Chapter 1 Prologue

Sofia's heart pounded in her chest as the rain pelted against the windows, matching the rhythm of her mother's sobs. She could hear her mother's footsteps pacing back and forth in the living room, waiting for her husband to come home. Then, suddenly, the sound of a car pulling up to the house cut through the storm. "Mama, he's here!" Sofia whispered, barely audible over the sound of the rain. She watched as her mother rushed to the door, wiping away her tears and plastering on a fake smile. "Welcome home, dear," her mother said, her voice shaking. Sofia's father strode into the house, a beautiful woman in his arms. Sofia recoiled at the sight of her father's mistress, but her mother put on a brave face. "Who is this?" her mother asked, trying to keep her tone light. "Is everything alright?" "Everything is fine," her father sneered, pushing her away. "Can't a man have a little fun?" Sofia's mother's face fell. "Please don't hurt me," she begged. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Her father's face twisted with rage. "You're always so worried about me," he spat. "It's pathetic. I hate that you even think about me. You don't deserve me. Get out of my way." "Please, honey, don't do this to me," her mother begged, grabbing her husband's arm. "Don't touch me," her father yelled. Sofia's mother flinched at her father's words, tears streaming down her face again. Sofia watched as her father raised his hand to strike her mother. She wanted to scream, to tell him to stop, but she was frozen with fear. Her father didn't stop. Instead, he kicked his wife's stomach so hard she fell to the ground crying and clutching her stomach. Sofia retreated to the staircase, her heart breaking with every sob. She clutched her stuffed animal tightly, hoping and praying that her father would leave soon and they would be safe again. After a while, her father stopped throwing punches and kicks after spitting on her mother. Sofia peeked through the railing of the staircase, her eyes wide with fear as she watched her mother sobbing on the floor. Her father, towering over her, yelled insults and accusations at her. "How dare you question me?" he bellowed. "You know I can do whatever I want. You're lucky I even bother to come back here." Sofia's mother could not speak but whimpered in pain. Her father kicked her mother while she was still on the ground, causing her to scream out in pain. Sofia covered her mouth to stifle her sobs. "You're nothing but a worthless piece of trash," her father spat at her mother. "And this brat," he gestured towards Sofia, "is just a reminder of how much I hate you." Sofia's mother tried to shield her from her husband's wrath, but he grabbed her by the hair and pulled her up to her feet. Sofia watched in horror as he continued to beat her mother mercilessly, her cries echoing through the empty house. "No, please stop," Sofia whispered to herself, tears streaming down her face. But her father didn't stop until he had vented all of his rage and anger. As he finally left for his room with his beautiful mistress, Sofia's mother lay on the ground, bruised and broken. Sofia rushed to her mother's side, holding her tightly when the room was locked upstairs. "Mama, are you okay?" Sofia asked with pain. "I'm okay, baby," her mother said weakly. "Don't worry about me. Just go to bed now." "Mama, you also come with me to my room. Dad has locked your room, so where will you sleep?" Sofia asked with teary eyes. Her mother nodded, still trembling with fear and sadness. Mother and daughter made their way to Sofia's bedroom when they heard the woman moaning Sofia's father's name. Her mother cried, covering her mouth. Sofia was eleven years old, but she understood everything that was happening in this house. They slowly went to Sofia's room. Sofia made her mother lie on the bed. Her mother moaned as her whole body was aching with unbearable pain after getting a merciless beating. "Mama, I'm here," Sofia said as she sat beside her mother, holding her hand. "I'll never leave you. I promise." Her mother looked at her with tears in her eyes, her face still swollen from the beating. "I know you won't, baby," she said weakly, her voice trembling with vulnerability. "You're the only good thing in my life," she whispered, the weight of her words heavy with a mixture of despair and affection. “Why do you suffer Dad’s beatings and endure him bringing that woman home?!” Sofia's innocent question pierced the tense air, her confusion and concern evident in her furrowed brow. “He's a rich man, Sofia, and rich men have insatiable needs,” her mother responded, her voice strained with both resignation and hidden anguish. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks, mirroring the turmoil within her. “He feels entitled to vent his anger on me and seeks solace in other women.” “But you didn't have to endure it, Mom. Why don't you leave him?” Sofia's voice trembled with a mix of frustration and worry for her mother's plight. “I can't, darling. I have no one to turn to,” her mother confessed, her voice cracking with the weight of her truth. “I came from a poor family, and I feel trapped. I'm bound by circumstances to endure this life, and... and I still love him,” she admitted, her lips trembling with a sense of helplessness. Sofia’s heart filled with unknown fear. Her father's cruelty had scarred her deeply and it would take a long time for her to heal. "Don't worry, Mama," Sofia said softly. "I'll take care of you always. And I'll never marry a rich man. Rich people are heartless and demons." Her mother smiled weakly, her hand stroking Sofia's hair. "You're such a good girl, Sofia.But you have to marry one day just like Every girl has to marry. A prince will come to marry you on a white horse. He will make you happy and love you forever." "No, Mom, I will never marry, and I will never leave you. Men don't love. they only beat and treat women as slaves," Sofia cried as she hugged her mother tightly. "Sofia, my child! I love you and will always be with you," her mother whispered in her dull voice. At that time, Sofia didn't understand what her mother was trying to say. But after a few months, her mother died. Though she had died from inside long ago, her husband's cruelty and betrayal made her choose death over life. She had lost the will to live, so no one could save her. People thought she died from some illness. But Sofia knew it was a murder. Though she had no proof to blame anyone. Sofia was left alone in this cruel world, and her problems increased when her father remarried just a week after her mother's death. Her father's beautiful mistress was now her stepmother. She hated Sofia even more. She brought her daughter with her. Her father loved his new wife's daughter more. Sofia's position in her own house was now not better than a housemaid. But she was grateful her father let her continue her school. Sofia used to cry at night, holding her mother's photo on her chest. "Mom, why did you leave me? How can I live without you? Why didn't you take me with you?" She shouted, standing near the window and looking at the dark sky, but got no reply in return. She was left alone in this cruel world where no one loved her. But she vowed to never get married.