Chapter 1:The beginning of a nightmare

Anneliese Rowan's POV

A large smile appeared on my lips when I saw my reflection in the mirror, the long flora white gown I was putting on fits perfectly, hugging all my curves like a second skin, my blonde hair was falling in warm waves over my shoulders, a faint shimmer in the air surrounded me from the fairy lights we hung up this morning…..I look like an angel indeed!

It’s my graduation night party—Dad organized a party to celebrate his only child and right now, the hall in our compound is so full.

I smiled at the mirror, just barely. The kind of smile that doesn't need teeth to be felt. I can hear my mom laughing downstairs, her laughter was soft and raspy, always a little out of breath these days. But still beautiful. Still strong.

“I swear,” Belinda says from behind me, her voice playful, “if I didn’t love you, I’d hate you.”

“And here we go again….” I said rolling my eyes—ready for another flattering session.

“I’m fucking serious babe,” she said grinning as she pins the last piece of my hair. “You’re so perfect—Rich, beautiful, smart, loved by literally everyone. You even got a diamond skin.”

“Diamond skin? Gosh…. Linda shut up...”

“No, seriously Anne, you’re glowing. Like, actually glowing”. Her eyes was glinting as she laid an emphasis on the ‘ow’ sound in glowing.

“It’s just the light.”

“It’s your life, Anne.”

I decided to stop arguing with her.

She's right anyway— My life is... full. I’ve got parents who never let me want for anything—money, love, they even threw a personal party for me! . I’ve got Belinda too, who stuck by me since the first day we both got lost looking for homeroom freshman year. I’ve got a boyfriend I care so much about, college waiting for me in the fall, and a house full of people who came just to celebrate me.

“I can't believe we are done with high school….” I shirked almost jumping in joy.

“For real, everything feels like a dream. Like everything happened in a blink of eye…I remember how we met back, immediately I set my eyes on you, I knew you are my soulmate…” She held her chest in a dramatic manner, making a dreamy face too.

“Ew .. that's cringey” I muttered and we both laughed.

I glance at my phone—8:03 PM and almost immediately, A new message lights up the screen.

Dad: On my way, princess. Save a dance for me.

I smile so hard it hurts. “He’s coming,” I say out loud.

Belinda’s grin softens, “Of course he is…..why would he miss his princess big day?”

We headed downstairs and music already pulsing through the floorboards, the kind of happy beat you can’t help but move your body to. The living room is filled with fairy lights, gold balloons, laughter, people are dancing, hugging, handing me flowers. Cameras are flashing non-stop. I see my mom, tucked into an armchair with a baby pink blanket over her knees, her chest rising and falling a little too quickly—but her smile never fading.

Belinda squeezes my hand. “Let’s give them a night to remember.”

I nodded, heart full, feet light. The air is thick with the scent of Vanilla cake and perfume.

I jumped into the dancefloor dancing my heart out with my best friend, Belinda.

I've always heard that the distance between joy and sorrow is just a second, but I never really believe as it never happened—and I never pray it happens but do I have a control over fate? No.

It happened right as I’m stepping toward the mic. The room was buzzing—someone shouted my name and the crowd cheered. I held the mic with both hands, my chest tight with excitement.

My phone buzzed—Unknown number, I ignored it, then it buzzed again, I almost ignore it but something pushed me to pick it up and hear what the person have to say.

“Be right back,” I whisper to Belinda, stepping down from the stage while she shot me a ‘got ya' smile .

“Hello?” The Other end was silent for a second.

Then: “Is this Anneliese Rowan?”

“Yes?”

“This is St. Luke’s Hospital. Your father was in a car accident. He’s being brought in now.”

My stomach dropped so fast that I felt like it's falling.

“No, that’s not—he just texted me. He was coming here—”

“I understand. You need to come as soon as possible.”

My legs became weak that they can't support my weight anymore, the railing is the only thing holding me upright.

★

The hospital is cold in the way hospitals always are—too clean, too quiet with the coldness of death. Mom’s next to me in the hallway, shaking in her dress. I called Belinda the second I dropped the phone. She drove us here like a maniac. Now she’s pacing the hallway with red eyes, phone clutched tight, calling every relative we have.

A nurse walked up. “Mrs. Rowan?”

“How is he?” Mum asked rising to her feet wobbly.

“We’re trying everything. He’s conscious, but very weak. You can come in.”

Mum doesn’t wait for me or the nurse to finish her statement, she disappeared through the swinging doors like she was floating on air.

I followed her.

Dad was lying in a big white bed, there were tubes in his arms, the bruises on his temple looked frightening, his lips were pale, cracked.

“Princess,” he whispered the moment his eyes landed on me.

“Dad…” I choked on the word. “You’re gonna be okay. You’re gonna dance with me, remember?”

He smiled sadly and I felt something in me break, “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I should’ve told you sooner but I made up my mind to tell next week”

“Told me what?”  Mum was sitting beside him now, holding his hand— crying silently.

“Your life…” he starts, then coughed, “Our life, it’s built on something—A promise.”

I stare at him, confused. “What promise?”

He looked at my mom ,She nodded slowly with her lips trembling.

“When you were a baby, we lost everything,” Mom said quietly. “We were so desperate. The Maddox family stepped in, they helped us rebuild everything… in exchange for a contract…..We betrothed you, Anne—to Damien Maddox, their heir.” She dropped the bomb, her voice cracking at the end of the words and for a moment I forgot how to breathe.

What?

“You—what?” I asked again trying to see if I heard her correctly.

“It was the only way my baby, they gave us everything, the houses, the schools, your future. They helped us hide the deal so you could grow up happy.”

“You sold me?”