TEASER

"Prince… Percival… Pierre… Cario…” I rea d the long string of names out loud, squinting at the elegant calligraphy on the front of the massive photo album. I let out a laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. “Come on, Dad. How am I supposed to handle four guys at once?”

Dad chuckled. “Kitty... "That’s just one guy. That’s the full name of Boss Valerion’s son.”

I stared at the album again.

Oh. Well, I’d just read it off the cover without thinking. The name sounded like it belonged to a royal bloodline, not some random guy being lined up to be my future husband.

Dad nudged the album closer. “Go ahead, sweetheart. Open it.... Let’s take a look at Boss Pierre’s face.”

I sighed then I slowly opened the album’s cover, flipping past the initial page until I was staring at several printed photographs. They were clearly taken by a professional because of the clean backgrounds, expensive clothes, and lighting meant to make him look appealing.

And there he was.

They called my... future husband.

I studied his face in silence.

“What do you think, sweetheart?” Dad asked eagerly, watching my face like I was supposed to fall in love at first sight.

I turned to him with the most unimpressed expression I could manage, letting my silence say it all before flashing him a sarcastic little grin.

Then I shook my head slowly.

“That face…” I said flatly, pointing to the picture. "Is an absolute disaster. He’s horribly ugly.”

"Kitty..." my father muttered, his breath coming out in a heavy sigh, a grunt of frustration. "You're only saying that because you just don’t want to get married... Haven’t we already talked about this? I’ve been telling you the same thing for over a month now... trying to make you understand."

I dropped my weight against the back of the chair, letting out a groan as I crossed my arms and scowled.

"From the moment Boss Valerion saw you... He chose you. He picked you to marry his eldest son. Their heir, Kitty. Can you believe that?"

I rolled my eyes.

Honestly, I was starting to regret ever tagging along to my dad’s workplace.

It belonged to a famous, ridiculously wealthy family, people so used to getting their way that even real-life decisions felt like business deals to them.

Ever since that day, my life had started to spiral out of control. Things got messy. And apparently, Boss Valerion decided that I was good enough to become the wife of their heir.

"And that’s why I’m asking you... Kitty, my daughter…" His voice softened as he looked at me, pleading. "Please, stop making yourself look unpresentable... Fix your clothes and your face..."

“I said no."

“My goodness, child! You look like someone living on the streets! Stop stealing my clothes… and for heaven’s sake, would you please comb your hair?!”

Yes, I was doing it on purpose. I wanted to look as horrible as I possibly could. I wore my dad’s oversized t-shirts and his old pants, the kind that sag and hang off my frame like rags. I didn’t care how ridiculous I looked, actually, the worse, the better.

My hair, which used to be sleek, straight, and silky, was now a complete disaster. I had messed it up so much that it started forming thick, tangled clumps. I hadn’t bothered to brush it in days. It puffed out awkwardly and the strands were so knotted, I wasn’t even sure a comb could get through anymore.

It was a deliberate rebellion.

“Kitty, you’re the reason why I was forced to marry you off to a man you barely even know..."

I clamped my mouth shut and turned my gaze away.

“Because of your carelessness, everything we owned turned to ashes..."

Our house, the one my dad had worked decades to build, was gone. Burned to the ground in a fire that took with it not only the walls that held our memories but also all the valuable things we’d worked so hard for.

If it hadn’t been for Boss Velerion, I don’t even know where we would’ve ended up.

My father, was too embarrassed to refuse his boss. We owed him so much. When our home was reduced to nothing but soot and cinders, Boss Valerion didn’t hesitate, he bought us a new house and even gave us a huge amount of cash to get back on our feet.

Dad was too ashamed to say no to someone who had done so much for us even up to before. So now, here I am, left with no choice but to pay the price.

“My daughter…” Dad inhaled deeply, gathering the courage to say what he needed to say. Then he slowly let the air out, releasing it through his lips. “Please… wear the nice clothes I bought for your meeting tomorrow,” he pleaded. "Promise me you will. Please… I’m begging you.”

"I will." I scratched my head awkwardly, pretending I wasn’t feeling all the tension boiling around me. He raised his eyebrows at me suspiciously, like he still couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

"Promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

He reached up to the back of his neck, obviously stressed, and made a face like he was about to regret this decision for the rest of his life. "Just stop getting high blood pressure because of me, Dad. I already said yes to the wedding, didn’t I?"

"But you’re still looking for a way out of it! You’re clearly trying to find some excuse so the wedding won’t happen!"

I couldn’t help but feel completely annoyed. Boss Valerion was so smitten. He was obviously obsessed with my looks. As if I’d believe that nonsense.

"Katrina," my father interrupted. "Let me just remind you again… please, don’t curse. Don’t talk back to Boss Pierre, no matter what. And above all—" he clasped his hands together, almost begging. "Return to your old appearance. You’re pretty, but you turned yourself into a mess..."

My dad looked like he was about to cry out of pure frustration. I wanted to laugh. He was too close to losing it.

Still, I had other ideas brewing in my head.

I could always make myself look even worse, just to kill Boss Valerion’s interest in me.

Who knows?

Maybe he’d change his mind and call the whole thing off.

"So… what time exactly is our meeting tomorrow?" I asked, deliberately changing the subject.

"Make sure you’re already at Boss Pierre’s mansion before ten in the morning..."

CHAPTER 1

KATRINA

“Dad, I’m going up to my room now.”

I stood up from my seat and gave my arms a long, satisfying stretch. I was ready to crawl into bed. My dad had just gotten home from work a little while ago and decided now was the perfect time to knock on my door, bringing with him a photo album of Pierre.

He has so many names. But Pierre was the only one who stuck in my brain. Nothing else seemed worth remembering.

“Good night, Dad,” I said while yawning as I turned away and began to walk slowly out of the kitchen, shuffling down the hallway like a zombie while scratching my butt.

I left him downstairs and trudged my way up to my room. Once I was inside, I closed the door behind me and headed straight for the bed.

Without even bothering to change or fix myself, I threw my whole body onto the mattress. I bounced a few times from the impact, face buried deep into my pillow.

“I’m really getting married…” I muttered into the fabric.

Of course, I’m not ready.

Especially not to a man I’ve never met and never even seen in person.

Just past several months ago, I visited Boss Valerion’s mansion.

My father has been working there for years as a personal driver. He started when he was still single and trying to find his way in life. Even though he never finished college, he managed to survive, and more than that, he worked hard enough to save and provide for a future.

That’s also where he met my mother.

She worked in the same mansion as the housekeeper-in-charge. But things didn’t work out between them. Their relationship was far from ideal. I don’t even remember when they separated. I was too young at the time to fully grasp what was happening.

Still, despite my mom's leaving, my Dad stepped up. He became both mother and father to me He sacrificed so much to make sure I had a good life. He worked endlessly to send me to school, and somehow, he made sure I graduated.

I wanted to work in another country. That had always been the plan, to use my degree to find a better job overseas but I cared for my dad. He said he was afraid to be left alone when I wasn’t around.

So I gave it up. That's my decision alone.

Aside from that, no one would take care of him if I left. He could manage on his own if he really wanted to. He was capable of looking after himself. But I didn’t want him to go through that kind of burden, especially when I could be there to make things easier for him. That’s why I’ve taken over all the daily responsibilities, getting his clothes ready for work, cooking meals, and making sure he has everything he needs.

Because when I was still in school, he did everything for me.

All the duties that should have been my mother’s, he took on without complaint.

And my mom, has her own life now. She’s taking care of a different family. Her new husband and their children.

And me, I’ve never had a man in my life.

I made it a point to avoid any guy who tried to get close to me. I didn’t want to be distracted from my studies. I didn’t want anyone pulling me off track. So I rejected every single one who tried.

Some even went as far as speaking to my father, asking for his permission to court me, thinking it might help their chances.

My dad never had a problem with any of them. He’s a kind man.

But they were having a hard time with me.

I’m already twenty-four, and not once did it cross my mind to get a well, a boyfriend. I wasn’t interested. I had other things to worry about. But all of a sudden, life decided to skip that stage and go straight for the marriage thing.

And it all started because of one very, very stupid mistake.

My dad has never failed to remind me, every single time I leave the house to double-check the appliances. And I usually listen. I even made it a habit to switch off the main breaker before going out, just to be sure. But that day, I forgot. I was in a rush, just planning to grab a quick meal outside. I thought I’d be back in no time.

But when I returned, the street in front of our house was crowded with people. A bunch of neighbors had gathered, all looking in one direction, toward our house. Some were whispering, others were on their phones, and a few had their arms crossed.

Then I saw smoke near the window, a firefighter stepping out of our front door, and the scorched smell of something burned lingering in the air.

I had left the iron on.

I burned our entire house down.

Nothing was left.

If anything survived the fire, maybe it was just a few concrete walls and some corrugated roofing, charred and useless.

Our world crumbled before our eyes.

But before any government official or public servant could even step in, help arrived.

Boss Valerion heard about what happened. And without hesitation, he extended a hand. Financial assistance, supplies, clothes, everything we needed, he provided.

Well, on the bright side, thanks to him we are now living in a beautiful home. Far more spacious and elegant than the house we lost. It’s almost hard to believe somehow.

Like a cruel tragedy that somehow opened the door to something too good to be true.

I know that without Boss Valerion’s generosity, we would have had nothing.

And that same generosity...  was what pushed dad to agree to his request.

My father didn’t even try to say no.

All because he was afraid of what Boss Valerion might do if he refused.

That’s why I made a plan that barely works.

While I was lost in my thoughts, I heard a soft knock on my door as I had my face buried in a pillow.

“Sweetheart?” It was Dad. “Are you asleep?”

“Yes,” I answered quickly.

I heard him laugh softly at my reply.

“Kitty, did you see what’s hanging in your walk-in closet?”

“Yes, Dad. It’s pretty.”  He was talking about the elegant dress that I should wear tomorrow.

“Make sure you wake up early, okay? Don’t be late… But before you sleep, brush your hair. It’s going to be a mess to fix if you wait until morning…”

“Yes, Dad. I’ll brush it now,” I replied, though I still hadn’t moved from the bed.

“You said it, Kitty… You’re going to face my bosses tomorrow,” he reminded me, his voice turning a little more serious. “Please… don’t embarrass me."

“Are you coming with me to that mansion?” I asked.

“Of course, sweetheart,” he said. “But you’ll be going ahead. Boss Pierre’s driver will pick you up from here, and I’ll be the one picking up Boss Valerion.”

I let out a long breath.

“Go on now... Brush your hair,” he said gently.

“I don’t want to be picked up,” I muttered.  “I’ll just take a taxi or something.”

“But everything’s been arranged already. I’ve spoken to the boss, sweetheart. The driver’s coming for you.”

“Alright. Fine,” I said. “Good night, Dad.”

"Just do what I told you. Your hair..." He was really worried about my hair. I wasn’t even sure if I could ever bring back the beautiful hair I once had.

“Good night...” he said gently. He walked away from my door, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Slowly, I lay on my back and pulled the blanket up to my chest.

As soon as I closed my eyes, I snapped them open again. I forgot to set my alarm for six in the morning. I shot up from bed and began looking for my smartphone. It wasn’t on my study table like it usually was. Then I found it right under my pillow.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by the loud sound of my alarm that I had set the night before.

I immediately pressed the lower volume button, and the alarm stopped. I slowly opened my eyes, but everything was still blurry. Still half-asleep, I lay there for a moment, not quite ready to get up. I finally gathered the strength to sit up, my eyes still closed, and swung my legs over the side of the bed. The cold tiles of the floor made me shiver slightly, and I fumbled around to find my slippers. When I finally stepped into them, I stood up slowly and began to shuffle toward the bathroom.

"Ow..." I groaned in pain as I accidentally bumped into the hard, closed door. That was when my eyes finally opened, and I got up to open the door, rubbing my forehead as I did. I kept yawning nonstop as I made my way toward the bathroom mirror.

I stopped in front of it and stared at my reflection for a moment.

I really looked like a homeless person, quietly laughing at myself as I studied how I looked. Even when I tried to run my fingers through my hair, there was no hope of fixing it. It had been weeks since I last used a comb.

All I ever do is wash it with shampoo and that’s it. I just let it dry on its own, so now my hair looks like a completely wild and all over the place. It’s starting to look like a permanent disaster.

My dad wouldn’t be leaving for work until later, so I had time. I decided not to bother cooking breakfast for us.

There was a gorgeous dress hanging in my walk-in closet, freshly pressed and all set. But I didn’t even look at it.

Instead, I grabbed one of my dad’s old T-shirts.

He used to wear it when he was gardening in our backyard. It still had stains, probably from plants or soil, or whatever mysterious stuff he’d get into back there.

The shirt hung down to my thighs, almost like a dress. For the bottom, I wore a long black skirt I had bought from a thrift store ages ago. The hem was frayed, and there were tiny holes scattered along the edges.

This is now my outfit.

I walked out of the room and grabbed my backpack. Threw it over my shoulder, took a deep breath, and stepped out.

I called a taxi.

That’s what I rode to get to the mansion of none other than Prince Percival Pierre Cario.

Just saying his full name is enough to make me lose my breath.

I was sleepy during the ride, barely keeping my eyes open. But I couldn’t risk dozing off, I might miss my stop.

Eventually, we entered the village where his mansion was located.

It still took a few more minutes before we actually reached the place. I waited, staring blankly out the window, until the taxi finally pulled over. I got out, paid the driver, and watched as the car drove off.

Then I slowly turned to face what was in front of me.

My eyes traced upward, following the tall, imposing iron bars of the gate.

“Someone’s really scared of getting robbed huh…” I mumbled under my breath.

“And it’s freezing…” I added, hugging my arms around myself.

My knees were already trembling from the cold. The early morning fog clung to the air, making everything damp. I hadn’t even thought to bring a jacket or a scarf to fight off the chill.

I lowered my gaze from the gate and glanced over to the four security guards patrolling the front. Each one of them was holding a long rifle, hands gripped tightly around the barrel.

They weren’t just standing there, they were walking the perimeter, pacing along the gate and continuing down the tall brick walls that surrounded the property.

Those walls were massive too. Steep and solid that impossible to climb.

From where I stood, I could make out the mansion in the distance. It looked so huge and elegant, partially hidden behind the fog, tried to sneak a few peeks through the bars.

That’s when I noticed one of the guards had stopped walking.

He was staring at me.

Just standing there, facing me like he was trying to figure out if I was a threat.

Then, without warning, he gave me a sharp suspicious look.

So, naturally, I gave him the exact same look right back.

CHAPTER 2

KATRINA

“You’re on private property. Stay away from the border,” that man barked harshly, waving me off like I was nothing but a stray animal.

“Beggars are not allowed here!” another guard shouted from behind him, his voice dripping with disgust. That's not very nice.

Well, how could I possibly get inside a place like this, looking the way I do?

But whatever. I’ve come this far.

I might as well try.

It’s not like I’ll drop dead just for taking a chance.

So I stepped forward but it was enough to set them off.

“THIS AREA IS RESTRICTED FROM OUTSIDERS!” Before I could even take another breath, they charged toward me, determined to chase me off.

I held my ground and let out a deep breath.

“It’s freezing out here and yet your tempers are blazing hot. You don’t even know who I am, and already you’re ready to throw me out?”

They hesitated, slightly thrown off by my calmness or maybe by the nerve I had to talk back.

“Well,” I continued, lifting my chin with defiance. "Your master... the one you call Prince Percival Pierre Cario... is my fiancé.”

Right then, a powerful gust of wind swept through the grounds.

The dry leaves on the path stirred violently, caught in the sudden rush of air. They scattered and danced between us, swirling past our feet.

And in that moment, not one of them moved.

A tense silence settled between us.

The four guards exchanged glances, as if silently confirming something among themselves, then all turned to glare at me with the same sharp, disapproving look as if I was filth they couldn’t wait to get rid of.

I forced down the lump forming in my throat, swallowing hard, though it did little to calm the nerves building inside me.

“STEP BACK AND GO HOME!”

The command came out like a gunshot, echoing in the cold air. One of the guards shouted it so forcefully that my body instinctively tensed, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut for a moment just to collect myself.

Of course, they wouldn’t believe me.

Who would?

Who would believe that someone like me could be the fiancée of their master?

This was my fault but I find it funny though.

I should’ve brought my father with me.

Maybe it would’ve made some difference... or maybe not. Perhaps we’d still end up humiliated, both of us kicked out like we didn’t matter.

What we really needed was someone they knew.

“GET OUT OF HERE!” another guard yelled furiously

I shook my head and turned away from the gate.

I walked further away, until the guards were completely out of sight. But even then, I was still within the estate’s towering brick walls.

Eventually, I slowed to a stop and moved closer to one side of the wall. I leaned my back against it, then let myself slowly sink down onto the grass.

I sat there quietly, staring blankly at the empty road stretched out ahead of me. Not a single car had passed by. Not even the distant sound of an engine. But I wasn’t surprised.

This was private property, after all.

The only reason I’d even been allowed through the village entrance earlier was because I had shown the guard a card, one I wasn’t sure would even work. Thankfully, it had. At least for that part.

As I stared at the tree-covered stretch of road in front of me, I yawned. My body was starting to feel heavy from the long walk.

I let the sounds around me fill the silence. The soft rustling of leaves… the creaking of bamboo swaying gently with the breeze. It was soothing. The air was cool and damp with mist, and birds chirped somewhere up in the trees, their songs echoing through the quiet.

Before I even realized it, my eyes had started to flutter shut.

I caught myself nodding off and forced my body to straighten up. I yawned again, pulled the straps of my backpack off my shoulders, and let it drop to the grass with a soft thud.

“Guess I’ll sleep for a bit…” I muttered.

I used the bag as a pillow and lay down right there on the grass. My skirt was long enough to reach my feet so I curled up and used the fabric as a blanket, folding my legs up underneath me to stay warm.

It probably only took a few minutes before I was completely out.

“KATRINAAA!”

The thunderous voice of my father snapped me awake.

I bolted upright, heart racing, and looked around in a daze, unsure for a moment of where I was or what had just happened.

"Kitty!"

I turned around and I heard Dad's voice coming from behind me.

And I was right. There he was, standing just a few steps behind me, holding the back of his neck with one hand, wincing a little like he was so stressed again.

“I knew it... I just knew you wouldn’t follow through with what we agreed on last night!”

I let out a big yawn and looked around. I must’ve slept longer than I should have. The sun was already high up, blazing in the sky.

The morning mist had completely vanished. Thankfully, the area I was in was surrounded by trees. Even though I fell asleep out here, I was lucky, I didn’t end up getting baked by the sun.

As I took a moment to scan my surroundings, something caught my eye, and even Dad kept on scolding me.

A fancy-looking car was parked on the side of the road, just a few meters away from where we stood.

“Sweetheart… Boss Valerion is inside that car! Get up, now! We’re going home! You need to change clothes! I need to speak to Boss Valerion first! You can’t be looking like that when you meet Boss Pierre!”

And with that, my father straightened up and briskly walked toward the vehicle.

I watched him approach the backseat window. Then, slowly, the black-tinted glass began to slide down with a hiss.

I saw Boss Valerion.

His face was composed and perfectly still.

And I noticed, he didn’t look at my father.

He glared straight at me.

“Bring your daughter inside the car," he commanded.

My father stiffened instantly.

“Y-Yes, Boss…” he stuttered, nodding with a nervous smile before turning toward me.