Chapter 21 Saavedras’ Residence

Kia

Love is the element that gives life its enchantment and awe-inspiring beauty. There's nothing quite like it, anything that can simultaneously make you feel strong and defenseless. It is possible to feel on top of the world or to have your heart physically torn out. Nothing else is as potent. It might help you succeed, but it can also make you fail and leave you with nothing.

Love is wonderful. It grows in your heart before you know it, and it blooms the most beautiful flowers in the world. But right now, is it possible for me to fall in love again?

I know that love takes time, but I can’t let myself fall for someone who I barely know. What I've been feeling recently are just random feelings that formed because of my longing and being alone...

I'm currently busy packing my bag. I just finished doing some make-up. I honestly admit that I genuinely feel happy and excited right now. He was able to recognize my worth at last. I glanced at the door and saw Ares watching a movie while peacefully sitting on the sofa. I still haven't told him where I'm going. He also didn't know I was leaving.

I paused for a moment and then made the decision to head to the living room rather than stay in the room. Ares turned to face me right away with a look of surprise on his face. He gave me a full-body stare as well.

“You are going somewhere, hon?” he innocently asked.

I gave him a smile, a fake one. “Uhm... Dad asked for lunch today, so I am going home to meet them."

“Really? How about I go with you? I haven’t seen your family yet. And this time, I can finally introduce myself to them—”

“No, you can’t!” I yelled out of the blue, making his eyes widen at my sudden answer.

“We will drift apart after two years, so it makes no sense for you to meet my family. We are married because of an agreement. I can’t just tell that to them! I will go by myself. Don’t bother to drive me all the way there. I will just take a taxi.”

“But… Is that really what you want to happen?” he asked. I can sense a bitterness within his words. I know that I hurt him, but I don’t have any choice...

“It is the right thing to do… It is selfish of me to delay your plans for two years. I will try to make it up to you. Actually, it is fine for me if you go out with someone else… It is not my business anyway. I will study abroad after two years, and you will never ever see me again. So please, don’t make things harder for us.” I said and leave the house right away.

I didn't give him a second glance before rushing out. Before boarding, I went to the bus terminal to purchase a ticket. When I look outside, I can see several buses parked under the new bus station's enormous concrete shelter. A minute later, the bus leaves with its load. I wonder what Ares is doing right now. I hope he didn’t take it seriously and just forget everything I said...

-

The Saavedras’ residence

As I arrived in front of our house, I could see the guard looking at me. He immediately opened the gate for me, “Welcome back, Ma’am Kianna!” he greeted. I smiled at him and headed to the main entrance, where I saw my dad already standing there.

Is he waiting for me?

“My daughter, welcome home! I am glad you came!” He looks so happy to see me. I mano, a sign of respect to the elderly. “Hi, dad.”

“Come inside. I want you to meet someone!”

He grabbed my hand and led me inside. There were other people sitting on the sofa. I don’t know them. I have never seen them before. Dad called the guy who was wearing a white hoody.

“Come on, let me introduce you to my daughter!” Dad said to him.

He looks a bit shy, but based on his appearance, it looks like he came from a wealthy family. From the way he stood up and also the way he walked, I can clearly tell that he is a rich guy.

“Kianna, this is Zeus Thaddeus Wang. He is the son of your Uncle Wang. He is also two years older than you. I believe that you will get along well. You can both have your moment and have a small conversation later after lunch!" Dad said, introducing this guy in front of me.

Dad walked beside me and whispered something in my ear, “Uncle Wang is my business partner. Be nice, and behave yourself!”

“Hi, Kianna! Nice to meet you,” the guy said while scratching his head.

A grin formed on the side of my lips. I should expect that this is going to happen. So he invited me to come here to introduce his business partner's sons. I felt like the bottom had dropped out of my world. My heart was flooded with disappointment. This is ridiculous. Is he going to exchange his daughter for his career now?

“Kianna! What a surprise! My beautiful sister finally showed up! Uncle and aunt have been waiting for you!”

A loud voice caught my attention. Every time I heard my half-sister's voice, my blood pressure began to increase. I feel like I simply want to drag her into a grave and bury her alive. She approached me, as if we were close sisters. I have never seen anyone who was as fake as this one. She began to mumble something to me as soon as he approached.

“Don’t be shy. He should be much better than your poor man, right? Oh, right! You’re already married. Why don’t you marry two husbands? Dad and Uncle Wang have a big deal. You see? Dad loves me, so you are the bargaining chip. Besides, you date your ex-fiance and your poor husband at the same time. Does it matter to have one more?” She gave me a devi smile. She obviously enjoys seeing me in situations like this. All I want to do is throw her face-first to the ground.

“What should we do, oh goodness? I'm not like you. Why not follow your advice after all? It appears that you are better at that sort of stuff. Was that what you learned in the course you took?”

I gave her a terrible look. She was clearly becoming irritated by what I said. Tell me how it feels, Asteria, to have what you say come back to you. That is why there is a saying that goes, "You are what you speak."

The gathering started and they were all talking while in front of the food. Now I know why my dad became more disgusted with me. It is because Asteria did not tell Dad the reason why I broke my marriage with Vince. All I did was stare intently at the dish and mind my own business as if I were alone.

“Kianna! Don’t be rude! Why don’t you say hello to our guests...” Dad ordered. “You are out of line! What have you learned from living in other houses?! Can’t you see how your mother and sister behave?!” he added.

I gritted my teeth out of anger. She is not my mother and she will never be!

I immediately stood up and everyone focused their attention on me. “I am not feeling well! I am sorry. I have got to go. Please enjoy your lunch!” I said before rushing outside, but my dad immediately called me.

“Stop! Where do you think you’re going?! You are out of line! Wait for me outside, we need to talk!”

I did what he said. I waited for him outside and immediately approached him when he came. “What do we need to talk about? You are not even treating me as your own daughter. You dump me for your career!”

“How dare you talk to me like this?! If you hadn’t broken your incoming wedding with Vincent, then they wouldn't have joined other companies to crash down our company! Their family buys substantial shares of ours, which means that they don’t want me around! If you marry your Uncle Wang’s son, he can help us deal with the Rivera Group!”

I felt a sickly lurch of disappointment. How could he say something like this?

“Don’t forget that you have two daughters! Asteria is the reason why my marriage was cancelled! Why don’t you ask her to get married with Uncle Wang’s son?!”

He breathed deeply and seemed to be calming himself. He gets closer to me and grabs my hand. “Kianna, hija... Uncle Wang prefers you! Since you are my first child, please do me the favor. I don’t want to lose our company.”

He gripped my hand tightly, and I shook it. “That is your company, not ours! Please get it right!”

He became furious. His eyes appeared to be glowing hot like fire. “You bitch! You are the reason why your mom died! Now you want to kill me and you are going to ruin my company, too! You shouldn’t even be born! Get the hell out of here and never come back!”

“You are right, I should not even be born if my dad just treated me as a bargaining chip to marry a stranger and save his company. You are so selfish! I am a person, not a thing you can give to anyone!”

I was about to walk out when I suddenly heard the voice of Asteria. “I already told you, dad. My sister never thinks of herself as a Saavedra. Look at her. She sees you as a cruel person! She cheated on Vince and has a bad reputation. Now you invited her to come back and make amends, yet she doesn’t give a sh*t!”

“Asteria! I am telling you, don’t you ever try me! You know what you have done! And you know that the ace is in my hand. I can make your affairs appear in public! Make the most of my patience with you because you never know when I'll lose my temper. You'll regret it a lot.”

“...You!”

I didn't pay her any mind and kept walking away from that house. If Asteria didn’t flirt with my ex-fiance, if mom is still alive, will my dad treat me the other way around? We had a happy life when my mom was still alive... and now, I am only a bargaining chip to save his company and a b*tch who killed my mom...