Chapter 1

"Jerk! What do you think of me compared to the women at the Hacienda, like a subdued modern Maria Clara? Bullshit!" She shook her head vehemently, her eyes flashing with defiance.

"Not a chance!" A piercing scream erupted from the woman's lips as she forcefully stomped on the perpetrator's sexual organs.

The man had been caught in the act of molesting one of the farmer's children, and the woman was not about to let him get away with it. Her eyes blazed with fury as she exacted her revenge, the sound of her victim's pained cries filling the air.

The woman seethed with anger, her eyes flashing with fury. She donned her notorious smirk and grin. With unrelenting resolve in her eyes, she planted her foot firmly on his stature, asserting her dominance over the beaten man. The wind tousled her wavy hair, sending strands flying in every direction.

She donned her customary ensemble of a long-sleeved shirt, sleek black pants, and rugged cowboy boots. A cowboy hat rested atop her head, completing the look.

With a sense of urgency as she witnessed the scene, the woman dismounted her horse and quickly mounted it again. She was eager to survey the vast expanse of their land, taking in the sight of the grazing cows, horses, and goats, as well as the clucking chickens and snorting pigs.

He pleaded with the young woman, his voice trembling with fear and regret. "Ma'am, I implore you to show me mercy. I swear on my life that I shall never repeat my mistake again."

Undoubtedly, her ash-gray locks complement her appearance, lending an air of resilience to her demeanor despite her petite stature.

At a mere height of 5 feet and 2 inches, she stood before him. Her skin was as pale as freshly fallen snow, but the slightest touch of sunlight would transform it into a rosy hue. Despite the relentless blaze of the sun, her skin remained immaculately tended to.

He pleaded with a contrite tone, his eyes fixed on hers. "Please, Ma'am Savannah, I give you my word that I shall never repeat my mistake." He looked at her with desperation in his eyes. "My mother needs me," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I am the only one she expects."

Savannah's eyes narrowed as she let out a derisive snort, her gaze fixed on the man before her. It was as if she couldn't believe the audacity of his words.

The young maiden, just twenty years old, contorted her face in a displeased manner. The creature's countenance was that of an angel, yet its demeanor was anything but divine. The farmer's daughter found herself in a precarious situation when the man, who had previously only stolen a kiss, attempted to take things further by laying his hands on her.

"Insolent fool! Do you believe I would buy it? Men of your ilk are not fit to roam free, for the weight of your transgressions must be atoned for." Her voice echoed through the room as she let out a piercing shout.

Growing up under the watchful eye of her protective brothers, she learned to be cautious when it came to placing her trust in men. The hunter-prey dynamic between men and women has been a longstanding aspect of human nature. Onlookers observed the scene with pursed lips and disapproving headshakes.

The personnel of the hacienda had grown accustomed to their female superior. Familiarity with her is a given, and unlike its predecessors, this particular entity refrains from condescension towards any individual.

The young woman persisted in brandishing the whip that lay in her grasp. She exuded an air of malevolence, as if poised to strike down anyone who dared cross her path. Yet, upon closer inspection, it became clear that she was not the villain she appeared to be.

She stood tall, a beacon of courage in the face of adversity. Even when other people violated her fundamental rights, her unwavering spirit refused to give in.

The enigmatic nature of men like this person and his older siblings confused Savannah, who furrowed her brow.

The man possessed a frenzied demeanor, while her siblings exhibited an overly cautious nature, seeking to govern her every move.

Savannah felt suffocated, trapped within the confines of the Hacienda. She longed to escape, to break free from the oppressive atmosphere that surrounded her. Yet, despite her best efforts, she remained here, unable to find a way out.

From elementary to senior high school, she was educated at home. As she embarked on her collegiate journey, her elder siblings escorted her to the local Community College, a humble institution situated in their native province, the expenses of which were generously borne by her brothers.

She was a woman of such beauty and grace that no man dared to approach her for fear of rejection. Suitors were strictly forbidden from attempting to win her heart, and she remained aloof and unattainable to all who sought her favor.

Savannah arched her neck, tilting her head slightly. Her frustration had escalated into a seething anger that threatened to boil over at any moment. The seething anger within was palpable. As a trained psychologist, she possessed a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the field of mental health.

Her paranoid brothers' overbearing presence, which prevented her from honing her craft, thwarted her professional aspirations. Despite her frustration and disappointment, she remained determined to find a way to overcome this obstacle and pursue her passion for helping others.

She was on guard and under constant watch by watchful eyes everywhere she went. But here, at their Hacienda, she felt a sense of freedom that was rare in her life. Savannah struggled to steady her breath, her irritation mounting as the man at her feet pressed heavily on her chest.

Savannah's eyes narrowed as she fixed her gaze on the man before her. Her hand tightened around the whip, ready to strike. But just as she was about to unleash her fury, a voice from behind her caused her to pause.

"Sir Sebastian has requested to speak with you, Miss Savannah." With a curious gaze, Savannah fixed her eyes on it. As she turned the corner, her eyes fell on the maid. With a heavy sigh, she gave a subtle nod in her direction.

"You go first; I'll just fix something for a while," she stated. The maid bowed and left. She turned to face him. With a subtle gesture, she rotated her eyes upward in a display of exasperation.

"You!" With a graceful gesture, she indicated one of their personnel who held the responsibility of overseeing their workforce. Her mind went blank, and the one thing she couldn't recall was her own name. She was too busy to dwell on it.

"Yes ma'am?!" The woman responded with rapt attention.

Please confirm whether what he said a while ago is true. Put him behind bars temporarily." She informed me, then departed.

She felt a sense of certainty wash over her as she contemplated the inevitable argument that would ensue between her and her brother. Savannah was perplexed by her eldest brother's behavior and couldn't fathom what was going through her mind when she decided to tease him.

She strode into the house with purpose, her footsteps echoing through the empty halls. Without hesitation, she made her way to her brother's office, her hand reaching for the doorknob without bothering to knock. As she gazed upon the scene before her, she beheld not only the eldest offspring but the entire brood.

"Savvy! Why do you appear so anxious?" Sato spoke up, his position as the fourth born giving him the courage to do so.

Sato stepped forward and gently wiped her face. Savannah shook it and glared at her brother.

"I'm not a baby anymore!" Savannah said she was annoyed. As she stood there, lost in thought, a sudden gust of wind swept through the area, tousling her hair in its wake. It was as if the very elements were conspiring to disrupt her peace. He uttered those words to her: "For us, you are still you."

Saki may have been lenient towards her, but when it comes to safeguarding her, the second brother exhibits a merciless demeanor.

Savannah let out a low grumble and shot a sharp glare in Saito's direction. As she turned her gaze towards him, she caught sight of Saito's face; his lips curled upward in a mischievous grin. He was a man of few words, but when his temper flared, his cruelty knew no bounds. This was her elder brother, a figure of quiet menace whose wrath was to be feared above all else.

Savannah's head bobbed in agreement, her countenance taking on a solemn expression. I am well aware that you did not beckon me here merely to taunt me.

"What is all this commotion, my dear brothers?" she asked with a calm and collected tone. With a serious tone, she posed the question to them.

Her gaze fell upon his elder siblings, who had subtly shifted their stances. Savannah's keen observation skills allowed her to discern the situation merely from the subtle shifts in their movements.

"It's about Otousan again? Goodness!" She spat out the words with venom, her eyes blazing with anger. "Tell him to go straight to hell!" Savannah's fists tightened into balls.

He was nothing more than a mere sperm donor to them. Her heart was filled with intense loathing for him. The sole caretaker of their upbringing was none other than their mother. The patriarch of the family was deemed ineffectual, akin to a rooster who had abandoned his mate to tend to the task of egg-laying alone.

Their father already has a family in Japan, and he is now putting their lives in danger because he wanted Savannah to marry his friend's son.

It was rumored to be for the betterment of their enterprise. The benefits, alas, were reserved solely for the business and the esteemed First Family. The Takahashi bloodline was known for producing male heirs, making the birth of a girl a rare and treasured event. Such was the case with the young girl in question, who was held in high esteem by her family and community alike.

'Precious are their faces!' She knew they wanted her to marry that man because her father wished for more influence in Japan. "I shall never permit it!" she declared firmly.

"You already know what my answer is to that f*cking proposal! I won't! Never!" She pondered, "If only I could bring myself to embrace his surname alongside Mommy's, I would have readily acquiesced!" From a young age, she harbored a deep-seated resentment toward her father.

Which child would prefer a father who has families in the Philippines and Japan with separate women? Only his dad. 'Good! Otousan is an absolute demon!' She couldn't help but be sarcastic about herself.

Savannah had grown accustomed to the fact that her father's side of the family produced siblings of the same age as her elder brothers. It was no longer a source of surprise for her.

"We know Savvy, chill. Okay? We are against this too! But we can't go against Otousan, especially since he had a high position in Japan." Sebastian's fist tightened as he spoke with clarity.

Savannah lowered herself into the plush armchair, her father's shameless behavior leaving her feeling manipulated and vulnerable.

Her father boasted an extensive network of contacts in both the Philippines and Japan. Despite its own mother taking legal action against it for infidelity, it had managed to elude justice.

The loss of their mother was a devastating blow, one that left them reeling with grief and struggling to make sense of the world around them. It was a concession to their father's shameless behavior, a cruel twist of fate that had robbed them of the one person who had always been there for them.

In the wake of this tragedy, they were left to grapple with their emotions and try to find a way forward. The sprawling Hacienda belonged to the maternal grandparents of the siblings. The object in question was one that their father was unable to lay a finger on.

"It's good, and we understand each other." She seethed with anger as she spoke, her eyes flashing with fierce intensity. "You know I hate him!" she exclaimed, her voice dripping with venom. She wondered why he continued to speak to them even after he left.

Her brothers sighed at the same time. She was showered with lavish gifts, each one more extravagant than the last. She couldn't help but notice that despite her brothers' impressive careers and extensive networks, their father's influence still towered over them all.

They preferred the solace of silence and the absence of his company. Savannah's temper flared as she dealt with her staff a while ago, but now her fury reached new heights as she seethed over her worthless father.

Savannah's elder siblings exchanged a meaningful glance. Their love for their sister was immeasurable, a bond that transcended any obstacle that fate could throw their way. No matter the circumstances, they vowed to be her protector, her unwavering shield against the harshness of the world.

Their heads shook in unison, a silent agreement passing between them. With a heavy heart, they knew that their only option was to prioritize Savannah's well-being and do what would bring her the most joy.

"We've devised a plan," Sebastian said, his voice low and urgent. "Your only task is to get away from the Hacienda for the mean time."