Prologue

-Veronne-

"Veronne! The laundry is waiting for you! Who do you think will do the laundry? Me? Chontel? Hell no! Hurry up and wash it all!"

I woke up again from my aunt's loud scream so I went up and immediately fixed my bed.

"You're living like a princess in a golden castle, Veronne! The chickens have been awake so early but here you are, still sleeping! Don't be lazy and do your job!"

"S-sorry, Aunt Milie," I apologized.

I was just a child when my parents left me. Daddy died because of a car accident. As for mommy, I don't know where she went, my mommy definitely went with another man. I hadn't heard about her since I was in grade school.

Life was hard. It was hard to live alone but I had no choice but to fight because that was the only thing left I could do.

I am now living with my aunt who was full of bad character. She shouldn't be disobeyed when she gives orders. You should always be in a hurry. Lazy people were not allowed in her house. Sometimes, I couldn't say I am their relative because I was more than a helper in this house.

I stood up straight and immediately stretched. It's ten o'clock but I haven't washed my mouth and face since my aunt woke me up. It was hard when you lived with people who didn't know respect and love. I don't seem to be doing anything right for the people I live with.

I looked up at the sky. It was blue and the sun's rays were dazzling. The breeze was kissing my face.

I took the last blanket to hang it. When I hung it, my eyes widened.

"That man is handsome," I whispered in the air when I saw the man wearing all black clothes. I'm sure he's a businessman because of his clothes and his demeanor.

He stopped in front of me, which was why my heart beat faster. He was wearing black shades so I couldn't tell if he was staring at me or not. I only know one thing for sure. He is the prince charming who will save me from the cruelty of my aunt and cousin. He is my hero in this cruel world.

Even though there was a gate in the middle of us and we were quite distanced, it was as if we were close to each other.

"Ouch!" I shouted and faced my back.

I saw Chontel with her arms crossed and her one eyebrow raised looking at me. Did she bathe me with dirty water? God, this woman was a total evil. Chontel's behavior is really bad. He didn't even think that I would be ashamed of what he did because there were people who saw it. That handsome man might have seen me bathed in dirt.

"What are you looking at? Don't be lazy, Veronne! You were just staring for so long," she said flatly.

I just blew violent air.

"Am I really the lazy one? Who among us is always lying around?"

She pushed me so hard that I fell down. She sat me on my stomach and slapped me many times. My eyes hurt because of the soapy water that she bathed me in, so I couldn't fight back.

"That's what you deserve, Veronne! Remember who you are! Don't pretend that we owe you something. You got it? Mommy and I are not the ones who live with you! So if I am you, don't fight back because you're useless and you owe your life to us!"

She stood up. I coughed because she sat on my stomach. She stomped on my stomach. I was holding my stomach because it was writhing in pain.

"T-That's enough, Chontel! P-Please, Chontel!"

"Hurry up there. Get up and I need you on the way! Take a shower too because you look like a rag!"

She was not satisfied with what she did to humiliate me. She even spat on me before she entered the house.

I was left with dirt and in tears. I just sighed heavily. Irose from the ground. I looked where I saw the man earlier but he was gone. Even his car was gone already. I was so ashamed of what Chontel did. That handsome man might be laughing at me.

I headed inside the house. My aunt was smoking and staring at me angrily. As if that I was the one who hurt her ill-mannered child.

"That's your problem, Veronne. When we talk to you, you just stare at the air and think that no one is around. It's good that Chontel is the one disciplining you. I don't know if I'm the one disciplining you. Maybe it's just your tongue that won't have a bruise!"

I ignored her. I just went straight to the bathroom and immediately turned on the shower. The water slowly poured over my skin. I looked up and tears came from my eyes.

I hugged myself and immediately burst into tears. They mistreated me too much in this house. I will put myself below them because I have nowhere to go. I will endure all the pain and all the bad words they throw at me because I have nowhere to run to. I don't have anyone to go to.

After I finished taking a shower, I immediately got dressed. I was wearing old pants and an old oversized shirt. My hair was messy and I haven't combed it yet, but I immediately went to Chontel's room because she was screaming my name upstairs.

I held my breath when I entered Chontel's room. The inside of the room smelled of cigarettes and it was messy as always.

I stared at the sandals and undergarments scattered on the floor. It seems that the owner of this room was not a woman.

Chontel got up from her bed with the bedsheet crumpled and spilled wine. She took her book and her paper. She also handed me the pen.

"Do my assignments! You should be doing well in answering my assignments, Veronne. If something goes wrong with my assignments, you'll really see what I will do to you. I can kick you out when I'm tired of you, Veronne. Got it?" she said defiantly.

I didn't answer. Even on Saturday, I couldn't rest. It's like the word rest is just my imagination and that's my only dream right now. I want to rest from the mistreatment of my aunt and my cousin. I want to rest from the pains that the world has given me. I'm tired of this life.

I came to my senses when she pushed my shoulder. I looked at her. She was wearing a yellow and sexy dress. I'm sure he'll be partying again. That's her life during Saturday nights. She goes to party while I was left fixing her mess and doing her homeworks.

"Veronne, listen! When I get back, you should have all my things in order! My room shouldn't be messy anymore. Okay? Stay aside and I might be late for where I'm going!"

She was about to leave but she managed to criticize my clothes.

"God, what you're wearing suits someone like you. You really look like a rag that's useless! The only thing you are useful to is to clean the dirt and spilled liquids. Those rags suit a rag like you. It suits you well, Veronne!"

She laughed before leaving. When I heard her closed the door, tears flowed from my eyes. She didn't even consider me as her cousin. She didn't respect me and she always humiliated me.

They often call me rag. I also often feel that they treat me more as a helper and not as family.