1 Chapter 1: Caina Adelaide

Caina Adelaide woke up just before the king sun touches the sky. She immediately got up from the bouncy bed she’d been sleeping in for the past six years of her life inside that humongous house. She doesn’t waste any time, grab her towel then went to shower to start the day.

After slipping in her uniform, she grabbed her favorite headband that’s been hanging in the back door of her dresser. She put the plain red headband into her pretty little head before grabbing her sky-blue colored backpack and wallet on her bed. She immediately fixes the bed’s smooth cover and fluffy pillow, remembering how her mother do the same every morning before heading down to start her work every single morning.

After fixing everything she thinks that need be in place, she smiled walking out in the bedroom’s door and closing it quietly. Her eyes flew to the chandelier she been obsessing over the years. It’s in the center of the high ceiling two-story mansion and gracing the whole house its light every night. It has a very exquisite design that resemble the sun, especially if you’re looking up when you are under its light. You can even see a glimpse of prism when you look at it while moving around. It’s making the majestic mansion more castle-like.

"Good morning, Caina,"

Her eyes landed to the most beautiful woman she ever seen in her entire seventeen years of existance. Caina always thought that Francia Volzkian is already a beautiful woman but her thought vanishes every single day, seeing Francia looking more beautiful each day. Francia Volzkian has this fair type of skin, making her look like a porcelain doll, a very shinny and straight black hair, and a body that has a curve right in the places, beauty proportion on check and skin that glistening when the sun decided to touch lightly. She always admire her ever since she stepped into that mansion. She’s seven years younger than Francia. Francia is a twenty-four years old woman that you can consider a goddess in this modern era.

"Good morning too, Francia," she uttered shyly.

Caina and her mom is been living in this buena familia’s mansion since she was eleven, serving the family who helped them when every one turned their back on her and her mother. After Elena died two years ago, her biological mother, Caina stay continuing the work her mother left, aside from Donatella Volzkian insisting that she needs to stay since she doesn’t know a single relative. Volzkian family accepted her like their own daughter and sibling and she’s been paying that kindness with her focus on studying and helping house chores after finishing her school works. For her, it doesn’t mean that they are letting her have a decent room to sleep and food to eat, she doesn’t have an obligation to pay them in her own ways as an appreciation. She doesn’t want them to think that letting her stay is a big mistake.

Elena died from a condition she chose to hide from Caina than letting her daughter stay by her side being worried. She remained silent about her condition until the dreadful day came, her heart failure take away her life and the opportunity to see how her Caina can grow into a beautiful young woman. Even Elena died, Caina doesn’t feel that she’s alone, that she doesn’t have a father to lean on because Volzkian family stand by her side. Making sure that everything is just a phase of life and losing someone doesn’t mean they are leaving, they are just resting and forever be in your heart. They did showed her that status in life is not a hindrance to let her in in their luxurious world to be a part of the family.

“Are you heading to school already? I would tell Mister Johnny to drop you off to school today,” Francia says as they both ascending from the glassy staircase for breakfast that morning.

Looking at Francia, Caina realized how hideous she was. Comparing how beautiful Francia while wearing a robe to hide her night gown and Caina wearing her expensive uniform, of course, courtesy of the family.

“Oh no, Francia. Auntie Donna already gave me my allowance for this whole month. In fact, it’s too much that I could still use it until next month. I would just take a bus so that Mister Johnny could use his time to rest,” Caina said straight with no sign of stopping until they reached the last step of the glass staircase.

They both stop right at the bottom of the staircase. She looked at her like she’s some kind of unidentified flying object.

“I won’t let you ride on those busses and jeeps or that kind of things. It doesn’t look good for you,” she firmly said.

She wants to say that commuting is actually her favorite thing to do every morning but Francia already take her stride into the dining hall of their humongous house. She walked a little faster but still stay behind Francia who’s already sitting in a silver chair. Caina slightly bow her head when Mrs. Volzkian looked up to her while she’s taking a seat beside Francia. The middle age woman smiled at her, giving her face a youthful look because of her wide beautiful smile. Caina is long convinced that this family is some sort of god and goddess living in this time just to make you feel how your beauty could never stand a chance to this family.

“Good morning,” she greeted respectfully.

Rafael Volzkian fold his newspaper before setting it aside just to greet her and Francia with wide smile. He doesn’t look like the typical dad you could encounter a lot. He’s like a walking sunshine in this household, even the serious looking Donatella Volzkian can’t help but to smile too. She smiled to them sweetly while passing the plates to everyone.

“I could hear Francia’s voice a mile away. What do you ladies discussing about?” he looked confused and curious too.

“She said she would take a public transportation than being drop off to school by Mr. Johnny and I don’t like that idea. Convince her dad, please,”

Caina feels how Rafael Volzkian’s eyes drop at her. Her mind already gather a lot of question if he’s mad or does he think that she doesn’t want their help, she just don’t want to cause a burden to anyone and she’s thinking that Mister Johnny is a little bit older and needing a lot of rest and it’s too early to bother the old man and ---- her thought was cut by Uncle Rafael’s soft and soothing voice.

“Hija, why? Do you want me to drop you off to school?” Uncle Raf offered then look at his wrist watch, “I’m free ‘till 10:00 A.M,” he said after.

Caina waves her hand straight away as a gesture of declining. She would rather choose Mr. Johnny to drive her down to her university than Uncle Raf. He’s a busy person and Caina knows that. Being the owner of the largest construction company is never an easy type of job. She saw how many times how the married couple struggles in some point about running the business. She understood that safety is a second in the family’s priority. Owning that kind of business gathered a lot of enemy in their field and they don’t want to risk even her safety.

“N-no, Uncle. Maybe Mr. Johnny can take me to school. I just think that I might be a disturb---”

“You are not a disturb, dear. You’re a family now and sooner you would definitely carry our family name. I want you to be comfortable around us, I want you to call us Mom and Dad soon too. Elena is such a great mother and I don’t intend on replacing her in your heart but I want you to know that you are a family and you would never be a disturb, darling,” Mrs. Volzkian cut her off with using her calm and sweet voice.

She knew that. They discussed it a few months ago and Caina is willing to do anything they wish, she’s a lot more thankful that they are officially letting her step into their glamorous family. They make her understand that there is no reason why they shouldn’t do it.

The family decided that they would officially adopt Caina. She would be lying if she did not think about how she would call someone mom aside from her late mother. It is kind of heavy in heart but she also doesn’t want to hurt Mrs. Volzkian feelings, she’s been so good to her from the start and if this would make her happy, she would let her have her as her daughter. Donatella is longing for her children. Both of her children do have their own different lives now and she sees Caina as a fragile little girl who needs a mother by her side.

After the breakfast, Caina let the family decide that Mr. Johnny would drop her off to school every single morning.

Caina roamed her eyes outside the school once they arrived. It has a very dark tall gate that would be open every 7:00 AM and closes after an hour. It’s an international school, expensive looking and diverse. She didn’t even wish to admit in one of the school that looks like this but her Aunt Donatella is persistent and she couldn’t say no. She doesn’t want to make her sad. Although she’s entirely sure that she can survive in a public school.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Johnny. I can just take a bus back home later,” she said, silently wishing he would let her.

“Oh no, Caina. I wouldn’t go back the mansion without you,” Mr. Johnny firmly said and Caina thought that there is no chance to change his mind.

She sighed and smile a little. Even if she still want to try her luck with Mr. Johnny, she didn’t try to speak at all. He looked so sure and there is definite a no way that he would drive back home now. Caina also doesn’t want to put Mr. Johnny in to trouble so she just nod before saying goodbye and went to enter the school.

The school has a total of 6 building, from grade seven to grade twelve each. 4 floors and in cream paints. A very nice man-made tress on the side walk and a large quadrangle in the center. It has a parking lot on the back of the buildings in case you have a car.

While walking, Nate – her classmate – join her. He’s your typical Prince Charming. Easy to be with and would surely make you feel special. He’s kind and have a pair of beautiful dark chocolate eyes. She can even see girls swooning over him. He’s been charming for the last five years.

And whatever he wants them to be, she doesn’t have guts to cross their friendship line for that. Not to him. Not to anyone. Not ever.