to kill you yet, so you can relax a little; however, if you don't accept my offer, our conversation will undoubtedly end there."

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Danley. "An offer?" She repeated.

Irnes Leventis grinned. "Yes, I came here to propose something to you," Danley said nothing, and just waited for what the old Leventis would say next. "You know your father owes me a lot, don't you?" Danley crossed her arms across her chest, one of her eyebrows raised, widening the old Leventis' grin. "And because you and your mother can't pay me, I'd like to make you an offer that, if you accept, will relieve you of the five million pesos that your father owes me."

Danley's ears perked up when she heard what the old Leventis said. She doesn't understand why they have to pay for money borrowed by her father and spent on gambling if they didn't even benefit from it. Also, her father died five months ago, so his debt to the old Leventis should have been buried with him. But then, the old Leventis is known for being excessively greedy for money, so she isn't surprised. Well, they wouldn't be one of the richest and most powerful clans in the country without their money. Perhaps this is why they place such a high value on money that even when they see people suffering, they still make them pay when five million is just a coin to them. With all of their properties across the country and around the world, all of their businesses that include multi-million dollar corporations, hotels and restaurants, and many more, five million pesos is nothing.

"And what is your offer, Mr. Leventis?" she sarcastically asked.

"You will have no more debt to pay to me, even your father's debt to other people, I will pay it all. I'll also take care of your siblings' education, so you won't have to worry about their tuition fees anymore, and I'll give you enough money to help your mother start over."

If Danley hadn't known Irnes Leventis, and if she hadn't known his true personality, she would have accepted his offer right away, even if he hadn't told her what he was going to take back in return. Ngunit kilalang-kilala niya ang matanda. Alam niya na hindi basta-basta ang hihingin nito na kapalit. "At ano ang kapalit?" Tanong niya.

Irnes Leventis took a step towards her, still leaning on his cane. Danley considered grabbing the old man's cane and tripping him, but she held back. "Marry my grandson, Ms. Palmer. Marry my grandson, Isidore, and tame that beast, and all of your problems, including your father's debt, will be solved," the old Leventis said, almost dropping Danley's jaw. Did he just say marry Isidore? That Isidore Leventis? "Of course, I won't force you if you don't like it; I know my grandson can be the devil at times, so I understand if you won't accept my proposal," the old Leventis said, which relieved Danley. It's a good thing the old man thought about how she'd feel. God! What rational woman would agree to marry Isidore? That man is half human, half demon! She was about to smile at the elderly Leventis when he continued speaking. "But you'll have to bear the agony of losing your family," Danley's eyes widened, and the fear and nervousness she had previously felt returned. "So, choose Ms. Palmer," Irnes Leventis said, taking another step towards her and flashing her that demonic smile that made her knees tremble. "Ms. Palmer, marry my grandson or you will lose your family."