I stood there. It wouldn't be a lie if I said that I was feeling like a stranger in the home where I’d once dreamed of returning to. I was abandoned by the people I’d sacrificed everything for.
My heart sank further as I looked around. My chest tightened. But just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. With an unconscious mind, I pulled it out and saw a new message.
“Thank you for protecting my daughter.”
At that moment, my mind went back to the prison. I remembered the girl I’d protected there. The one who was targeted by other inmates simply because of her family’s wealth and status
Despite the bruises and injuries I'd endured, I’d kept her safe. Later on, I got to know that she was the daughter of the most influential and powerful business tycoon. His empire was stretched deep into the underworld.
Another message buzz brought me back to the present moment. I blinked twice, rereading the words as it was a bank notification.
"A hundred million dollars has been credited to your account."
“A hundred million dollars has been credited to your account.”
My eyes were fixed on the message. It was surreal. My pulse raced as I read the message again, struggling to believe it.
A few hours ago, I walked out of prison with barely a plan. And now, the father of the girl whom I’d protected inside had transferred a fortune into my account.
I should have felt a thrill or even relief—but instead, the money felt like a cruel reminder of everything I’d lost.
Within seconds, I put the phone back in my pocket. At that moment, my mind was reeling, as I glanced at the grim faces of my so-called family.
Whatever hope I'd about them was quickly shattered.
“Where am I supposed to stay?” I asked quietly, already bracing for the blow.
After listening to my words, Gracia, my stepmother, smirked. She pulled out a crumpled bundle of cash—two hundred dollars, at most—and tossed it on the table as if she were handing me some spare change.
“Here, take this. Find a cheap motel. Or, if you’re smart, get out of town.”
Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, Luca came in from the back.
There was a handgun tucked casually into his waistband. His eyes narrowed as he saw me.
The next moment, I forced a bitter smile, struggling to maintain my composure. “What about you, Luca?”
I looked at my stepbrother, hoping he’d remember everything I’d sacrificed for him.