Shattered silence

Mira sat on the floor of her apartment, overwhelmed and unable to process the news. Tears had long since dried, leaving her feeling numb. Her mind raced with questions—how had things come to this? Why was her grandfather revealing her father's debt now? She struggled to understand the reality of being forced into a marriage, unable even to begin packing. The shock left her paralyzed, wondering why this was happening to her.

Mira sat on the floor, lost in time. When she heard the door open, she didn't look up, expecting more distressing news from her grandfather. Instead, she heard several footsteps approaching. Slowly raising her head, she saw a group of men in suits standing before her.

The man at the front spoke, "Hello, ma'am. I'm James, and we'll be taking you to the mansion."

Mira remained seated, her eyes puffy from crying. Her usually wavy, dark hair, which fell in natural curls around her shoulders, was now disheveled. Her rosy pink lips parted in shock as she stared blankly at the strangers.

James noticed Mira hadn't packed anything and said, "No need to worry about packing, ma'am. New clothes are already set for you at the mansion. When you arrive, you'll find everything you need. No need to pack."

Mira silently stood up, her thoughts a whirlwind as she faced the reality of her situation. The atmosphere grew so cold that even James seemed to feel it. She took the key card to her apartment from them and tucked it into her suit pocket. With heavy resignation, she followed them outside.

In front of her was an extravagant black limousine, a limited edition. Mira climbed into the car in silence, unable to speak. It felt as though time had stopped. As she sat quietly, she struggled to piece together the whirlwind of events, her mind consumed by uncertainty.

As the car sped through the city, all Mira could see were buildings blurring past. She wondered if moving to Country Nick had been the right decision or if staying in her village might have been better. Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed the car coming to a halt.

The door was opened by one of the bodyguards, and she stepped out into a grand entrance. Inside, a woman greeted her. "Hello, ma'am. I'm Nana, your personal maid. This way, please."

Nana guided her through the mansion, which was incredibly vast and opulent. Outside, Mira saw a large square pool, surrounded by a colorful flower garden and a cozy seating area for coffee. The mansion's exterior was impressive, but it was the interior that took her breath away.

The inside was expansive and lavish, with sparkling surfaces and busy staff attending to various tasks. Mira followed Nana to her room, a spacious retreat furnished with elegance. The room featured a plush king-sized bed, a seating area with two couches, a large TV, and a glass-enclosed bathroom with a luxurious feel. The wardrobe was a see-through, diamond-like design, and a small library nestled in the corner. Despite the grandeur, Mira felt detached, her mind still preoccupied with the whirlwind of recent events.

Mira sat on the plush bed, trying to piece together her jumbled thoughts. The realization of what was happening hit her hard—was this why her grandfather had seemed so odd in the days leading up to her move to Country Nick? She sat in stunned silence, struggling to make sense of it all.

Not long after, Nana entered the room. "Ms. Mira, I've brought your food. Should I place it on the table?"

Mira nodded absently, her eyes clouded with tears. Nana left, and as the door closed behind her, Mira's emotions overwhelmed her. She began to cry uncontrollably, her tears flowing like an unending stream. Her wavy hair fell around her face, adding to the image of her despair.

Hours seemed to slip by as Mira continued to weep, oblivious to the passage of time. When night fell, Nana knocked gently and brought in dessert. Mira instructed her to place it on the table, alongside the untouched meal. With a final glance at the untouched food, Mira resumed her quiet sobbing, her grief unabated.

---

Two days later, in a large, opulent office within the country, a man sat at his desk, focused intently on a stack of papers. Cold and emotionless as usual, he was seldom interrupted. However, today was different—his phone rang, a rare occurrence as he typically avoided calls while working.

He answered the call, expecting an emergency.

"Hello, Boss," came the voice on the other end. "It's about Ms. Mira. She hasn't eaten any of her food for the past three days, and she's locked herself in her room. She refuses to leave or speak to anyone. We need your help."

There was a brief silence before he ended the call. Rising from his desk, he donned his suit and left the office.