Chapter 1

Rachel’s POV

The first thing I heard that morning was laughter, it was soft, warm, and happy..

It floated through the mansion walls like a cruel reminder that happiness still existed for everyone except me.

I opened my eyes slowly, staring at the cracked white ceiling above my bed while rain tapped gently against the bedroom windows. For a moment, I stayed still beneath the blanket, pretending I was somewhere else, anywhere but here.

The Raphael mansion was massive. Expensive chandeliers, marble floors, gold decorations, everything screamed wealth and power. But my room looked nothing like the rest of the house.

It sat at the far end of the third floor like a forgotten storage space someone suddenly remembered to place a human being inside. Small bed. Small closet. Faded walls.

Clarissa said it suited me. I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and pushed myself up slowly.

Another burst of laughter echoed from downstairs, it was Elena laughter, she was probably showing off another expensive gift from Father.

I pulled my mind away quickly before the jealousy inside me could grow any bigger, my eyes landed on the small framed picture beside my bed, mom, I felt this sudden pain in my chest. 

I picked up the photograph carefully, tracing my fingers over her smiling face. She had the gentlest eyes in the world, eyes that used to look at me like I mattered, like I was loved.

“You always knew how to smile,” I whispered softly, the pain in my chest deepened.

Ever since my mother died seven years ago, this house stopped feeling like home. Clarissa moved in only months later, then Elena, and everything that belonged to Mom slowly disappeared.

Her paintings vanished from the walls, her piano was locked away, her perfume scent faded from the hallways.

And father stopped looking at me the same way too.

I remembered him sitting beside my bed after Mom’s funeral, holding my tiny shaking hands.

“I’ll protect you, Rachel,” “You’ll never lose me too.” He had promised.

But promises were fragile things, especially in this house.

I reached beneath my shirt and touched the silver necklace resting against my chest, mom had given it to me before she died. 

Clarissa tried taking it once, but I fought so hard that Father finally told her to leave it alone.

It was the only thing left that still felt like mine, I closed my eyes briefly as Mom’s final words echoed inside my head.

“No matter how lonely you become, never let this family break your spirit.”

A shaky breath left my lips, “I’m trying, Mom.”

God, I was trying so hard. I stood up slowly and walked toward the mirror hanging near the closet.

The girl staring back at me looked exhausted, my long dark hair fell messily over my shoulders, and shadows rested beneath my eyes from another sleepless night.

“You look pathetic,” I muttered quietly to myself.

Maybe Clarissa had repeated it so many times that I finally started believing her.

I changed into a simple cream-colored dress before leaving my room.

The mansion hallways were silent except for the distant clinking of silverware downstairs, every step toward the dining hall felt heavier than the last.

Then I heard Clarissa’s voice before I even entered, “She always walks around looking miserable. Honestly, it’s embarrassing.”

Elena laughed softly.

I froze outside the doorway for half a second, I forced myself forward anyway.

The dining hall looked beautiful as always, large crystal chandeliers glowed overhead while servants moved quietly around the long table filled with expensive breakfast dishes.

But the atmosphere felt cold enough to freeze skin, Elena sat beside Clarissa wearing a beautiful red dress.

My heart ached painfully, i recognized the dress, it was the same one I had once,  pointed at months ago while passing a boutique downtown.

Father promised he would buy it for me.

Instead, Elena wore it now, Clarissa noticed my stare instantly and a satisfied smile curved her lips.

“Well,” she said loudly, “look who finally decided to join us.”

Father barely glanced up from the business papers in his hands, “You’re late.”

“I’m sorry,” I murmured automatically.

I sat quietly at the far end of the table, hoping breakfast would pass peacefully, that hope lasted less than ten seconds.

Elena reached for her orange juice dramatically before “accidentally” knocking the glass over near my seat.

Juice spilled across the white tablecloth.

“Oh no,” Elena gasped fake innocently. “Rachel distracted me.”

I stared at her in disbelief.

Clarissa sighed loudly, “Can you go one morning without causing problems?”

I blinked slowly, I hadn’t even moved from my spot.

Father finally looked at me properly, irritation flashing across his face, “Honestly, Rachel,” he said coldly. “You make everything difficult.”

The words hit harder than they should have. Because once upon a time it was this same man who used to carry me on his shoulders through the garden while Mom laughed beside us.

Once upon a time, he used to call me his little princess, he loved me loudly. Now loving me felt like a burden to him.

“I didn’t do anything,” I whispered weakly.

Clarissa scoffed, “Playing the innocent card again.”

Elena smirked while dabbing fake tears from her eyes dramatically.

Father returned to his papers like the conversation no longer mattered, like I no longer mattered.

I lowered my gaze quickly before they could see the hurt in my eyes.

Then I heard Clarissa saying quietly: “The Kane family sent another message this morning.”

My attention snapped upward immediately, Kane?

Father’s expression darkened slightly, “We’ll handle it tonight.”

Clarissa noticed me listening and immediately smiled sweetly, the kind of smile that usually meant trouble.

Father folded his papers neatly before finally speaking again, “Rachel, tonight, we’ll discuss your future.”

I looked at him carefully, a strange chill crawled down my spine.

Something about the way he said it made my stomach tighten painfully.

I nodded silently, but  deep down I was restless because I already knew something terrible was coming.

The garden behind the mansion was the only place that still felt alive to me, mom planted the white roses herself years ago, she used to sit beside them every evening while reading books aloud to me.

Now it was the only place where I could breathe without feeling trapped. Rain had stopped by the time I went outside.

The wet air felt cold against my skin as I sat near the roses quietly. I closed my eyes briefly and for a few seconds, I imagined Mom sitting beside me again.

My phone buzzed suddenly, which made me startle, I pulled it out quickly, it was Lucas.

Just seeing his name softened something inside me instantly, me tonight. We need to talk.

I read the message over and over again, a small smile almost appeared on my face before fear crushed it quickly.

Lucas was the only person who still treated me gently, the only person who looked at me like I wasn’t broken.

When we were together, I could almost forget this mansion existed, but Father hated him, and Clarissa hated him even more.

“That boy will destroy what little value you still have,” she once warned me.

Maybe that was exactly why I kept loving him anyway. Lucas made me feel human, a soft breeze moved through the garden suddenly.

I frowned, for a strange moment, I felt like someone was watching me.

I looked up sharply toward the mansion windows, there was nothing, still the uneasy feeling remained.

Then headlights flashed briefly near the front gates, a black luxury car rolled slowly past the mansion entrance before disappearing again.

By evening, the mansion felt unbearably tense. A servant informed me Father wanted to see me in his office immediately.

My heartbeat quickened as I walked down the hallway slowly, the  closer I got to the office, the tighter my chest became.

Then I heard voices inside, I stopped instantly.

Clarissa was talking, “The Kane deal must happen tonight.”

My stomach dropped, Kane? Matthew Kane? Even hearing his name felt dangerous.

Everyone knew who he was, the cold billionaire CEO, the man whispered about in fear. Some called him a businessman, while others called him something far darker.

Clarissa continued speaking.“Rachel is useful whether she likes it or not.”

Father sounded hesitant for a brief moment, “Matthew Kane isn’t exactly..”

“He’s powerful,” Clarissa interrupted sharply. “That’s what matters.”

Elena laughed softly inside the office, “She should be grateful anyone wants her.”

My chest tightened painfully, Oh God, so this was about me.

I stepped backward instinctively, but the wooden floor betrayed me instantly.

There was silence in the office, then father’s cold voice came through the door.“Rachel, Come inside.”

My breath caughtI pushed the office door open slowly, Clarissa looked victorious already, Elena smirked openly from the couch.

Father stood near the window holding a glass of whiskey, rain  had started falling again outside.

“We’re having a family dinner, and I want you to be there,” dad said 

“We have a lot of important things to discuss” he completed it