Chapter 1: The Stranger in the Mask

I froze the moment our eyes met.

A man sat like a king on the long sofa in our living room. He wore a black mask, hiding most of his face, but not those eyes—piercing blue, cold as ice. His gaze stabbed straight into my soul, and I was the first to look away.

I couldn’t breathe.

Just a few minutes ago, I was working happily at my little coffee shop.

Now?

Now I was kneeling on the cold tile floor, surrounded by armed men with guns. My heart thundered in my chest. I wanted to run—but I knew I wouldn’t get far.

The man leaned forward, face-to-face with my pale, shaking father.

“Are you going to pay me,” he said in a voice sharp and emotionless, “or should I blow your skull open?”

I stiffened. His voice alone made my blood run cold.

“H-Have mercy…” Papa pleaded, kneeling—kneeling—in front of him.

But mercy wasn’t part of this man’s vocabulary.

He kicked my father so hard that he crashed onto the floor—even after kissing the sole of the man’s shoe.

I wanted to feel sorry.

But how could I, when I might die today because of him?

Tears streamed down my face. Papa used to be untouchable, a respected businessman. Now, he was groveling at a stranger’s feet.

Then came the betrayal.

“M-My daughter! I’ll give her! Let her pay!” Papa shouted, pointing at me.

What?

I stared at him, waiting for him to take it back. To say he didn’t mean it.

But he didn’t.

“P-Papa…” I whispered, shattered.

He crawled toward me and grabbed my hands, crying.

“I’m sorry, anak…”

I yanked my hands away.

This man—this coward—wasn’t my father.

“Papa, don’t do this to me!” I cried. “We’ll figure it out! We’ll pay your debt!”

I wiped my tears, lifted my chin, and turned to the masked man.

“How much does he owe?” I dared to ask.

He smirked.

Without warning, he reached for my hair—twirling it between his fingers, sniffing it like he owned me.

I clenched my fists.

“Even if you sold your organs,” he said coolly, “it wouldn’t cover the debt. So spare me the drama.”

“No!” I snapped. “We’ll pay!”

I slapped his hand away.

He stared at me, then back at his hand, before returning his gaze with a blank expression.

“Trust me, babe. You can’t afford it.”

Papa touched my arm with trembling fingers.

“…Two billion,” he choked out.

My heart dropped.

Two billion?

“What the hell, Papa?! What did you do with two billion?!”

He looked away.

“For you too,” he whispered.

No.

My knees went weak.

Every peso I’ve ever spent, I earned through my own blood and sweat. None of that money was mine.

Rage flared in my chest.

Before I knew it, I was standing.

Five guns were instantly aimed at me.

The man raised a hand, and they lowered their weapons.

I stormed out of the room.

I didn’t look back, even when Papa called after me.

I threw open the door to the biggest bedroom in the house. My half-sister Selene lay there, sleeping peacefully in silk lingerie like nothing was happening.

I lost it.

I grabbed her hair and yanked her out of bed.

“AHHH! Let me go!” she screamed.

“You think you’re safe while we’re fighting for our lives?!” I shouted. “You helped spend that money!”

“Dad! Help me! Let me go, Celeste, you bitch!”

I slapped her.

Papa stumbled in.

“What are you doing to your sister?! Let her go!”

“Sister?” I hissed. “You gave me up while protecting her! You call me your daughter, but I’m just your sacrifice!”

I turned to Selene, trembling with rage.

“You lived in luxury while I suffered. You spent his money—his—and now look where we are!”

Selene backed away, eyes wide in fear.

“W-What’s happening?” she asked as she spotted the masked man watching from the living room like a king surveying his chaos.

The man stood.

“I’ve made my decision,” he said. “I’ll take one of them as compensation. But I’ll also be taking your company, Mr. Madrigal—and everything you own.”

“No! Not my company!” Papa cried out.

“Your daughter isn’t worth two billion,” the man said coldly. “Even if I take everything you have, it still won’t be enough.”

Papa collapsed in silent sobs. Selene was frozen on the floor.

And then… he looked at me.

That smile—devilish and dangerous—made me step back.

“You,” he said. “You’re the one I want.”

“No!” I shouted. “I have nothing to do with his debt! I’m not even part of this family!”

“That’s exactly why I chose you,” he said with a grin. “You’ll be my bride.”

My stomach twisted.

“You’re joking… right?”

He turned to one of his men and extended his hand.

They handed him a gun.

My heart stopped.

And before I could say another word, BANG! BANG!

Papa and Selene screamed as they clutched their bleeding legs.

“If you want to keep them alive,” he said calmly, “you’ll do what I say.”

I didn’t move. I couldn’t breathe.

I turned to run—but pain exploded in my stomach as his fist landed hard.

I gasped.

The world tilted.

Then he lifted me—carried me like a groom carries his bride.

“You’re mine now, Celeste.”

He leaned closer.

“Sleep tight,” he whispered.

The world faded.

But before I lost consciousness, I saw him take off the mask.

Even in the dim light, I recognized that face.

“Y-You…” I whispered.

Then—darkness.