Ep3...song recommendation: [sinking town - you Eko kurahashi].
The car continued driving. Selene was slowly feeling worse. The little girl kept talking and saying things about her family. It only gave Selene sadness.
How unlucky I am... I have never earned the love of my family...
Lost in those thoughts, Selene was about to crash into a truck. She quickly moved the wheel. She was half dizzy, but the sound of car horns made her wake up a little.
"How about your father, secret lady helper?"
said the little girl suddenly.
Selene snapped out of her thoughts and answered,
"Uh... my father is—uh—he works a lot, so he's super busy. He couldn't play with me."
But that wasn't the truth. Her father was just an alcoholic guy who made her life harder than it already was.
"Oh, my father too! He's sooo busy, but he loves me. He will do whatever I want... But since mama is gone... Daddy has changed... He's always sad..."
Aw... poor little girl... Selene thought.
"Don't be sad, sweet girl. This happens to everyone. I mean, my grandma is gone too, but you know what? After bad things, there are always very, very good things. So don't worry, okay?"
The little girl nodded, clearly still sad.
After that, suddenly Selene noticed black cars behind her. She drove faster, but it didn't help. They kept following.
She panicked, but she wasn't going to give up.
She drove into the wrong side of the road. She took the risk anyway. The move was impressive—she drove fast.
Suddenly she saw a car coming forward at the same speed, blocking her way. Then she stopped the car seconds before it crashed, protecting the little girl with her injured arm.
Thump.
She tried to drive backwards, but then the other black cars blocked every way.
Selene's heart was beating so fast. Cold sweat dripped down her forehead. She was breathing quickly. Her hands automatically locked all the doors of the car.
CLICK.
Then the men in the cars started coming out, pointing guns at the car.
Selene held her breath, holding the little girl tightly.
Then—knocks on the window.
"Open it before I break it. Now."
Selene couldn't move.
After a few moments—
SMASH!
They broke it.
The little girl cried.
Everyone froze.
Selene gave up in that moment. She was trapped, and they would definitely kill her.
Until she heard one of the bodyguards say,
"E-everyone... D-do you see what I'm seeing...?"
Everyone was frozen and staring.
Selene had no clue what was happening.
"Oh my God... we're screwed... That's the boss's daughter!"
Mira Moretti, age 5
Selene felt like someone punched her in the stomach.
That little girl...
was that monster's daughter?!
"Do you have any idea, guys?! Now you better say something! How is she here, huh?! Say something, idiots! Boss will kill us all!"
Selene was so overwhelmed now.
Panic. Fear. Anger. And deep thoughts.
She had to escape.
While the others were arguing and the little girl was crying, Selene slowly got out of the car.
Run.
She ran.
The bodyguards chased her. The little girl cried even louder now.
Selene ran breathlessly, losing blood. Everything became blurry until—
Selene tripped and fell.
Fwomp.
.....
....
.....
.....
Selene woke up in a car driving through the street, sitting between two men, still losing blood.
Her eyes closed again.
After a few minutes, she woke up when the car pulled up.
In front of the same mansion she thought she escaped.
She was half conscious.
The two men grabbed her arms and started walking into the mansion.
Selene realized there were a lot of cars behind them, and many men.
Her eyes were half-lidded.
As they dragged her into the very luxurious hall that smelled of aura, Damian and Mrs. Moretti were standing there elegantly.
Damian was cold and even more emotionless now. He had a dark expression on his face.
The elder woman looked as sharp as ever.
The men pushed Selene to the floor. Now kneeling in front of them, she was already dizzy.
She could hear Mira crying.
She was too weak now.
Damian stepped closer. His footsteps were heavy and slow.
He grabbed her jaw harshly.
His eyes were like a hunter's—dark and cold.
"What did you think you were doing... Didn't I tell you to work for me, or you'll be dead?"
he said, his voice deep, low, serious, and firm.
Selene was too exhausted to answer. Her skin was paler, and her eyes were not fully open.
But he didn't care one bit.
He let go of her and stood up.
"And you think you made a smart move by trying to kidnap my daughter?"
His voice was dangerous now.
Selene's eyes widened a little.
"W-what? No! I swear I didn't know she wa—"
"Cut it off."
"I don't care what you knew or not. You made a mistake... and you'll pay for it."
he said firmly.
"I swear I didn't know she's your daughter, sir! I—I thought she was like me—I didn't plan to take her! She was crying, I couldn't—!"
Selene's mouth got covered by those men.
They were taking her to the same basement.
Selene wanted to cry.
She was in a very bad situation now, mentally and physically.
"Hmmph— no! N-No!"
They threw her onto the cold, hard floor.
She groaned in pain, her arm still bleeding.
She was cold. Her skin was paler than usual. She was dizzy.
---
Meanwhile
Damian was in his study, pouring whiskey into a glass.
The room was lit by the soft light of a lamp. The scent in the air was a mixture of his strong cologne and the alcohol.
He took a sip of the whiskey.
The strong alcohol ran through his throat, burning it.
He didn't even flinch.
Then he heard a soft knock on his door.
"Come in."
The door opened, revealing Mrs. Moretti looking annoyed. She sighed, taking off her gloves and rubbing her forehead.
"I shouldn't have hired that nanny... ugh..."
"Why?"
"She can't make Mira stop crying. She is not helping at all."
"Mira likes the nanny. It's unusual for her to cry... It's all that kid's fault. I should have killed her in the first place. She looked like a troublemaker."
Mrs. Moretti glanced at him curiously, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you talking about the young girl?"
"Yes."
"Oh... Who is she anyway?"
"Hah... I brought her here for some job, but she ruined it. She tried to run away. And she took Mira with her. She's going to pay for what she did."
"Oh, how clueless of her. She made the worst move by getting near Mira... Now I see why Mira kept saying 'secret lady helper' while crying and whatever that was."
Mrs. Moretti mumbled.
Damian frowned.
His sharp eyes narrowed.
Is that what she was crying for?
Hm?
Is that the reason she's crying? Because of that girl?
"Oh, I guess so. The nanny said something like that. Damian, you care too much about Mira."
"Of course I do. She's my only one... The only thing which is left after Maria..."
Mrs. Moretti sighed and rolled her eyes.
She never liked Maria, her daughter-in-law, but she couldn't say anything now, or Damian would go... different.
"I'm going to check on Mira."
Damian said firmly and started leaving.
---
Mira was in her room, slightly panicked and scared.
Her big eyes were full of tears as she whimpered under her blanket.
Damian walked in.
He slowly took the blanket away.
His expression darkened as he saw Mira crying.
His only one.
Crying.
He didn't like it.
"Daddy whaa—hmph..!"
Mira immediately went into his strong arms, crying.
"Shh... what's wrong, sweetheart, hm?"
"I miss mommy... when will she be back? hic..."
"Shh, don't cry, Mira. We talked about this. I'm here."
"But mommy never came back... hic... I'm scared... They took secret lady, Daddy! She was hurt... please... what if she won't come back just like mommy? She's my only friend! She protected me!"
Damian's eyes narrowed.
He was surprised by what she said.
"She's not good. She tried to take you away from me."
"Noo—hic! I wanted to go with her... She d-doesn't like me anymore... She ran away when she heard the guards... hic... she hates me... hic... w-where is she? C-can't you call her?"
Damian sighed.
"It's late now. I'll call her tomorrow, sweetie. Now go to sleep."
"Promise me, Daddy."
...
"I promise."