It was unknown when Nina had fallen asleep. When she woke up, her body was already sore from sitting in the same position the entire night. After massaging her limbs, she stood up and pulled open the curtains on the windows.
Her eyes rested upon the golden arcing rays that illuminated outside.
The sunlight conjured the most brilliant of mosaics, reflecting from each leaf and cloud. As if it were happy to create art where it shone, warm and steady.
But unlike the joy in the light, there was only darkness in Nina’s life.
After she freshened up, she entered the kitchen and prepared breakfast for everyone.
Although the Santiagos were considered slightly well-off, they did not have any helpers.
But they did have her though, the unofficial maid.
She was solely in charge of all the household chores, including laundry, cooking, cleaning, and so on.
By the time she was done preparing the food, everyone had gathered at the dining table.
The family of three was discussing something fervently but immediately quietened down when she came out.
Serving them, Nina pulled out her chair and began eating, ignoring their occasional glances.
Mr. Santiago cleared his throat and started. “Alyson was careless last night and did not notice that the makeup products were expired.”
Nina paused and raised her head.
Mr. Santiago avoided her gaze guiltily and spoke. “It was my fault for not knowing the truth and blaming you. But you should understand that Dad only did it because he loves you both equally and can’t see you two at loggerheads.”
“That’s right, Nina. You both are the daughters of this family. You won’t mind this bit of misunderstanding, will you?” Mrs. Santiago continued, playing her role of a loving mother.
A mocking look appeared in her eyes as she watched the hypocritical acts of the couple.
This was how it was. Every time something happened, they would release their frustration on her and treat her like a punching bag. Curse her for being a jinx and, as soon as the day passed, they would act as though nothing happened.
Nina was accustomed to it and continued eating her breakfast, not entertaining them.
Mr. Santiago cursed in his head at her lack of response but calmed himself after getting a look from his wife. With a smile, he turned to Nina. “Yesterday we did not have a proper celebration for Alyson’s coming-of-age ceremony, hence I have booked a table in the restaurant tonight to make up for the same.”
“I’ll skip. I have work to do.” Nina declined.
“What work can be more important than your family?” Annoyed, Mr. Santiago asked angrily.
At that moment, Alyson, who had been sitting quietly, finally spoke. “Sister, I know you’re angry about what happened last night. I was just too excited about my birthday and did not check the products beforehand, causing all the misunderstanding. If you want to want to vent your anger, I’ll let you hit me. I can also kneel for you. Please forgive me.” To prove her sincerity, Alyson stood up from her seat but was immediately held down by her mother.
“Alyson, what are you doing? Your sister is very magnanimous and won’t hold it against you. Right, Nina?”
Nina remained unfazed by her crocodile tears. She placed down the spoon and leaned back on the chair unhurriedly. “Alright, kneel if you want me to forgive you.”
Alyson was spoilt by her mother. From a young age, she was overbearing and selfish. Nina really wanted to see how long she could keep up the pretense.
“Presumptuous!” Mr. Santiago threw his cutlery and stood up angrily while Mrs. Santiago’s face also darkened.
“What? She was the one who suggested it.” Nina shrugged her shoulders and said coolly. “Or were you just doing lip service?”
Alyson bit her lower lip. Tears immediately gathered in her eyes, ready to fall any second. Her demeanor of a delicate and pitiful lady immediately softened the hearts of her parents.
“You…”
“Alright. I’ll apologize to you on her behalf. Let bygones be bygones. Today is a good day. Nina, remember to dress up properly tonight.” Mrs. Santiago intervened, mediating the situation. If this went on, they could forget about taking action tonight.
Nina sneered inwardly as they rambled on, feeling the urge to splash the hot soup on their faces. They portrayed their words beautifully, making her the villain.
When they were happy, they would talk about familial ties. When they were not, they would become utterly heartless.
She expressed her assent. If she did not agree, they would continue to cause a ruckus until they coerced her into conceding to their request.
“Alyson is such a sensible girl. You’re older than her, but still not half as understanding.” Her father commented disappointedly.
Nina suddenly lost her appetite and excused herself.
After making sure she was nowhere in sight, Alyson turned serious and asked in a low voice, “Dad, are you sure this will work? There’s still one final round left before I sign the contract. I really don’t want to lose this golden opportunity.”
Mr. Santiago patted Alyson’s shoulder and said confidently. “Don’t worry. I’ve asked around and invited Mr. Lawrence. At worst would just let Nina take the hit for us.”
Mrs. Santiago also reminded her. “Alyson, it wasn’t easy for your father to invite that person. Don’t disappoint us.”
---
The evening sky was aglow with bright city lights. The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky.
Mr. Santiago and his family arrived in their car at the hotel. It was a three-star Michelin restaurant. The couple had gone all out for their darling daughter’s birthday dinner.
Tonight, Nina wore a gorgeous red lace dress that accentuated her lithe figure. Her long black hair was down, making her face appear small and delicate.
Alyson looked at her, green with jealousy.
Unlike her, who was dressed head to toe in brands, the miser in front of her was wearing clothes she had stitched with her own hands.
No matter how lavishly she dressed and dolled herself up, she would always be reduced to her shadows once Nina appeared in the picture.
She really hated Nina to the core.
But after tonight, she would see if she can continue to be smug. Thinking about what was about to happen tonight immediately put her in a good mood.
With a sweet smile, she walked towards Nina and held her arms intimately. “Sister, you look really beautiful. I wonder how many men will break their hearts tonight.”
Nina furrowed her gentle brows when the latter came up to her. Although this wasn’t the first time, she was still uncomfortable with her touch.
Alyson knew very well that she hated coming into close contact with anyone, yet she would always come up with ways to make her feel disgusted.
Inside the hotel’s private room.
Laughing and chattering could be heard inside the room. Dishes were served on the table. Aside from their family, there was also a middle-aged man in his sixties. He was one of the investors of the company Alyson had auditioned for.
Although they claimed it was a family dinner, Nina knew that her family was just trying to suck up to the investor.
Throughout the dinner, she noticed the investor, Henry Lawson’s obscene gaze, had been fixated on her body, as though she were a delicacy that had landed in his hands. Her stomach churned in disgust whenever he ‘accidentally’ touched her. Anyone with eyes could see through his intentions, but her father chose to turn a blind eye to it.
Nina wasn’t oblivious to how the entertainment industry worked. This type of thing was so common that it had been normalized in their workplace. Hence, she had never liked the idea of Alyson entering the entertainment industry. With great fame came great consequences. But Alyson did not care about any of it. She and her parents only wanted to integrate themselves into the upper class of society. And for that, they would resort to all means.
Hence, she could only endure.
The rest of the dinner went on quickly. Her parents were in a good mood and even Alyson was all smiles as she talked with Henry.
As they wrapped up the dinner, Mr. Santiago called the server and asked him to bring over Gerard Boulay.
He filled up his glass and gave his precious daughter a toast. “Here, cheers to Alyson for turning eighteen! May you have a bright future ahead.”
Nina unhurriedly picked up her glass and lightly clinked it with the others.
After gulping it down, she excused herself and went to the bathroom. As soon as she left the room, she heaved a huge sigh.
Finally, she could go home.
After she was done with her affairs, she stood in front of the washbasin and washed her hands.
Suddenly, a warm feeling rushed through her body, causing her to sway slightly.
Nina quickly held on to the stand to support herself.
There was a dry and hot sensation within her body that made her incredibly unwell. She felt something was wrong with her body. Just as she was about to call out someone for help, her head spun and her vision turned black before she fell into unconsciousness.
In the hotel room, a figure was sprawled across the bed. The straps of her dress had fallen, revealing her thin and slender shoulders. The person by the bed grabbed her delicate face to check if she had fainted. Good, that she’s unconscious. The man took out his cell phone and made a call. “Hello? Yes, I’ve already sent her to your room. When will you be arriving? Hahaha. Mr. Henry, don’t worry. My daughter is still a virgin and had never even been in a relationship before.” “Also, can you tell me when can my company sign the contract papers? Sure, it’d be best if we do it tomorrow.” “Then I won’t take much of your time. Please enjoy!” The man turned around cheerfully and left. After the door to the room closed, the girl on the bed slowly opened her eyes. Yes, the person earlier was none other than her biological father who had set her up! No wonder her so-called family had suddenly turned so affectionate towards her at the dinner. Turned out they were planning such a conspirac
Blood drained from Nina’s face. Just as their hands were about to touch her clothes, with her trembling lips, she managed to shout. “I agree.” Silence. The surrounding area seemed to have immediately quietened down upon hearing her voice. The man who had left her to fend for herself stopped in his tracks. Shaking his head, he knew that it was going to be a long night. Footsteps could be heard in the eerie night, and the man appeared in front of her. With his impressive height, he looked down at her miserable self and sneered. Her long hair was plastered to her delicate neck and the right side of her face had started to swell. It was a ghastly sight. The guard did not hold himself back while slapping her. “But I don’t want to help you now.” His low, monotonous voice rang in her ears. “I had given you a chance, but you did not cherish it. You must have thought I was too easy to talk to. Want me to help you? Sure, but first beg me.” Nina shut her eyes, and two streams of tears roll
Nina felt as though she heard an absurd joke. “What does his company have got to do with me? Do I own a share in it, or has anyone ever considered me a part of this family? Who gave you the confidence that I’ll agree?” So many years had passed, and they still thought she would obey whatever they said. Mrs. Santiago’s face darkened. She took off all the pretense and pointed at Nina tersely. “We aren’t asking for your opinion. If not for us feeling pity on you that day, you’d probably be begging on the streets by now. This is what you owe us for taking care of you all these years!” “I don’t owe you guys shit.” Nina roared. “I’m grateful to you for giving me a roof to cover my head and giving me two times a meal. If not for that, I would have already called the cops by now.” Everyone’s expression changed drastically. “I didn’t come back to reconcile with your family. If you’re that desperate to save the company, go spread your legs yourself. From today onwards, I, Nina, have nothin
After they left the mall, Jayden and Nina drove straight to the civil affairs bureau to get their marriage certificates. Nina felt a series of complicated emotions as she stared at the certificates in her hand. In the blink of an eye, she was already married at the age of twenty. The car drove along the villa areas in the Feron district area. As they passed the entrance gate, the guard recognized the license plate and greeted them politely. Nina had read this place was where Spring City’s wealthiest and most influential people lived. The housing price in this area was extremely high and unless you had a certain status, you could not purchase a property here. Did she just hit the jackpot? The car stopped in front of the villa. “Let’s go.” The cold voice pulled her back to reality. Jayden walked out of the car and went inside. Nina followed behind him silently. Inside the villa, several servants lined up in a row and bowed respectfully at Jayden. “Welcome home, master.” Jayden
The room was cloaked in darkness, with a faint light streaming through the night lamp. As the bed beside her sunk, her fingers subconsciously tightened around the bedsheets. A faint fragrance of sandalwood suddenly invaded her senses, and Jayden pressed her under him. Nina was pretending to be asleep, but after being crushed under his weight, her eyes flew wide open. “Not pretending anymore?” He looked at her with his two good-looking eyes. “W-What are you doing?” Nina felt she must be stupid to ask such an obvious question. Jayden’s body was pressed against hers, and she could feel the changes in his body. A light chuckle escaped from the man’s thin lips and his low, seductive voice rang in her ears. “Something that adults do.” He bowed his head and just as he was about to kiss her, Nina evaded it and his lips landed on her cheek. Jayden squinted his eyes and lifted her chin. He did not give her time to move, and his lips landed on hers. Her lips were soft and as sweet as he
Furious, Nina stood up angrily and pointed at him. “Could you please listen to me first? I’m not running away from you or this marriage. This place is located on the outskirts of the city and is almost a few hours away from the college. There are no taxis or cabs available nearby either. Next month I would enter the internship period. Do you expect me to spend my entire day traveling back and forth?” “There are dozens of cars parked in the garage. Take whichever you want with you.” “How’s it the same? Do you have any idea how much time would it take me to travel?” “Not my business.” Nina was speechless. “Then don’t even bother about where I live. Also, I’ve agreed on this marriage because I’m grateful to you for saving me and want to give this marriage a try. But that does not mean you can intimidate me or boss me around. If you want this marriage to work, then you should learn to respect your partner, too. If you can’t even do the bare minimum, then don’t blame me for pushing you
Jayden felt that his little wife could eat well. Even though she looked thin, her appetite was unbelievably good. Thinking of something, he pulled out a platinum card and pushed it toward her. “If I don’t get a transaction message from the bank, I’ll keep on adding ten thousand dollars every day.” He said. “Cough.” Nina choked on the soup, hearing his domineering words. Before she could comprehend, the doorbell rang. Rick walked towards the dining area, greeting the couple. “Master, Madam, good morning!” “Good morning,” Nina replied. Jayden stood up and took his suit jacket from Ms. Eva. “Let’s go. I’ll drive you to school.” Nina wanted to decline, but Jayden had already walked toward the door. Helpless, she could only grab her bag and follow behind. IDU was only a twenty minutes drive from their apartment. When they drove into the campus area, Nina suddenly asked him to stop. Rick pressed the brakes and pulled over at the side. Nina turned to look at him and said. “Thank you f
"There's nothing troublesome about dressing up and feeling good about yourself," Tyler answered, offering Nina a comforting look through the rearview mirror. He could see the hesitation in her eyes and tried to instill confidence in her. Nina shrugged, her eyes flickering down to her lap. “I just don’t want to deal with people's judgment.” Kaylin leaned in closer, her voice gentle and kind. “Nina, you’re amazing just the way you are. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone.” Nina smiled. She didn't respond, but Tyler and Kaylin's words of encouragement put her at ease. --- The Imperial Club was one of the most sought-after bars in Spring City. That evening, the students had reserved a private room for their welcome gathering. The space was dimly lit, and vibrant beams of colored light swayed across the walls. The pulsating rhythm filled the air, quickening the heartbeat of everyone present. In one corner of the room, a bustl