CHAPTER 1

KLAIRE

I am getting married to the man I had never seen before.

I heard rumors that my so-called-fiancé was a monster. Maybe if I wasn’t the one to get married here, I might have laughed at what I heard.

I doesn’t believe in ghosts, or supernatural creatures. Nana Rosa said that those creatures are not real. She said it was just made to scare children to go to bed early at night.

But it is not in that sense that Mr. Sanvictores is called a monster.

He is likened to a monster because of his cruelty. The entire town of San Carlos allegedly belongs to the Sanvictores. It’s next to San Vicente, where we live.

No one can enter the town of San Carlos except the people who live there. The place is mysterious to neighboring towns. Many speculations are spreading. Suspicions have no sufficient basis. The town of San Carlos is said to be a place of monsters, so no one can enter there, or if there is, no one can get out yet.

“You’re such a lucky girl, Klaire!” Jane exclaimed cheerfully, but the sarcasm in her eyes was clear. Jane is my older sister. And she knows what awaited to me in Sanvoctores’ hands.

Jane never treated me like a younger sister. Because my sister blamed me for our mom’s death, so she didn’t even consider me as blood relative. Our mother passed away while giving birth to me.

My own family didn’t consider me as one, but rather as a slave. I was unable to study, so I did not learn to read or write. Nana Rosa and the other helpers were also forbidden by my father from teaching me. Even if Nana Rosa wanted to teach me in secret, she couldn’t because she couldn’t read or write also. 

“I’m so jealous of you!” Jane exclaimed, pretending to be envious, but her eyes were filled with laughter.

I simply bowed my head and did not respond. She’s moved into my new room. My father recently moved me from the servants’ quarters, where I was sleeping with Nana Rosa, to one of the rooms at the top of the mansion.

My new room is lovely, but Jane’s room is far superior. Unlike me, our father adores Jane. My sister was spoiled, and my father gave her everything she desired on a silver platter. My father also let Jane physically hurt me, even without reasons.

“You were like a beauty who would marry the beast,” she chuckled. “At the very least, you’ll still marrying the monster. For sure, that Jackson Sanvictores is undeniably ugly like the rumored!”

No one has seen Jackson Sanvictores except our father. All I knew was that Jackson Sanvictores’ lawyer went to our father and offered money to marry off one of his children to Mr. Jackson Sanvictores. Our  father was overjoyed.

That very day I also received new clothes and shoes from him for the first time.

I was delighted at first, until I discovered why my father was so engrossed with me recently. It was due to my father’s decision to marry me off to someone I barely knew in exchange for a large sum of money. I was devastated. My hopes were dashed in an instant when I discovered the truth. It’s easy to see why my father chose me over Jane. My father despised me for the same reason Jane despised me. Of course, he would never jeopardize his precious daughter. And me? For my father, I am simply an cursed offspring. He had no feelings for me and was unconcerned about my well-being.

“You’ll be married in two weeks,” Nana Rosa has said as she combed my hair.

“True, the pest will be gone from this house in two weeks,” Jane replied.

Nana Rosa and I, remained silent. Jane cursed her before leaving my room and slamming the door shut.

Before being approached again, Nana Rosa stood up and double-checked that the door was locked. She sat in front of me, and cupped my hands.

“My child, I feel sorry for you,” she said, her throat aching.

My eyes grew warm, and I as well. I, too, felt sorry for myself, but Icouldn’t do anything about it.

“I’ll help you escape, Klaire.”

I turned to face Nana Rosa. Her expression was solemn, and I could clearly see the determination in it.

“B-But, Nana... Daddy will be angry...” I sobbed, unable to hold back my tears.

“Ooh, he won’t be angry with you if you get out of here. Run away, Klaire. Felipe will help you get out of here. All we have to do is to sneak out tonight.”

I shook my head. “I’m terrified, Nana...”

“Sshhh... your  future  is more frightening, child. Oh, mother of mercy, I won’t let you end up with a man we don’t even know. What if he’s even worse than your father?”

The horror crawled through my body as hard as I could. What if the man is worse than her father? I was stunned.

“I’ve arranged your belongings. I’ve already pack up your things. You just need to get down at one o’clock this midnight. I’ll join you at the entrance, Felipe is waiting there and he will take you to the city. My youngest brother is there. He will take you to other place. That’s far from here, Klaire. I’ll make sure your shameless father doesn’t find you again. “

Tata Felipe is Nana Rosa’s brother. This porter works in the sugarcane field owned by his father.

“Just come with me, Nana.” I was afraid for her being if I leave her here when I run away.

Nana Rosa shook her head. “Impossible.  I need to stay here to make sure they don’t think I had anything to do with your disappearance.”

“But—”

“Trust me, Klaire... Trust me.”

It was in Nana Rosa’s eyes that she begged me to trust her. Crying, I nodded. Nana Rosa smiled at me and hugged me tightly.

“I wish you a good life, Klaire. You are the child I will never have. I love you so much.”

“I really love you too, Nana...”