Destiny's POV
"That is the most ridiculous thing you could ever advise me, Pia," I muttered with disagreement as I felt my limbs weaken.
"It was the most brilliant idea I can give you. I am a genius, and it wasn't that bad. He had been your boyfriend for many years; if he was mine, I was sure I had given him myself on the first night he asked me out." She responded with enjoyment on her face while I grimaced.
"Red chiseled manly features were enough to make girls go crazy, and I couldn't believe he couldn't have a home run with you." She added, and I gave her a quizzical look.
"Red respected my decision," I softly responded, and she sighed softly.
"No wonder he easily got tempted to do it with your step-sister," Pia stated, and my face turned beet red.
"So, it was my fault now that he hooked up with Carmie?" I asked with irritation.
"Don't be angry with me, but yes, in my opinion, you are." She responded without a filter.
"I couldn't believe you would be saying that," I mumbled, feeling hurt.
"I am your true friend, Destiny, and I will speak my mind. I didn't know your ex personally, so I can't tell if he was tempted or he wanted to get back at you after the incident with Lucas, but for now, let us not debate about the past and stop looking daggers at me because I am not your enemy, Des." Pia responded.
"You are still in love with Red, and you can't deny that to me, and giving yourself to him would be easy," Pia added as she scrutinized me in the eyes.
"It was easy for you to say, Pia," I replied, petrified, without accepting or denying my feelings towards my ex.
I sat on one of the chairs in front of the table, and my mouth was watering as I inhaled the aroma of beef stew. My walking episode made me starve.
My limbs felt like jelly as I tried to drink down her idea.
The concept of giving up my virginity to Red was enough to make my entire body feel so hot before I could even sip my soup.
"You needed an urgent solution, and I am giving you one, and so far, that is the only option you have right now. And you have nothing to lose, Des; it was just a matter of flesh," Pia added as if giving my purity was that simple.
"Maybe for you, call me hopeless romantic, but I value my chastity more than anything, and giving it to someone who doesn't love me was ludicrous," I replied as we started eating dinner, and I wished to tell her to drop the issue.
"How can you prove your innocence to your father and Red?" She asked, which left me speechless.
"If you change your mind, you can always call me Destiny," Pia said after a long silence.
"Thank you, but my answer is no," I responded.
"Okay, now I could say my sacrifices were in vain," she replied, and I dropped my spoon on my plate as I looked at her.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked.
"Do you know the reason why I got fired?" Pia asked, and I shook my head.
"Your step-sister cornered me one night after my shift ended and offered me money; what she offered was bigger than the entire salary I received since I started working at the restaurant." She added.
"What does she want from you that she offers you money?" I asked curiously why Carmie had come to Pia.
"She only asked me to stop being your friend and I should report to her everything we talk about, and I said no to her, and the following day, I lost my job." She replied, and my eyes enlarged with rage.
"I am sorry, Pia, you lost your job because of me," I mumbled as guilt enfolded my heart.
"Not only that, no one hired me after I got fired. I was away for three days since I went home to our province, and I came back only to get my things. I didn't believe Carmie when she told me she would do everything in her power to make me jobless, and I had no idea she was that powerful." My friend continued with fury in her eyes as she held her spoon tighter.
"Pia, I…." I couldn't even say anything out of my shame and guilt.
"Hey, I am a loyal friend, and no amount of money can measure our friendship, Destiny, even if we have been friends for a short time. I like you, and I wish to help you." She answered as she took my hand over the table.
"I don't know what to say, Carmie was too much," I said as I squeezed her hand.
"Yeah, she is the queen of evilness, and do you want her to be the wife of Red?" She asked, and my face turned sour as I looked at her in the eyes.
"Pi, it was his choice," I replied.
"You can help him; Carmie was only using him; well, she must be in love with Red, but I can tell she only wanted him because he was a lawyer and your dad's favorite," Pia stated.
"She can replace him anytime. She wanted money and power, Des. Don't give her that, or she will turn the lives of your friends into a frenzy of disaster." My friend added.
"Of course, don't do it if it is against your will; I thought you still loved Red and wouldn't mind giving him yourself. Please forget that we are having this kind of conversation, okay?" She asked before she focused on her plate and started eating silently while I was having a dilemma on what to do now that I was out of options.
"Thank you for the delicious dinner, Pi, I felt so full" I said.
"You are welcome; I am glad we met before I return to the province and work there for good." She responded, and my face turned bright red again.
"I am deeply sorry, Pia," I stated.
"Please, stop apologizing, Des; just promise me when you return to your old life, you won't forget me." She replied with a wide grin as if her life hadn't turned upside down because she chose me to be her friend.
"Just in case you change your mind, you can call and ask me how to prepare and make everything perfect," she jokingly added.
"Don't worry, I will think about it," I replied, smiling at her.
"You are only telling me that to make me feel better; you don't need to worry; I found a decent job in the province. The salary is not that much, but enough to make ends meet. Who knows, if you want to leave the city one day, don't hesitate to contact me." Pia added.
"But if you ever return as the heiress and you are running your dad's company, I hope you will hire me." She continued, and I wished I could return to my old life and help her.
"Of course, without a doubt, I will hire you as my secretary," I responded, and she giggled.
I kissed her cheek and bid farewell before I left for the bus station. I sat at the back of the bus, grinding my teeth as I thought of Carmie's face.
I felt glad I didn't need to deal with Daria since she wasn't in the living room when I arrived, and I was sure she was already sleeping in her room since the TV was off.
After my mission failed, I didn't want her to ask me many questions. I couldn't even face her yet. I went straight to my room. I planned to tell Daria to pack her things tomorrow because we are leaving.
I don't want to stay in the city anymore to fight for my rights since I wasn't Alejandro's child, even if Daria and Dr. Enriquez told me I have all the rights since I was my mom's daughter.
Wealth is not what I need, but my father's love. I was brokenhearted that I had lost my father. I knew today after I saw the result. Leaving the city is the only way to forget everything, and I should start a new life as far away from here as possible.
I couldn't sleep thinking about what had happened to Pia, and her words kept haunting me. She indeed made a sacrifice for me, and I knew her entire family depended on her, and without power and money, I couldn't help my friend.
Virginity! Chastity! Does it really matter?
I woke up with heavy eyes, knowing it was because of a lack of sleep.
"Daria? What happened to your face? Why do you have bruises?" I asked when I found her in the kitchen, and she quickly covered her face with her hands.
"Daria, I already saw them; who did that to you?" I asked again, and she slowly removed her hands and faced me.
"Carmie and Carmen came here yesterday after you left, and they said if we don't leave this place, my entire family will suffer." She responded tremblingly, and I came to her in haste.
"Daria, I am sorry," I mumbled as I hugged her.
"They are going to pay for this," I added as I cursed under my breath.
"Did a miracle happen?" She asked, and my heart sank.
"Not yet, but it will come," I softly responded, feeling so hurt, and the guilt I felt was killing me.
They will never stop unless I stop them, and I had no choice but to follow Pia's advice since Red could be my only salvation.