CHAPTER TWO

His family had just bought her foster father's old company building for one of their financial institutions and she had been the one sent to give him the papers.

Everything had turned around from there. Some even said it was love at first sight.

And when her family found out they were going broke, they pushed her to act on her feelings for him, and it worked. However, when her sister walked into the room, everything shifted.

He had said he loved her too, but Sinora knew that things were not going to remain the same. Not with the way he smiled childishly at every one of Madeley's comments.

She looked up at Charles, his hand suspended in the air, his anger frozen in horror at the sight of his father.

"Father." He said, acknowledging the patriarch of their family with reverence.

"Put your hand down now!" Mr. Lucien Belmont, the no nonsense partriarch of the Belmont family ordered his first son.

Mr. Lucien's fragile body shook with rage as he leaned against his cane for support.

The patriarch had always been a strict man, cold, hardened and brutal, but for some reason, he lost his resolve whenever it came to Sinora.

Nobody in his family ever understood what it was about the damn girl that pioneered his reactions whenever she was being maltreated.

Charles stared at his father's withered face, the one person in the world who scared him to death.

He put his hand down, regretful that he had not gotten the chance to finish what he started. His eyes looked Sin up and down menacingly, before he turned around arrogantly and sauntered away.

This was not the first time, and it was definitely not going to be the last. But she had endured so much already, and was willing to endure more if it meant she could keep everyone happy.

"Why do you keep taking it? You could leave, you know." Mr. Lucien asked her in the confines of his bedroom later on. He was just about to turn fifty three, but he looked much older because of his deteriorating health.

Sinora had been the one caring for him from the moment he stopped being able to care for himself. The matriarch, Celeste Belmont, had taken on the responsibility of the family and its business with an iron clad grip. She, just like everyone else, was no particular fan of Sinora, and treated her like a maid.

"Because I have no choice." Sinora muttered simply, as she prepared his medication.

"I've never known another life better than this. Besides, I'm lucky to have a family, a place to call home. Many people don't have that." Sin added, but her eyes betrayed the complacency in her words.

Her auburn hair fell over face suddenly, and she swept it back hastily, exposing the bruise on her cheek to Mr. Lucien's view.

He gripped his knuckles tightly.

"You always have a choice." As she handed him his medication, he took it and after swallowing it, he gripped her hand weakly.

Sinora assumed the medications had started taking effect and so, she sat down in the chair next to his bed.

Mr. Lucien was a tough man, but behind all that, he had fears, monsters that shadowed him whenever he was left alone.

Sinora liked to believe he kept her around because he thought she was a pure soul. Monsters could never stand pure souls after all.

"Sinora -- you have so much power you don't even know about." He said, holding onto her hand in a grip that his weak body assumed was a tight one.

Sinora smiled sadly at the compliment. Power has never been in the hands of the weak, was her silent response everytime he said that to her.

But this time, his tone expressed the words differently, and for the first time, something she had never witnessed before happened-- a tear slid down Mr. Belmont's face.

"Please, forgive me, Sinora for the sin I committed against you. " His words came out as a cry.

The pounding of her heart became evident to her, a crease formed in her forehead.

"What are you talking about, Mr. Lucien? You've never done anything to me before." She asked.

His eyes regarded her with sorrow, because she couldn't understand the magnitude of what he was talking about even if she tried.

"Forgive my family for all the sins we've committed against you. No human being deserves to be treated the way you have been." Tears lingered in her eyes.

In the outside world, the Belmonts were loved, cherished even. For their innovating businesses contributing to the growth of the economy.

They controlled nearly half of Wellington city, they had the city's love and the government"s reverence in their pockets, yet, inside, they had treated her like a slave to satiate their hidden desire for control.

"I always knew you were the one who would destroy us all. We never saw you coming." His words came out suddenly.

Her heart jolted. "Destroy you?" She repeated. "Mr. Lucien, what are you..."

The door to the room was flung open suddenly, and the familiar Dior fragrance filled the air.

Sinora froze in her seat, as if she had done something wrong. Mrs Celeste Belmont had never walked in on them before. In fact, she had steered clear of Mr. Belmont since the moment he fell ill because he demanded his time alone.

The only time the family was ever in the same room was either at breakfast, lunch or dinner and even then, Mr. Lucien Belmont had revered showing up.

Her stylish white Flora Jess two piece suit came into Sinora’s peripheral view and she swallowed.

Mrs Celeste was a beautiful woman, with brown eyes, a thick body and sleek, short blonde hair that she chose to wear in a pixie style today. She was a woman who conmanded attention.

With her, age was an accessory, and if anyone saw her, they would think her time in the limelight was just beginning.

Sinora got up immediately and bowed to the forty nine year old woman. Her eyes catching the world war two antic rug that was Mr. Lucien's favorite.

Mrs Belmont watched her cautiously, her eyes fleeting from her to her husband who laid on the bed now, regarding her coldly.

He knew.