Chapter 1: Setting foot to your homeland

It's a beautiful rainy day in the City of Manila. Every person is now running fast just to not get in the rain.

" What a beautiful day," Cindy said as she opened the window of her car and the thunder immediately greeted her that making her smile.

" She greeted me, Herriot," Cindy giggled to her assistant, Herriot, who is now shaking her head because of what her boss is doing.

" Madam. Please close the window. The rain is going to fall anytime soon." Herriot said that makes Cindy giggle.

" That's why I like it," She said as she closed her eyes while feeling the wind against her face.

" Yes, I know that but you are attending your Half-sister's engagement party. And you need to look presentable " Herriot said that makes Cindy pout and get in the car and close the window.

"I'm just enjoying the day before I ruined it later." Cindy playfully said as she sat up straight and fixed her posture.

Herriot just fixed her eyeglasses as she looked at her boss from head to toe. Her boss Cindy Montreal is a classy and sophisticated lady but sometimes she is childish and plans evil things for her enemy.

Cindy Montreal is a famous author under the pen name of aphrodisiacs. She is writing hot steamy romance but she is known for her thrilling stories that are full of killing. And she is also the heir of her mother's hotels and lands as the only daughter of her parents.

" Madam. What do you want me to do when we get there?" Herriot asked. Cindy just smiled at Herriot as she put her index finger on her lips as she was signing Herriot to quiet.

Cindy just looks outside the window and a mischievous grin forms on her lips.

" This is going to be fun"

~

In the mansion of Montreal, the workers are busy putting all the ornaments, designs and flowers inside the mansion because of the gloomy weather that is a sign of heavy rain.

" Wow! What a bad omen for the soon to be bride" One of the workers said while carrying the big vase of Roses.

The workers in the mansion are in a hurry right now. Because all the plans were changed and they needed to fix them before the star of the day got angry.

" It feels like karma for her," The worker added as he carried the big vase of rose inside the mansion.

Because of the unexpected happening the party will be held in the ballroom of the mansion. The maids and workers are scattered in every place of the ballroom just to make sure that all the things are okay and nice to the eyes.

" Here's the heavy vase. Where should I put this?" The worker asked one of the maids.

" Oh, Just put it beside the door. Over there" The maid said. The worker just nodded his head as he walked towards the door that the maid pointed. He carefully put down the vase.

" That was heavy," He said as he stretched his back.

While stretching his back the worker heard a sudden quarrel on the extension of the ballroom.

" I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

" Cassandra calmed down. The workers might hear you!" Lady Isabelle said to her daughter who is now walking out of panic.

" Mom! That girl is going to attend my engagement party! And yet this is happening to me!" She said loudly.

The worker hides behind the doors to continue to hear her boss' grievances.

" She will surely laugh at me when she sees what's happening to me right now!" Cassandra said nervously as she bit her nails.

" CASSANDRA! Stop biting your nails! That is not ladylike! Watch yourself!" Her mother said and immediately walked toward Cassandra and slapped her hands.

" Relax, will you!? Don't panic! Don't give her satisfaction and remember this! You are the star of the night! YOU WILL BE THE NEXT MRS. MONFORTE SO ACT LIKE ONE!" She said to her daughter. Cassandra shakingly nodded at her mother as she took a deep breath and straightened her back.

" You're right. I am the next Mrs Monforte, I shouldn't act like this." She said that makes her mother smile out of satisfaction.

" That's right. That's my girl" Her mother said as she combed her daughter's hair using her fingers.

" Now, go up to your room and fix yourself. Your fiance should not see you as this" Her mother whispered to her daughter.

Cassandra quickly followed her mother as she ran up the staircase. The worker immediately walked away as he acted as if nothing happened.

That is one of the rules of Montreal for their workers and maids. Keep their mouth shut and all the things that they heard inside the mansion will stay inside the mansion or else their life will be in danger.

"Ms Cindy will attend the engagement ceremony. Master Alfred invites her" The maid's gossip in the kitchen.

" Oh, Yes. I heard that! Master Alfred send the invitation to her last 3 months. And then Ms Cindy only replied last week. That was short notice, ``one of the maids said while washing the dishes.

" Sigh, So true. Master Alfred immediately fix the room for Ms Cindy. He even bought a new bed and vanity dresser, ``one of the maids said while cleaning the table.

" Well, After all. Ms Cindy is the only biological daughter of Master Alfred. My mother said that Master Alfred cherish Ms Cindy when she was a kid and up until her teenage years but it all changed when her new wife came into the picture with her so-called daughter"

" Agree. This Family was once perfect before they arrived. It's just a miracle that the first born Master Hugo is close to Ms Cassandra"

" So Close that they look like a lover"

" Shhh," The maid immediately said as she cover her co-maid mouth.

" You should not say that! What if someone's heard you! Did you know that the one who talked about like that to the two masters was where not found!" The maid intensely whispered which makes the maid gulp.

" Not all the things need to be spoken up inside this mansion. Because in just one word that they don't like they can make you gone in this world!"