"I came back to get the key to the car. What's going on here? What's with the seriousness? Why do I feel like something is going on and you all are hiding it from me?" she said.
Sweat dropped from her father's face. He felt relieved that he didn't complete what he was about to say and that she didn't hear anything, even though she was suspicious.
That's when he suddenly laughed out loud, which made everyone confused at first, but then Valentina and her mother suddenly realized what he was trying to do, so they immediately changed their expression and smiled too.
"Suspicious?" he said while laughing, still thinking of what to lie to her about what they were talking about. While he was thinking, his wife suddenly blurted out some words.
"We were just planning Alessia's birthday party," Rosa said with a fake smile.
"Without me?" Camila said.
"Honey, we were also going to let you know when you got back. We just wanted to do the basics first, like the cake and who to invite," Rosa said.
"Alright, Mom, I'll be off now. Alessia is waiting," she said.
"Bye, darling," Carlo said loudly.
"Still angry with you, Dad!" she said loudly while closing the door.
Camila was still suspicious. She knew something was going on because Valentina looked worried the whole time and didn't say a word.
"How long does it take to get the keys? I'll be late because of you!" Alessia shouted.
"I'm coming, you brat!" Camila replied.
Back at the house, the tension had come back again, and they were serious once more. They locked the door shut this time around just to be safe.
"Tina, I know you would be angry after hearing this, but please don't hate me," Carlo said.
He started to get sweaty again and stuttered as he spoke. Valentina felt scared and wondered what it was about; she also started sweating.
"Dad, please tell me what's wrong, Mom?" she said.
"Just tell her, Carlo. We've kept it a secret long enough. We have to tell her before Camila gets back again," Rosa said.
Carlo, wearing a strange expression, raised his head. He could not look Valentina in the eyes.
"I am in debt, Tina, and I used you to pay it off," he said in one breath.
In a quieter tone, he added, "I am sorry."
Tina stood still, unable to accept what her father had just said.
"Do I have to work for them or something?" she asked, trying her best to stay calm even though she was raging inside.
With his head hanging low, Carlo replied, "No. This is different. You will be taken by a man named Lorenzo Stark. He is the man I owe."
The last bit of calm left Valentina. A look of betrayal spread across her face.
"How could you? You had no right. No right to sell me off!"
"Honey, calm d…" her mother began softly, but Valentina immediately cut her off.
"No, do not. No father in their right mind sells off their daughter to pay a debt."
Her eyes overflowed with tears as every sentence shattered her heart.
She looked at the man who was supposed to protect her, supposed to care for her, yet he had sold her to pay his debt.
Carlos tried again. "Tina, I know I messed up, but please forgive me."
Tina looked at him with rage and sadness. She let out a laugh that sounded almost unhinged.
"Forgive you? Forgive you for what exactly? For selling me off for your selfish interest? Or for putting my life in the hands of some man I know nothing about? He could be a killer, a murderer. He could be anything, Dad. Anything. And you speak about forgiveness?"
"I hate you. I hate you. You have brought nothing but trouble to this family. You are a disgrace!"
Her mother stepped in, still calm. "Valentina Ross. I know you are angry, but that is no way to speak to your father."
Valentina shot her a mocking look. "I cannot believe you would sit there and tell me that. You know what? I hate you too."
"I will not stand here and be sold like a piece of nothing. I will find my way out, and no one can stop me."
She rushed toward the door.
"Tina! Tina!" her parents screamed as she dashed out without looking back.
Rosa, her eyes red and teary, turned to Carlos, whose head hung low in shame.
"If anything happens to my daughter, I will never forgive you." She said.
She stood up and hurried out after Valentina.
Valentina ran until she was tired, when she stopped, she realized she was in a place she wasn't familiar with. Tears still rolled down her cheeks. She was out of breath from running.
It was getting dark, and she looked around, realizing she had never been to this area before and it looked dangerous. She got scared but didn't want to go home, back to her parents who betrayed her.
Just as she was about to turn around and leave the dark alley, she felt someone grab her hand.
"Don't move," the masked man said in a calm voice.
Valentina moved and tried to make a run for it since she didn't hear him cock a gun, but there was another man blocking the way.
"Don't make this hard for us. Just come with us quietly," the second man said.
Valentina felt really scared and in shock. She didn't know what to do or where to run, so she started shouting for help.
"Someone, please help me!" she shouted.
The masked man covered her mouth and nose with a cloth that had a chemical smell, and she became unconscious. They carried her into the van, then tied her legs and hands and covered her mouth with tape, and left for their destination.
Just as she regained consciousness, she listened to the masked man's conversation on the phone.
"We're bringing her to you now," the man said, then the call ended.
Valentina started struggling to talk and move, noticing that she had been taped and tied. She tried to sit up so someone could see her through the glass.
"Don't bother. The glass is tinted. You're only stressing yourself," the masked man said while driving.
Then both men laughed out loud, and suddenly they removed the tape from her mouth. Valentina looked through the glass and couldn't recognize where she was.
"Where are you taking me? Why are you doing this?" she asked.
"You'll know soon enough. We're almost there," the masked man said.
She starts struggling once again and manages to untie her hands, but then she was caught, then she kicks the man on his torso and tries to run away but the masked man driving stops the car and while she was distracted trying to escape from the other man, the masked man hits her on the head with a plank and she falls unconscious once again.
"What a drag," the masked man said
They finally reached their destination, slowly parked the car in a driveway, and carried her out since she was still unconscious. They took her inside.
"We're here, boss," the masked man said.
The masked men put her down on a chair as she slowly wakes up and ties her hands to the chair.
A man sat in the darkness in the big room. Then he turned on the lights and turned to look at Valentina with a cold gaze.
"Untie her," he said.
There were no ties on her legs and hands. She slowly raised her eyes, which were also quite blurred.
His eyes clashed with hers, dark green and cold and unyielding. A wicked grin spread across his features.
"Leave us," he commanded, and the men obediently left.
She stepped back, her heart pounding. His face was sharp, his black hair falling over the side of his face. There was something so attractive about him, but she kept her defenses up.
"Who are you? What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice trembling.
He smirks.
"You! I want you," he said coldly.