Sarah couldn't shake the feeling of being watched by the bulky men at the back.
She tried to remain composed, focusing on her prayers and trying not to mind their lingering gazes. Her thoughts kept drifting to her bandaged palm, a reminder of the previous day's accident, but she tried to push the pain aside and concentrate on the service.
"Am I in a serious trouble?" she asks herself. She looks at her palm with bandage. It still hurts but not so much as compared to yesterday.
Glancing sideways, she noticed that the men were still staring at her, observing her every move. Their intense gaze made her uncomfortable, and she couldn't help but wonder why they were so fixated on her.
As the church service progresses, the woman and the little girl beside Sarah moved to the front row, leaving her alone with the mysterious man in the dark suit and tinted glasses.
Her heart raced as she noticed a ring on his left ring finger that bore a striking resemblance to her Mama Daisy's precious heirloom.
The ring had been her treasured possession, and she had always feared that her wicked aunt would try to take it away from her.
In her mind, she estimates the man's age based on the visibility of nerves in his hand and the texture of his skin. He looks familiar to him and she thinks she has seen him before.
Her heart sank as she realized that the man might be connected to her family in some way. Could he be linked to her Mama Daisy or even her wicked aunt? She had always been cautious about revealing the existence of the ring, fearing that others might covet its value and significance.
As the time for holy communion approaches, the man didn't follow her to the front of the church.
However, the men who had been eyeing her were now dispersed, disappearing into the crowd. Sarah couldn't help but feel relieved, yet her mind was still racing with questions.
After taking the holy communion, she returned to her seat, but the man in the dark suit was nowhere to be seen. The service was coming to an end, and she decided to leave before the crowd started to disperse.
Walking briskly, she tried to blend in with the elite villagers who had their cars waiting for them. She was one of the few who preferred walking, and it seemed like the best way to avoid attracting attention.
"I have to walk where the people are, she told herself." But since it is a village of rich people , all have their cars, and only those who are jogging and the servants doing their errands are walking.
The men who are after her earlier are slowly walking towards her. Her heart raced with fear, and she knew she had to find a safe place to go. Panic got into through her, thoughts of fear erratically running in her mind, she hardly noticed the car which stopped in front.
"Oh my God! It's a Ferrari SF90 Stradale is a plug-in hybrid vehicle!" Her mind exclaimed.
Only few people could afford that car. She know about it because her classmates in international school are very rich and they bring with them magazines about cars which sometimes she barrows.
She was stunned when it opened through its retractable hardtop roof. She was in awe, that she almost forgot the danger that awaits her.
"Hop in, Madame."
Turning to the source, she saw a beautiful woman in a corporate dress sitting in the car with her legs crossed elegantly. The woman's smile was warm and inviting, and Sarah hesitated for a moment before deciding to take the chance.
The car sped off smoothly, and Sarah marveled at the luxurious interior. She couldn't help but exclaim, "This is a Ferrari SF90 Stradale! I've only seen it in magazines before."
The woman smiled, "Yes, it's a special car. By the way, my name is Catherine."
"I'm Sarah Liu," Sarah introduced herself, "Thanks for helping me."
She smiled at her, with her perfect pearly white teeth lined like a print-add model.
As the car glided through the streets, and sped off smoothly that she couldn't even feel the road. She was just sitting while the car moves like a floating bubble.
"So this is how Ferrari SF90 Stradale runs." She thought.
Adjacent to the driver is the man who sat beside her at the church. "It seems that you are evading something Ms. Liu"
"Sarah, Sir. You can call me Sarah."
"So, Sarah, do you know the men following you?" he asks gently
"No, Sir. Not any of them. I... I was afraid of how they stare and follow me."
"Madame, calm you mind." The woman placed her palms in between her hands. "Oh, I'm sorry, I almost squeezed you hand. Does it hurt? It looks bad."
"I had an accident yesterday. My friend Martin, helped me to have it sewn by the doctor."
"I'm Vincent Feng. You looked weary, my child." The man's voice turned cold and serious.
"Sir, I'm just tired and I slept late last night. Please turn left. At the second gate, Sir NO. 62."
The car takes a smooth halt right in front of the Liu Mansion.
"Here is my calling card. We'll see each other again, soon." The man looks at the side mirror.
"Thank you very much for your kindness!" She vowed her head, but since there's a lot in her mind, she just put in her purse without looking at it.
The car didn't leave until she entered the premise of the mansion.
With her the force of her intuition, Sarah's gaze shifted on the upper level of the mansion, looking at the glass window, and she saw her aunt gazing down but suddenly she disappeared. Her inner self is telling her, something strange.
Something is not right. She has to find out.
"Does her aunt has something to do with the men who were after her?"
Still in front of the Lui mansion...
Inside the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, the driver tells his boss, "Master, the car is still behind us."
"Catherine you know what to do."
"Yes, master." Then she called someone over the phone.
"You may now proceed. Make it excruciating but end as clean as you can." She turns the phone off. "Sir, it's done. Shall we go home, now. Master?"
"No, let us visit a friend. I need to speak to him and his son."
From the tainted glass window, the man looks out as if still taken with how pitiful the girl looks.
His mind drifted years ago, a girl with long jet black hair wearing a pink floral hat and a summer dress flying a kite and laughing, with a bright smile on her face that lights up her chinky eyes.
And him on the other hand is flying the kite, pulling the strings, while running through the grassy valleys.
"Uncle Vincent, after me!" calls the lovely girl in a sweet voice as she waves to her, she has ran further than him.
He smiles, and waves back while his other hand is pulling the string of the kite. Then the girl gradually disappears from his sight.
"Master Feng... Master Feng..."
He saw a more mature girl in hazy vision. It was Catherine, knocking his front tinted window. He gathered himself and took a pill from his pocket. He is dreaming again.
He gazes on his wrist watch. 12:30PM. Just in time with his schedule lunch with his long lost friend and his son.
"Master, ready to leave?" asks Mark, his driver.
"Yes, we shall go now." he commands in a low voice.
Mark pressed the blue button in front of him and the retractable hardtop roof opened.
The people outside the celebrity restaurant were all eyes to the man who just came out.
They thought, that brand of car is only seen in magazines, website adds and tv screens. It costs almost a 30 million dollars!
Everyone is busy. And that includes the one who brought pandemonium to her room. Sarah glanced once more at her room. Her meager clothes were all scattered on the floor. Her laptop smashed and her books wrinkled and some were torn into pieces. "My goodness! What happened here?!" The first thing her eyes searched is her photo with her Mama Daisy. She cried, with her hands covering her mouth to stop herself from producing sound for she might cry really loud. Who wouldn't be?! Her hands tremble as she picks the photo with the frame badly destroyed. Her room was totally obliterated. Who could have done such injustice to her? This is supposed to be her home, where she would feel safe and cared for. But now, it was a total opposite. The one who came in her room, is evidently looking for something, which she has no idea. It was really a wise decision she made when she was barely 12 years old to let Mira keep all the photo albums, jewelries and memorabilia her Mama Daisy left her. Add
While still perched on the thick branch at the top of the century-old oak tree, Sarah could only hope for a turn of events in her favor.Trust was scarce within her so-called family, leaving her uncertain even about her uncle's actions. With a mansion full of potential dangers, she clung to the hope that something positive would come her way.A lightbulb of an idea sparked in her mind—she should call her best friend, Emily.Speaking softly to avoid attracting attention from the men in her room just meters away from her hiding spot, Sarah dialed Emily's number."Em... Hello," she whispered, "I'm on a branch of an oak tree, overlooking my room.""Hey! Lovely head, what's up?" Emily mimicked a commercial, not fully grasping the seriousness of the situation."This is serious, Em. Masked men came to my room, ransacked everything, and this morning, I was chased by men who look like mercenaries," Sarah explained, trying to catch her breath amid her nervousness."OMG! Should I call the police
"Oh, my baby!" cried Mira in distress."Quick, Peter, we have to carry her. Let's take her to the downstairs garage. We need to be very careful. I'll gather some of her things and pack mine as well. We're leaving tonight." she kneels and hugs Sarah.Peter gently picks up Sarah, being cautious not to attract attention. "We mustn't draw any suspicion. Let's check if there are people outside and use the fire escape."Mira nods in agreement, giving her OK sign. They stealthily move through the hall, hiding behind the large plants and furniture whenever someone passed by."Hey, Jane, have you seen Mira?" asked another maid who was dressed modestly for the party."No, besides Madame Huifen hired a lot of people to work tonight because she wants first-class service," Jane replied while dabbing her makeup."At least we get to take part in the back. Perhaps Mira has her own date," the other maid mocked, and they all laughed.Mira fumed with frustration. "Oh, those creeps. Wait till I get my ha
At the debutante's party, anticipation built as the Toast Master's voice resonated through the hall, announcing the moment everyone had been eagerly waiting for.Martin flashes a celebrity smile to everyone including to Adelle, "Sweetie, you have to enjoy my arms, while your debut ball lasts." He approaches her and angles out his right left arm to his princess.Adelle, didn't get his exact point but she smiles at him anyway. She thoughts, what matters, one of the most sought after rich bachelors in Shanghai is here with him. "I'm glad you came for me, thank you."Martin replies while waving at the guests, "Don't imagine things my dear.""Really? Obviously, you are enjoying every moment with me, as you did that night before." She flashes her sweetest smile, too, and leans on his shoulders for a perfect shot."Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests of the marvelous village, please gather around as we proudly present the debutante of the year, the radiant Ms. Adelle Wei Lui. She is wearin
Peter all tied up turns to Mira, and both of them wonder. Then they saw two guys helping them out… Then another two came. A man in full-combat flashes his light, "You're safe now. We'll get you the medical attention you need." Mira relieve and let out a sigh, "Thank you, thank you so much! Peter grateful, "You arrived just in time." "Help, my baby, Please, help Sarah." Mira cries incessantly to the two men in full battle gear. Peter tells them, "Please, save her, They took here at the cabin." The two looks at each other and the other one calls someone to direct them at the cabin. Inside the dusty old cabin… "Well, what do we have here?" She sneers at Sarah all tied up in a chair. "For starters, this won't take us long, Let's do something about your face, shall we?!" Huifen laughs at the poor girl the removes the cloth inside her mouth. She wears on iron knuckles and delivers menacing punches on Sarah, each on her eyes twice, then two punches again that cut through her slend
"This is a private property, you are causing distress! I own this place!" Huifen shouts at them. A uniformed man seizes her hands and pinned her down, "Lady, stop what you are doing. Our boss is going to punish you terribly," "I am the boss here, dumb-ass! Ouch! My gown you will rip it off. This costs millions!" Then the lights were on at the cabin. Huifen saw the badly beaten Sarah being helped by uniformed men. "That girl is an outlaw, she stole from me so she is beaten, so badly. Don't help her, instead punish her more!" she tells them like a mad woman. Sarah's feet were untied from the chair by the uniformed men. "Thank you, she said as she is bleeding. In a very soft almost whispering voice she asked, "Did you my friends in the woods? Please, help them." "Young Lady Master, they are safe now." "Chairman Feng, we're approaching the location," the pilot informed him. The sight of the sprawling estate that belongs to Ms. Daisy Zang Lui filled Chairman Feng with a mix of anxie
Martin was enveloped with an overwhelming sense of fear, the likes of which he had never experienced before. Witnessing such inhumane torture at the hands of Chairman Feng, he now knew better than to ever cross paths with them. The scenes of brutality and mutilation, especially towards Huifen, and her lover, were etched in his mind, haunting him even as he tried to compose himself. He looks on Alfred Lui as he goes on crawling to the Chairman, and kissed his bloodied shoes. "Master, please, forgive me. I was greedy and weak. I never even did something to solve the mystery of my sister's death. I take the blame for my weakness. Please, Chairman, spare Adelle. She may not be my daughter, and has done meanness to Sarah, she is still young to suffer and die." "So, tell me, Alfred. All these years, you haven't learned what family means? He looks down at Alfred with disgust. "Your sister sacrificed so much for you. She was enslaved, sold and tortured by Lao clan just to earn money for
Two months later...After recuperation followed by her colorful graduation, Sarah moved to Feng Villa in Shanghai's billionaire village, as promised by her granduncle.It is a three-level mansion with all the high technology facility. It one of the very rare designs within the city.It's far larger than the Lui Estate now named as Ms. Daisy Lui Feng Estate, with Mira serving as the landlady and her assistant Peter. They are no longer servants, but the trusted managers of the estate.As for her friend Emily, she is always in touched with her, and they will be attending the same university with the help of his granduncle, of course.She has been training under Master Lui Wang, the head of the Feng and Xiang clans' security for five decades. Despite his age, his character and strength are still amazing in his mid 70s.After a month of training, she is ready to take her skills to the next level.They shifted their focus to intense marksmanship training, and Sarah's unwavering dedication