Chapter 2 - Freedom

Two years gone by, and the child started to talk and walk. Now, she was allowed to walk around the mansion. Just in one condition, never to be seen by any of the Cheng's or their visitors.

Now, her existence can't be hidden anymore.

But Mother and Father Cheng thought, they can still do something about it.

They had one of their trusted maids adopt the child. She was provided with financial support from the family, but she lived in the back of the mansion.

She was then registered in a local elementary school.

...

Six months later, at the age 21, the eldest son was married.

This made the old couple even more intent in hiding her identity.

Nine months passed and the second young miss was born. She was pampered and loved by all.

How could they not, with those big sparkling eyes and cute dimples, along with her joyous giggles, attracting them.

...

All of this, fell on the eyes of the lonesome first young miss. Who was now 8 years old. It's been 5 years.

At first, she didn't know of her identity, until one time she over heard some old maids talk about it. About her. Her origin and her real identity.

She felt unfair and a little hurt.

But she thought to herself, she didn't want anything to do with these kinds of people. If they don't want her, she don't want them either.

Her relationship with the nanny who took care of her was also very formal. Although she took care of her, she didn't really feel much love from the woman. As if she drew the line before she could even touch her.

She was very professional. Or perhaps, she doesn't really like children.

...

10 years later.

She had waited for this time to come. To finally leave this detestable place. She finallly turned into an adult. She was 18 years old at last.

But as she was about to leave this manor, she was forcefully pushed inside a black van and was knocked up. Darkness swallowed her before her mind could process what was going on.

The van reached an abandoned warehouse and soon the woman covered with a black sack on her head was carried from the van by an unknown man and dumped on a haystack.

She was woken up from the cold water splashed on her face. She nearly choked from the water entering through her nose.

Her throat hurt from coughing.

There were four men dressed in all black before her.

They didn't say anything. Noticing that she has woken up, they dragged her to a seat and a table. With an old bulb up above.

On the table was a can of coke and a plastic covered sandwich.

After that, the men all stood by the four corners of the warehouse, not directly looking at her. But on the look out for any unusual movements inside and outside of the building.

She was not hungry. She merely looked at the food in front of her for a brief second before shifting her attention in the inside of the warehouse.

Nothing but hays stacked together and this table and seat was inside it.

She heard the slight tweets from the birds outside, and she also noticed that the air was a little fresher compared to from where she's from.

She figured they should have been in the suburbs or province right now.

But why? She has nothing on her aside from her body. Wait, are they gonna sell her to some underground syndicate?

She became wary of her surroundings instantly.

How unlucky could she be?

Unwanted in the Chengs, now to be sold!? What wrong has she done?

A lone tear fell from her left eye, yet no whimper came out of her mouth.

None of the men in black before her noticed her woe.

She reached out with her left hand to wipe the tears away. But to remain inconspicuous, she acted like she was pushing aside some stray hair, putting it to the back of her ear.

She reached out to grab the sandwich, she needed some sort of energy.

She was naive enough to not think that they would poison her, but thankfully, the men doesn't seem to have such intentions.

She munched and soon only the sound if cellophane being crumpled and her mouth munching on the food could be heard in the warehouse.

Gulping the last drop of soda, she placed the now empty tin can back to the table.

She was feeling sleepy after being slightly filled, but she kept her eyes open. Even if she struggles, she'll find a way out.

...

In the Cheng Mansion.

"She's ready, sir." a subordinate reported to Father Cheng. He merely nodded in acknowledgement. With that, the man left, closing the wooden door after him.

The man sat on his intricate wooden chair chair, his expression grim.

Although they had catched the girl, he still felt unjust for her.

He wasn't fond if her, but that doesn't mean he doesn't know what's right and wrong.

They didn't acknowledge and accept the girl because of her origins, but they did provide her with her basic needs.

The girl had also kept her identity a secret, and that should have been enough.

She doesn't need to sacrifice herself for people who she clearly owes nothing from.

But Father Cheng can't sacrifice his lovely granddaughter from his first son, she was too lovely. Undoubtedly, he can't sacrifice the grandson from his second son, they need a successor.

With this thought, he steeled his mind, but his heart still ached for the first born granddaughter of his.

He stood up, and went to the living room, where every adult from the family was gathered.

As he reached there, he saw the expectant look in the eyes of the members of his family.

When... when had they become this cruel? Why... why...

These thoughts ran into his head. But the words that left his mouth sealed the life of someone else, equally cruel.

Someone who doesn't exactly matter to them, but someone who doesn't exactly of no use to them.

"Let's go." Before he could hesitate again, Father Cheng said such statement.

And he watched as the eyes looking at him changed from anticipation mixed with anxiety, to joy mixed with relief.