Chapter 1

PENELOPE ELEANOR

My tears still did not stop as I watched the two coffins in front of me. Until now, I still do not accept the death of the two most important people in my life.

The surrounding people were just quietly watching me. Some people can easily hear their sobbing and others just stare at me with worried faces.

Thirty minutes have passed, but I still do not let the two graves be buried in the ground. No, I can't yet.

“Penelope, please. Let them go. I'm sure they're both happy wherever they are.”

I ignored Aunt Martha's whisper in my ear. Until now, I still can not speak in front of them clearly.

“Please, Penelope. They won't want to see you suffer.”

I was stunned by the last thing Tita said. I stood up straight while still looking at the coffin. My tears flowed like rain when words came back to my memory.

“Pen, you need to be independent and stay your smile without us.”

I feel like thousands of needles are piercing my heart as I look at my parents' grave. Against my will, I took the flower that was already in Tita's hand, and then I looked at my Father and Mother's grave.

“Wherever you are, always remember that I love you.” I cracked my own voice after saying those words.

I threw the flower to Mother and Father and for the last time, I glanced at them with tears while a sad smile was curved on my lips.

*

It has only been seven days since my parents died. I thought I could get everything back to normal except for my parents, but I was wrong.

In the few years I have lived in the world, I can hardly believe the size of Mother and Father's debt to the bank. I tried to talk to my relatives, but I failed and none of them wanted to help someone like me.

Now, in just a few days, I will be able to leave the house where I grew up. I miss my Mom and Dad so much. What can they do in this kind of situation?

“Penelope, are you okay? You shouldn't have come on school.”

I looked in the direction of my friend, Raelynn Ximena. She's been my best friend since when we were a child. I could hear the lollipop she was eating as her worried hazel brown eyes looked at me. With her white skin, her kissable lips became even brighter. She's a goddess if there is one.

I shook my head in response to her. “I'm fine, Raelynn. I'm fine.” I took a deep breath as I felt the warning tears going to fall again in my eyes.

I feel my friend hugging me. Action speaks a thousand of meaning. That's why she's my best friend until now.

The two of us stopped talking when a man stopped in front of where we were sitting today. By the way, we're a college student and right now we have break time. BS psychology is the course we take.

I stared at the man as he adjusted the laces of his shoes. This is the first time that I saw him. Is he a new student?

Black slicked is the style of his hair, his skin was white, he was tall, his face was round, he has a pointed nose, and you would think his lips were lip tint.

I blinked my eyes when he suddenly turned in my direction.

“Kennedy? Hey, this is probably your first time landing here? Did you suddenly feel boring seating on the rooftop every break time?”

I turned to my friend because of what I heard. My two eyebrows meet as I look at him. My friend also turned to me and suddenly, her eyes widened on me.

“You don't know him, Penelope?” She even pointed at the man.

With the strength of her voice, I was embarrassed to shook my head in response.

“He's our classmate, Escanor Kennedy. How much did you feel stress without knowing your own classmate?”

I stared at my friend. We once again turned in Escanor's direction and we both looked around when we saw that the man Raelynn was talking to was gone.

I don't look around too much because I'm a nerd and I don't want to be focused on especially by bullies. It's good that Raelynn is here so somehow no one has bullied me more at this school.

Raelynn and I stopped talking when a student suddenly approached us.

“Ms Eleanor, you are being summoned to the principal's office today.” After the student spoke, he left immediately.

My friend and I looked at each other and I sighed deeply. “Yeah. Maybe they'll say something about my parents too.”

I did not feel like standing up. I feel so tired all day. Furthermore, I just looked at my friend before I walked towards the principal's office. Raelynn still wanted to accompany me, but I stopped her. I don't want her to hear anything bad, and she will worry about me again.

When I arrived at the principal's office, the principal and the two men who were wearing expensive black tuxedos, approached me. At the same time, they bowed to me that made me confused even more.

“Ms. Eleanor, we are here to pick you up. We want to let you know that you will stay in the mansion starting today.”

I was even more confused by what they stated.

“Huh? Mansion? Which mansion? Who?”

“In the mansion owned by Mr Kendy. It was as agreed by Mr Kendy and your deceased parents. You are old enough to marry our boss.”

I feel deaf to what I have heard. K-Kendy? I don't even know that person!

“What kind of bulls*it is that? Do you have any evidence for what you are saying?” I hissed to them.

They smiled at me without looking at my angry face. Then, they handed me a paper. I let go of it immediately when I saw Mom and Dad’s signature written over there.

Not only that.

They arrange the marriage to a man twenty years apart from me.

He is forty years old for goodness sake!