Chapter 1 001

Evelyn's POV. 

Valuation officers moved through the house, placing red tags on everything and calculating their worth. 

My heart hammered in my chest as I followed one of them upstairs to my room. 

He stopped in front of the door. “Open it!” 

I swallowed hard and opened the door because I had no choice. Debt didn’t care about dignity or privacy.

He walked in and tagged everything: my wardrobe, dresser, bed frame, and even the mattress.

Tears blurred my vision, but I didn't let them fall. I won't let this break me. 

“No, don't!” I heard Eva, my younger sister, yell from one of the other rooms. 

I rushed to her room. Eva clutched Grandma’s vintage vase to her chest while an officer tried reaching for it. 

She ran towards me the moment I entered.  “Evelyn, please don’t let them take this,” She cried. 

I was speechless, helpless even, tears still threatening to leave my eyes.

Then it hit me. They were taking everything.

Downstairs, every item was already tagged. 

“Are we done?” The lead valuer asked, scanning the house. 

“Mr Rodrigo,” Dad said, taking a step closer. “We already had an agreement.” 

His voice was dark and hoarse, although I expected panic.

“We already spoke to the bank, and they agreed to give us a few more days,” Mom cut in, her voice trembled, she was vulnerable, and I hated it.

Mr Rodrigo didn't reply. Instead, he kept looking around for other items to tag. 

He walked slowly towards a particular spot, and my heart thumped. 

He was going for the portrait.

I rushed towards him and grabbed his wrist. 

“You can't tag that! It’s worthless.” My voice was hurried and shaky. 

He turned to me slowly, a smirk on his face. “Just a portrait, huh?” 

His words made me gulp. It wasn't just any portrait, it was an heirloom, passed down by our grandmother. We can't lose it. 

“It looks important,” he added, then slammed the tag onto it before walking away.

“We're leaving. Two days. If you don't pay what you owe, then we will be here to take what's ours,” he said. 

“Everything!” he emphasised. 

The room fell silent after they left, Eva and Mom's sobs being the only thing that broke the silence.

“They'll take everything,” Mom lamented. 

“What do we do? We can't let them!” Eva cried. 

I looked at Dad, standing with his hands in his pockets. He was calm and composed, just heaving sighs continuously. 

“There's only one way to save everything,” his voice rose. 

My face lit up with a glimmer of hope. “What way?” I asked, my voice high-pitched.

“Only Evelyn can save us,” he said. 

My stomach dropped. “Me?”  

“If we don't fix this, we lose everything. So tell me, will you do it?” He asked, locking eyes with me. 

“What do I need to do?” I asked. 

I would do anything to get my family out of this situation. Only a fool would not be willing to help her family when she can. 

Silence was thick in the air, and my gaze held Dad's for a long time. 

He dipped his hand into his pocket and brought out a piece of paper.  

He handed it to me. “Meet with this man. Then you'll know what you have to do.” 

I glanced over at the paper. The paper contained information about a man, “Andrew Max”, an address and time…. 2 pm. 

Just a few minutes away from now. 

It felt like a setup, but I didn't ask any questions. 

“I'll be back,” I said to everyone and moved out quickly. 

If meeting with this man can truly solve our current troubles, then I'll gladly do so. 

I ran outside, trying to call an Uber. Before the ride was confirmed, a black Mercedes-Benz stopped in front of me. 

Two muscular men in black suits and sunglasses stared at me like they'd been waiting. 

“You are going to see Andrew Max, aren't you?” One of them asked. 

“Get in.” The back door opened as though on cue.

The hair on my nape rose. I stared at them for a while, everything in me screaming no, but I had to do this. 

I joined them in the car. 

The drive to the cafe downtown was quiet. I didn't ask questions even though I had a lot to ask.  The only thing on my mind was meeting up with this man, Mr Andrew. 

They dropped me in front of the cafe, and I walked in. The cafe was empty, except for a man seated in the middle of the room.

I walked to him. 

“Hi, are you Mr Andrew Max?” I asked politely. 

“Welcome, Miss Evelyn.” He stood up, stretching his hand for a handshake. 

“I’m here on behalf of my client. To discuss your marriage.”