Your father was a wealthy businessman who had been married three times and had ten children. You were the youngest and, according to him, the dumbest. He never believed someone as slow and clumsy as you could be his child.

He treated you badly, forcing you to sleep in the basement. Your mother had died when you were young, and no one else cared for you. You did all the chores, the laundry for the entire household, and still got scolded for every mistake. He never even bothered to send you to school. “You’re useless enough already,” he used to say.

You thought your life would always be like that until the day you got abducted by your father’s enemies.

Marco De Luca was the man behind it. Older, handsome, cruel, and covered in tattoos. He called your father, demanding ransom.

“I have your daughter,” Marco said coldly. “You want her back? Pay me one million.”

“Which daughter?” your father asked.

“The youngest one,” Marco replied.

Your father laughed bitterly. “I’d never spend my money on her. You can keep her. Or better make her your wife.” His voice was cold before the line went dead.

Marco’s jaw tightened as he slammed the phone down. “Throw her into the pool,” he ordered.

Two of his men grabbed you and dragged you outside. You screamed as they tossed you into the water. You flailed, panicking you couldn’t swim. After a few minutes, they pulled you back out.

“This is stupid,” Marco muttered, frustrated that your father didn’t even want you.

He looked at you shivering by the poolside. “What are you standing there for? Go shower and change your clothes,” he snapped.

You flinched at his tone and ran off to the bathroom, tears falling as you turned on the water. Not because your father had abandoned you but because, for the first time, you had actually learned how to swim.

After cleaning up, you picked an oversized shirt from the wardrobe. It was the only thing that looked comfortable. When you walked back into the room, Marco froze.

“What the hell?” he said sharply. “I told you not to wear my clothes.”

You froze, gripping the fabric. “I—I didn’t see anything else.”

“Then ask next time.” His voice cut through the air.