Chapter 1

I draw and anchor the bow. I let out a sigh as I released the arrow. I smirked as I looked at my score of 10. I heard Reed clapping his hands. 

"Nice shot, Sadie," he said, smirking at me. 

I shook my head as I watched him aiming the target. He scored 9. I smiled playfully and gave him a thumbs up. 

"Too bad, bro. When Sadie hits a perfect score, you'll lose," Kyle said. 

I fixed my grip on the handle and aimed the bow. Then I released it. 

"How's that?" I chuckled at Reed who was just smirking at me. 

"Good job, Sadie. You're getting better and better. Maybe soon I'll always lose against you, huh." 

"You're flattering me. But yeah, thanks to my great teacher," aniko at mahinang natawa. Reed is an archer so he's really good at this. 

"You're welcome?" he said, smiling playfully. 

Kyle, Reed and I did a high five as we finished. I took off my finger tab, arm guard and chest guard. 

"You should go home. It's nearly late. You'll be scolded again," sabi ni Levi habang nililigpit ang gamit. 

"You have class tomorrow?" Reed asked. I nodded and sighed. "Yeah."

 ***

"Sadie! Are you done with your class? Do you wanna grab some food with us?" Monica said. 

I nodded. It's still early. We headed to the Starbucks near our University. They're just chatting and I remained silent, listening to them. I know that sometimes they find me awkward because of my behaviour.

"Leo is in a coma right now," Annie whispered, it's like she's telling a secret.  

They gasped. "What? What happened? Why is he in a coma? He's a basketball player pa naman."

Annie nodded. "I know right. Mom and I visited him last night. Two weeks na siyang naroon. Kung nakita niyo lang ang lagay niya. Pilay at bali na ang braso niya. Even his face is full of bruises. He was tortured. Grabe ang lagay niya." 

"W-Why would someone do that to him? He's such a kind and gentleman."

"Right. Hindi mahanap-hanap ang gumawa sa kaniya niyon. Maybe he's a powerful man, more powerful than Leo's family." 

Monica turned to me. "Do you already know about this? Leo likes you. Did you already let him court you?" 

I didn't answer. I just stared at my drink. 

But honestly, I'm a little bit surprised. Leo likes me. He wants to court me but I rejected him. Because he's an assh*le. I remembered that night when I got traumatised because of him. 

That night when he forced me to let him court me. I got bruises on my body because he's being aggressive towards me. I didn't tell my parents because his parents are my parents' business partners.

***

I let out a heavy sigh as I looked at Gina who's helping me to put my Corset on me. I groaned as she tightened it more. Gina is my personal helper. She's like my stylist, my makeup artist and everything.  

"Kaunti na lang, Madame." 

"Can I not wear this today? Just don't tell Mom," I convinced her. Ngumiwi siya at umiling. 

"Just don't tell her," I said desperately. 

"Sorry, Madame Sadie. Alam niyo naman na laging sinisigurado ng Mother niyo."

I nodded. "You're right. It's just tiring to wear this everyday." 

I irritatedly looked at the door because of the knock. "Madame, pinapatawag po kayo ng Mom ninyo, sa office niya raw po.” 

Sinigurado ko na maayos ang buhok at mukha ko. I pouted as I looked at my pale skin. Lumabas na ako at tumungo sa office ni Mom. 

"Mom, Dad," I said as I both looked at them. Bahagya pa akong nagulat nang makita rin si Daddy. 

Taas-noong tumayo si Mommy at naglakad papalapit sa akin. I stood straight and looked at her cold eyes. I suddenly received a slap from her. 

"You didn't meet my high expectations for you, Sadie. I'm very disappointed," she said.  

"Bumaba ang grades mo, and guess what? You're not the top in your school. What's the problem with you?" she hissed. 

"B-But I'm still on–" I stopped when she cut me off from talking.

"May mas mataas sa’yo. Are you proud of that? Gusto ko 'yong mas mataas ka sa kanilang lahat! Can't you see? Nalalamangan ka! Because you're not focusing on your studies." She took a deep breath like she's losing her cool. 

But I did everything to get good grades. I studied hard for that. I tried my best so they will be proud of me. Pero mukhang hindi pa sapat. 

"Don't worry, hon. She will do better next time," Dad said. "Right, princess?" he smiled. 

I nodded and looked down. "Y-Yes. I'm sorry. For disappointing you. I will do better next time."

"As you should, Sadie. Everyone is looking up at you. You're Alvarez . Don't disappoint people. And us."

I cried and cried silently the whole day in my room after I heard my parent's words on my grades. 

***

Years passed until I graduated. Graduation is a happy event to everyone but for me it's not. I didn't even feel the sincerity of my parents' congratulations to me. We had a family gathering with our other relatives to celebrate my graduation and also my other cousins. 

Years passed again, until I turned 22. I'm now a model. That's what my Mom wanted me to be, since I have no interest in business. That's why I pursue being a model since that's what I think I wanted to be too. Minahal ko na lang din ang pagiging modelo ko. 

My Mom was known as a famous model. But she's no longer a model now since she had me.   

Until the day that made my mind go blank. I was so speechless. I feel like my whole life was destroyed. All of that because of what I've heard. 

"You're going to marry someone. A billionaire." 

"What?! Mom! Are you serious?" Hindi ko maiwasang sumigaw. And that's the first time I raise my voice at them. 

"Don't raise your voice at your Mother, young lady! How dare you!" Dad shouted. 

I let out a breath and closed my eyes. I feel like the world is spinning. 

"Sadie! Hindi kita tinuruan ng ganiyan! Don't you dare disobey us! We're your parents!" 

I looked down. Then I felt my tears pour. 

"And you're now crying? Pathetic! Did you forget what I've taught you? This is unbelievable!" she shouted. 

"Stop crying! For goodness sake, Sadie. You'll cry just because of this? We are doing this for you! Don’t cry in front of me and stop being emotional!"

I calm myself even though I'm still panicking and my crumpled brain. Pinilit kong itago ang aking emosyon. 

I heard Mommy sighed in relief when she saw my expression, and that satisfied her. She would rather see me without emotion than to cry and laugh. 

"Listen. This company is one of the well-known companies in the world, not just in the Philippines. And now that their heiress is leading, their company has become even more powerful."

"I want a better man for you. And he’s perfect for my standard. Hindi siya basta-basta pumapayag sa mga ganito. So we can say that you're lucky," she continued. 

I looked down at my unfinished food. As if I'm interested in that man. I'm not even ready to settle down. I didn't even think about marrying someone. Not in my wildest dream that I'm marrying someone that I don't love and doesn't love me. 

Just imagining it is like hell. 

***

My phone rang, I answered it immediately when I saw who's calling. 

"Where are you?" Mom asked.

"I'm at a bar, with my co-models, Mom. We're done in our shoot so we're just grabbing some drinks."

"You need to go home. Now. You're going to meet this important man. You need to be here in a minute." She then hang-up the call.  

It's been a month since Mom told me about marrying someone. And now, she's telling me I'm going to meet someone which makes me feel like I want to cry. 

Akala ko ay wala na iyon. Akala ko ay hindi na nila ako kinausap tungkol doon ay dahil ayoko. Umasa ako na ganoon kahit na alam kong imposible. 

As I entered our mansion, I was shocked when someone grabbed my arm aggressively. 

"Where have you f*cking been?" My eyes widened as my heart started beating fast. That scared me. I thought I heard some voice from a devil. 

His voice is so deep and husky, to the point that it really scares me. 

Muli kong tinignan ang matangkad na lalaki sa harapan ko. He's 6'4 feet tall, very handsome and masculine. His dark aura is scary and intimidating, he's like he's ready to eat someone alive. His perfect jaw and nose. He's intimidating. I heard he's 29 already. 

I've never seen someone this handsome. I bet he has many girls. His eyes are intent. 

I groaned in pain when I remembered that his big hand is still in my arm. Kahit hindi naman talaga gano'n kasakit. 

His eyes softened at my reaction. Agad niyang binitawan ang braso ko at sinuri iyon. 

"D*mn it. I'm sorry, Doll." I looked up at him when I heard my name from him. And he called me Doll. No one's calling me that. He’s really weird. 

"Sadie, you're here. Come here and have dinner with us. Kanina ka pa namin hinihintay." I turned my gaze into my Mom. 

Muli ko siyang nilingon. His eyes are still on me. Pinapanood ang mga bawat galaw ko. Tinalikuran ko na siya at tumungo sa dining room.

He's looking at me intently like Mom and Dad aren't here. I cleared my throat and looked away. 

The dinner is so uncomfortable for me. And I was even more uncomfortable when Mom mentioned that he's the man that I am going to marry. The man even nodded, like he's waiting for that and to see my reaction. But I just looked down and didn't respond. 

"Well, Sadie is a nice girl. I'm glad that you're the man she'll marry," Mom formally said to him. 

"I'm glad too. And now you two have met, we hope you'll get along," Dad said while looking at me. I sighed and looked down.

"Don't look down, Sadie. Do what I taught you. Smile," Mom whispered to me. She smiled and signalled me to do what she said. 

So I did what she said. Bawat galaw ko ay ingat na ingat ako lalo na at alam kong mahalagang tao ang nasa harapan namin dahil kung hindi at lagot na naman ako. Mom will definitely scold me badly if I did something imperfectly. 

"I am, too," the tall and scary man said. 

"Oh, we forgot to introduce you to each other, my bad." Mom turned to me, smiling. 

"Sadie, he's Accius Niccolo Vasquez. The man you'll marry. Niccolo, she's Sadie Dollina, my only daughter."

The man named Niccolo nodded. "I know," he simply said, still looking at me. 

Nang matapos ang dinner ay agad akong umakyat. Mom called me but I didn't look back. Ni hindi ko na tinapunan ng tingin ang lalaki na iyon. Alam kong galit na naman ni Mom ang sasalubong sa akin mamaya.

Mga ilang minuto pa ay pumasok na si Mom. I saw the irritation in her eyes.

"You're very disrespectful, Sadie. You didn't even say goodbyes. That's a bad impression!" 

I sighed. "Mom, I'm tired–" she cut me off.

"You just walked out, Sadie! And that was not nice! He's your soon to be husband, you should treat him like one! How many times do I have to tell you to be nice to people! You're being an indecent woman."

"I am, Mom! I always do! And I am always trying. I'm just very exhausted right now, Mom."

I'm always trying. Trying hard that I'm tired of doing it. I'm tired of being fake. Nakakapagod din palang magpanggap.  

 

"And I don't want to get married–" Before I could finish, I received a hard slap. 

"You will! You will get married to him. And that's the final, Sadie. You have no choice but to agree," she said with finality. 

"Why, Mom? Why do I need to marry that man? He doesn't look like a good man. He’s scary. I don't think he'll treat me well. Why do we even need him?" I snapped.

Her forehead furrowed. I didn’t continue talking when I noticed her temper. 

"You don't know anything! You don't know what's happening in our company because you don't care! How dare you say that to me?! Wala kang alam, Sadie! Wala kang alam sa mga nangyayari sa amin at sa kumpanya, kaya wala kang karapatan na magsalita!" she shouted while pointing at me.

"Hindi ka namin mapapakinabangan sa kumpanya dahil wala ka namang interes doon. So now that you're going to be useful, you'll complain?"

"Our company is already sinking, Sadie. Last month, it's still okay and we can handle it but now? We can't. We need someone's help, at si Niccolo lang ang makakatulong na makabalik sa dati ang company." I turned to Dad who just entered my room. 

"We're thinking that there's someone behind this. Hindi basta-basta lulubog ng ganito ang ating kumpanya, so there's someone behind all of this." 

"And just his surname with us and being him as your husband is already helpful. As his business partner is already a big help. At lahat iyon ay mangyayari kung magpapakasal ka." I just looked at Dad. 

"We need you right now, Sadie. So please, cooperate with us."

Wala sa sarili akong napatango. Bahala na. I don't own my life so I don't have rights to make 

decisions in my life.