The cellar was dark and damp, and a frail woman was locked behind bars. She lay curled up with one leg bound by a chain, hugging herself and muttering softly.
It had been a year since her mother had died, and the girl had been locked up there. When her father came to visit, she fought to be let out but was only met with blows and hurtful words.
"You're dead," the burly man told her. "Don't expect to come to the surface and ruin my life again, you ugly bastard!"
Those words echoed in her head all the time. After her last meeting with her father, she only saw the assistant in charge of delivering food and lanterns.
As the creak of the teak door echoed through the corridor, the girl looked up to see a glimmer of light approaching. It was time for the servant to arrive with the lantern and food.
"Miss, it's time for lunch," the servant said as she put the lantern away and pushed the tray through the bars.
"Auntie, I need to use the washroom!" she pleaded.
"Oh, OK, just a minute!" The woman got up, found the key, and opened the door. She walked over to the girl and untied the chains from her legs.
The girl would not escape from this dungeon even without the chains.
The servant led her into the washroom. When the door was closed, he waited outside.
A Rolls Royce pulled up in front of the whitewashed courtyard of the house; the driver got out immediately and opened the door for a man and a woman. They were messengers from a wealthy family.
"Daddy, you have a guest," said a pretty girl as she approached her father.
Mr Ferdinan got up from his chair and approached the stained glass window. "The Smith family."
The pretty girl was surprised. "What brings the Smith family here?" she muttered.
Her mother also came over and stood beside her husband. "Maybe they want to propose to you, Jia."
The young woman turned to her mother and looked displeased. "I know the young master of the Smith family is a handsome, wealthy sole heir, but he already has a fiancée. Father, if that's the case, I don't want to marry that man!" Jia said as she left the living room.
There was a knock at the door, and the two people who had gotten out of the luxury car were waiting for it to open. Ferdinand turned to his wife, Leah, who sighed heavily and approached the door.
"If I'm right, don't give Jia the money to keep your company going," she pleaded.
Ferdinand winced; he was thinking hard at the moment. If Jia was unwilling, he would have to get Sellyna out of the cellar. Of course, money was everything to Ferdinand.
Leah opened the door and greeted the two guests. As they sat down, one of them spoke.
"We have come to bring you good news," said the man who had been sent. "That Mr Smith has chosen your daughter to be his son-in-law."
Deg.
Ferdinand was surprised that what his wife had suspected was true.
Leah had already known that the Smiths were looking for a daughter-in-law for their son. But who would have thought that their choice would be their daughter? Even though the son already had a fiancée, why should he propose to someone else's daughter?
A female messenger dropped off a package containing the dowry she had brought. "Sir, we have prepared a large dowry to propose to your daughter."
Ferdinand saw the cheque in the parcel, and his eyes lit up. The dowry was fantastic. Of course, it was because Mr Smith was the wealthiest businessman in the country. They would do anything for their only son.
"Sir!" Ferdinand was deeply moved. "Thank you for choosing our family to be your future in-laws," he said.
Leah was so worried that she pinched her husband's arm to remind him of Jia's request.
"But my daughter is so ugly, in case the young master doesn't like her..."
"Don't worry, we won't take back the dowry you've already paid."
Ferdinand was so happy that he immediately excused himself to meet Sellyna. Yes, only Sellyna would not refuse his request. For Ferdinand, who considered his daughter a bad luck charm, he now retracted his words.
Sellyna had brought him luck.
Ferdinand went down to the cellar. He found only the maid, while Sellyna was not in her room.
"Where's Sellyna?" he asked worriedly.
"She's in the washroom," the maid said.
Her eagle eyes scanned the area, then turned. "When she has finished eating, bring her up!"
The servant looked surprised, then nodded. "Yes, sir!" she said.
Silently, the servant turned to the washroom door and knocked. "Miss, are you all right?" she asked.
"Yes, just a moment," Sellyna said from inside the washroom.
The maid stepped back, holding the lantern. Not long after, Sellyna emerged from the washroom and walked towards the iron bars on her own. Her chain-bound feet made a sound with each step.
"Miss, when you've finished eating, you're to go upstairs," the maid told her.
"Upstairs? Did I hear you wrong?" she asked to be sure.
"No, Miss. It seems the master wishes to release you," the servant guessed with a friendly smile.
"That is impossible," Sellyna said, not wanting to get her hopes up.
She began to eat. Meanwhile, the servant began to remove the chains from Sellyna's legs.
When she finished her meal, the servant brought Sellyna upstairs. After a long time, Sellyna could see the light of a warm room, not the dark and cold cellar floor where she had been confined for the past year.
What would her father do to ask her to come up?
Sellyna was immediately greeted by the other two servants, who showed Sellyna into the room.
"Miss, you must clean yourself first. We have also prepared some flower water,' one of the servants said.
Sellyna was quite surprised, what was flower water for?
But she just obeyed without asking many questions.
Perhaps her father would set her free.
Finally, Sellyna could breathe some fresh air!
She complied with the servant's request and bathed in the fragrant flower water; Sellyna felt like she was in a dream.
After cleaning herself, Sellyna was dressed in a beautiful white dress. Then, her face was made up. Selena looked at her reflection in the mirror.
The dress she wore looked like a wedding dress. Was she getting married?
To whom?
"Are you ready?" A woman's clear voice asked.
Deg.
Selena was startled and looked at the door. Her father had arrived with a woman. Did he have a new wife? But why was she so young?
When you've finished, get out of this room quickly. The officer is here to collect you,' the man ordered.
Sellyna was surprised, Messenger?
"Father...."
The man turned away, then the young woman who had come with him approached. "Hello, little sister! Even with your make-up on, you're still so ugly!" she said. "It looks like you have a permanent cheek scar!" she said as she grabbed Sellyna's cheek.
Sister?
Sellyna still stared at the young woman in front of her. When did she get a sister?
You're getting married today, so go. And don't come back,' she whispered.
Deg!
Sellyna was shocked.
Was she being banished just to get married?
Her father was marrying her off to someone else to escape responsibility?
But who would want to marry her? She had been locked away all this time because her face embarrassed her father. As a result of the accident that took her mother's life, Sellyna was given a chance to survive death, but she had injuries that damaged part of her face.
She was a disgrace to her father. So when her mother died. Her father bought a corpse to replace her at the cremation while she was locked in the cellar.
"Take care of yourself; don't ruin your beautiful face," Sellyna said as she walked past Jia's body.
Jia clenched her fists. She was angry, but luckily, Mr Ferdinan loved her, and her mother would do anything to keep her happy.
Sellyna was taken away from her home by two Messengers, and the car in which she was traveling was moving fast. Not knowing where she was being taken, Sellyna assumed it was to the next horrible place. For she was to be married to a stranger.
The two men who had been sent sat behind Sellyna.
"Do you recognize her?" the maid asked.
"Our job is to bring a willing girl, right?" the man asked. "She didn't even refuse when given a wedding dress."
Sellyna looked down as she wrung her hands.
The maid sighed roughly, then moved to sit beside Sellyna.
"My name is Karin; I am the butler of the Smith family. The person you are to marry is our Young Master." The woman introduced herself and began to tell Sellyna a few things.
"Actually, this proposal is for Miss Jia, but apparently, Mr Ferdinand gave you to us. Well, the Great Master didn't say no either," she introduced herself.
"What's your name?" he asked to confirm.
"Sellyna."
"Sellyna, huh?" The butler murmured. "I'll tell you a few things so you won't be surprised, Sellyna. Today is your wedding to Young Master Jeyden," she said.
Sellyna looked up, stunned.
"But after you become his wife, you are obliged to take care of him from when he wakes up until he goes to sleep..."
"You mean my status is not as a wife but as a maid?"
Karin nodded. "Mr Jayden is ill and cannot leave the room. With your status as his wife, no one will suspect you are always at his side. Only until Mr Jayden has finished his convalescence, after which, if you disagree, you can file for separation with the compensation money Mr Smith has provided," Karin explained.
Sellyna, still stunned, wondered.
What exactly was Jayden ill with?
"Does he have an infectious disease?" Sellyna asked cautiously.
"No, you can rest easy. You'll also get a monthly allowance; consider it your salary."
"W-what if I ask for a divorce before the promised date?" Sellyna asked reassuringly.
The woman turned her head and smiled mysteriously. "You'll find out when you read the contract. I hope you can make it to the end."
Sellyna held her breath for a moment.
A new hell awaited her, but perhaps it was better than being locked in the cellar by her father, was it not?