Today is Carabella's eighteenth birthday. She should have been celebrating with her friends, but today is the worst birthday of her life.
Inside a studio apartment, Carabella stared at the mirror with a troubled expression. Her eyes were red and glassy, showing the anger and sadness she was feeling. Now eighteen, her father was about to sell her to the Alexander family. Carabella's father, who had accumulated debts from his life of gambling, was forced to sell her to a wealthy family.
Alexander's family was known as a family of perfectionists. Alexander himself always relied on Carabella's father to work as a gardener at his home. Therefore, Carabella was sold to the family to work as a gardener.
The father entered his daughter's dusty, silent room with a confident look. "Are you done getting ready?"
Carabella nodded, setting the comb down on the dressing table. "Actually, I wanted to ask you one more thing. Why did you sell me to the Alexander family on my birthday?"
"Because I promised Alexander that I would give you to him when you were older. It's time for you to replace me working at his residence."
"Am I just an object in your eyes? Why do I never seem to have any value?" Her eyes sharpened on her father. "I'm 18 years old, I want to live freely as I want!"
"You'd better stop complaining! If I sell you to Alexander, I'll definitely be able to pay off my gambling debts. And you'll get a job straight away."
"You never listened to me all this time! What I want is not a gardener's job!"
"Then do you want to be sold to a brothel?"
Her forehead furrowed. "What?"
"If you don't want to do what I want, I'll sell you there!"
"Then what difference does it make if I'm sold to the Alexander family? I'll also meet the bastard who humiliated me for decades!"
The father immediately slapped his daughter's cheek quite hard. "Watch your words, Carabella!"
Her chest tightened as the torture deepened on her birthday. Finally, she couldn't hold back the tears that rolled down her cheeks. Her right hand touched her slapped cheek.
"You have no idea how much Jefferson humiliated me! That man has been enslaving me! I'm so sick of seeing him!"
"That's because you can't behave yourself!" The father dragged his daughter out of the dusty room. "Don't fight me anymore! Now come with me to that residence!"
Now Carabella and her father were visiting a luxurious, palace-like residence. Carabella kept her head down to hide her tired face from being slapped without hesitation by her father. Furthermore, she was very reluctant to raise her head every time she visited this residence because she was always belittled by the young master, Jefferson. She desperately hoped that today and from now on, she wouldn't meet that bastard. Moreover, Jefferson was already engaged to another woman, and he would surely be busy preparing for the engagement party.
Carabella and her father were invited to sit in the living room. Carabella was still reluctant to raise her head, as the atmosphere was so awkward and silent that her entire body trembled.
The patriarch laughed sarcastically, crossing his legs casually. "So you really did bring your daughter to me."
"Yes, sir. Because I'm getting old, I won't be able to work at your house forever. My daughter will take over for me, taking care of my work."
"Then, does your daughter agree? She's still so young."
"Of course. We've already discussed it. She's not really bothered by it because she wants to help me pay off my debt."
Hearing her father's words in reverse, her hands clenched tightly on her knees.
"Ella, do you really agree with your father?" Alexander asked firmly.
Carabella could only nod, unable to contradict her father in front of this perfectionist family. "Of course, Mr Alexander. I don't want to see my father suffer anymore."
"Good, then you'll be living in this house from now on." Alexander's gaze returned to the guest who had become quite annoying in his eyes. "I'll write you a check."
"Thank you, Mr. Alexander. If you'll excuse me, then."
The atmosphere in the living room had grown increasingly tense since her father left. Now Carabella found herself face-to-face with Alexander and his wife. While their relationship had seemed fine, Carabella disliked them due to their vastly different family backgrounds. She had to admit she was merely a slave to a wealthy family.
"You don't have to be nervous around us, Ella. Just make yourself at home," Alexander said with a friendly smile to keep his special guest from bowing her head.
"What Alexander said is true. We've known you since you were little. We'll definitely treat you well," said a middle-aged woman sitting next to Alexander.
"Today is your birthday. We won't be making you work just yet. Vilia has something prepared for you, too."
Vilia nodded. "I prepared a beautiful dress for you."
For the first time, Carabella felt warmth on her birthday, even though she knew Alexander and his wife were acting this way out of pity. She didn't need pity from anyone, really. All she wanted was genuine affection. Carabella wondered if the couple's kindness stemmed from sincerity.
"Thank you for your kindness, Mrs. Vilia."
"No need to call me that. Just call me uncle and auntie. We've known each other for a long time."
"By the way, my son happened to be home early today. Why don't you change in your room first before going to greet him? He'll want to greet you too."
This is what made Carabella reluctant to set foot in this luxurious mansion. She was extremely reluctant to meet the man she had hated for decades. Even though she had changed into a knee-length light pink dress, she still felt insecure about her servile appearance.
She kept her head down as she strolled through the Alexander family's garden. As she was about to straighten her long hair, her rose brooch accidentally slipped from her dress and fell to the floor. She was forced to crouch down and lift her dress, reaching for the brooch. However, a man stepped on the brooch, causing her head to immediately shoot up. The owner of that sturdy foot was the man she hated most, Jefferson.