Kate’s Point of View
Getting beat up to death every day seemed to be normal to me already. I grew up accepting my father’s wrath, blaming me for something I wasn’t even aware of.
After my mother’s death, I stayed under my father’s care, which is definitely not good. But I had no other choice, I had no one but him.
Today, I woke up later than usual. Rushing up to my closet, I grabbed a pair of clothes before I ran to the bathroom to take a quick shower and leave. If my father wakes up earlier than me, then, I should expect nothing, but beating.
I was just about to turn the knob open when my door banged open. My father walked in, his palm formed into a tight clench.
My throat went dry as he walked up to me. He’s furious because I didn’t manage to wake up early.
“D-dad, I’m sorry,” I apologized, stammering in nervousness.
My cuts and bruises from last night haven't even healed yet.
Without wasting any second, my father’s clenched fist landed on my face. The impact was so hard that my vision began to spin.
Another fist in my stomach then was followed by another slap to my left cheek.
I stumble, and fall down, kneeling on the floor.
“You know your responsibilities here, Kate. And that’s to wake up early, and do the chores before you go to work! Is that hard to understand?!” His loud and rough voice echoed.
I simply nod, sniffing as tears flow down my cheeks.
“Do you think Mom would be happy seeing you treating your own daughter like this?” my voice cracked.
I kept my head down, as I leaned towards the wall, hugging myself.
He scoffed, “Just so you know, you are not my daughter. And it was your fault why Melanie isn’t here with me anymore!”
My blood ran cold and I was left speechless for a few moments. My mouth slightly parted open, as I couldn’t process the information he just said.
“W…What?” I asked, my sob growing louder.
I feel betrayed. All this time I believed my father was evil for treating his daughter this way. And now, my questions were answered.
“You got no one but me. It’s either you stay here and suffer, or leave and starve to death,” he warned me before turning around to leave.
However, he came to an abrupt halt upon reaching the door.
“Just wait until you turn eighteen to discover what kind of monster you are. By that time, I’m certain you’ll understand why I just want you to die,” he added before slamming the door shut, leaving me all alone.
I felt like I was floating in the air as I made my way to the bar where I worked as a bartender. My body is still aching with the bruises and cuts all over my body, but I forced myself to step.
I couldn’t afford to lose any penny from my salary this time. I need to save up to afford college since George, my adoptive father, doesn’t want to support my studies.
I weakly pushed the door open and quickly changed into my uniform. I went to the counter to start working when I saw Lucas sitting on one of the stools, staring at me.
Lucas is my boss, the owner of this bar. He stood up and grabbed my wrist as soon as he reached me.
I tried to pull it back, but he insisted.
“Your father again did this to you, didn’t he?” he asked, turning back to the counter. He picked up a box and placed it in front of me.
My brows furrowed as Lucas turned the box open, revealing many different kinds of leaves and flowers inside.
“What’s that?”
“This can treat your wounds better and faster than medicine aid humans use.”
I gave him a questioning look, with my brows heavily furrowed. Lucas just smiled, before he started to treat my wounds.
He’s talking as if he wasn’t human.
At first, I was hesitant to let him put those leaves and flowers on my skin. But as I noticed that the pain in my wounds subsided, and some of them even healed, I just let him treat me with those leaves I didn’t know about.
After he was done, Lucas closed the box, and meaningfully looked at me. He raised his hand and gently caressed my right cheek.
“You don’t deserve to be treated like this, Kate.”
I weakly chuckled, and I’m about to respond when Lucas added, “Even though you’re a rogue.”
The confusion started to consume me with the words he was using.
“I’m fine, Lucas. Don’t worry,” I bitterly chuckled.
I got out of the counter, grabbing a few shot glasses. I placed them on the sink and started washing them.
My work for today isn’t that exhausting because there are not many customers. Until it was around four in the afternoon when a group of men arrived. I’ve already seen a few of them, and I think they were Lucas’ friends. They went inside the private room, so they must be really special.
Before entering, Lucas raised his hand as a sign that I should serve his friends. I quickly nodded and went back to the counter to prepare their drinks.
Placing different kinds of alcohol on my tray, I followed them.
The door was slightly opened, so getting inside isn’t that hard. I kicked it with my feet and walked inside.
They were about four men seated on the couch while laughing at each other. But there was a man, seated in the middle, who was peeking at me the whole time since I got inside. He was calmly leaning on the couch with his feet crossed.
I ignored him, and carefully placed the tray on the small table in the middle before I turned around to leave.
I was about to reach the door when a man’s baritone voice spoke. “Wait.”
My eyes popped open, thinking that he was pertaining to me. My heart began to pound loud and fast as everyone got quiet.
I gulped before turning around, with my gaze pinned on the floor.
“Reveal yourself,” the man coldly commanded, which made my body stiffen in nervousness.
