"You can't do this to me! What do you not understand from what I said? I don't want to marry a man. I am a lesbian so no way in hell that I would marry a man!" Claire burst into an angry cry as she faced her parents.

She had always known that her parents hadn't accepted her sexuality yet and she tried to understand them.

They came from a well-known clan and she knows that they don't want anyone or anything to tarnish their most cherished name once their friends and business partners find out that their only child is a lesbian. So only her parents, closest family members, and her closest friends knew that she is a lesbian.

If someone would look at her, she still looks like a straight woman. She still has her long dark hair that goes up to her waist and she still wears only women's clothes. So nobody would think that she is a lesbian.

"Shut up, Claire Simone! This is for your good. When it's Dave that will marry you, I can make sure that you will have a good future and I am sure that he won't hurt you. And Claire, our company needs the help of the Beckres. They can help us!"

She smiled bitterly.

What else is new? The company and their image are the only things that are important for her parents, especially for her father.

Her chest tightened and tears began to form in her eyes but she suppressed herself.

With a ferocious look in her eyes, she looked at her father. "Then why don't you marry him instead? You know him, right? It's you who likes that man so why don't you---" But Claire was not able to finish what she wanted to say when the heavy palm of her father suddenly landed on her cheek.

Her face jerked at the strong force of his father's palm.

It hurts. But the pain she felt on her cheek was nothing compared to the pain that she's feeling in her heart.

Yes, his parents, especially his father, don't want to accept her as a lesbian, there are times that they would argue for they cannot agree with her decisions in life but he never laid his hands on her.

This is the first time that her father has slapped her.

And before she could help it, the tears she had been holding back had started to fall.

When she looked at her father, she could see the shock on his face. Her father looked so surprised that he was able to lay his hands on her. But it was too late. Whether it was intentional or not, he still hurt her. Not just physically but emotionally.

Her mother tried to reach out to her. But before her mother could reach her, she already took a step back.

She knew that the pain and anger that she's feeling can be seen in her face and her eyes.

She turned her eyes to her mother who's already on the verge of crying.

"C-claire..." Her mother said as she tried to reach for her hands but she quickly backed away again.

She shook her head then wiped away her tears. "If this is what it takes to be a part of this family, then I would rather just live on the street and wander around than to submit to everything you want me to do and tie me to a man that I do not love. I would rather have poor parents than rich parents, like you, who can't even accept me for what I am and for who I am." She boldly said.

When she felt that she was going to cry again, she immediately restrained herself.

She should be strong. She has to show her parents that she is not weak, that she would not allow them to do just what they wanted.

From the startled expression, his father's jaws suddenly tightened. "Why can't you agree? Is it because of your girlfriend? Is it because of that woman that you dare to disobey us?" His father questioned. "We have already given you enough time to play around, Claire. I let you have a relationship with that woman because that's what your mother told me. But now, I am done with you, playing around. Whether you like it or not, you will marry Dave! " Her father angrily said but she did not budge.

This time, she will be the one to decide for herself. "This is my life, dad." She shifted her gaze to her parents. "And I won't let you dictate me anymore." She said before she turned around and made her way towards the entrance of their home.

She could hear her mother calling her but she did not turn around and just continued walking until she finally got out of their house.

"I'm sorry, Drei. I have nowhere else to go. You know you're my only best friend." Claire said to her best friend, Andrei.

Andrei is her only best friend. They've been friends since high school and out of all her friends, Andrei is the only one that she trusts the most. She knows that he won't say anything to her parents.

"So, what are your plans now? Does Ruby already know this?" Andrei asked her after she told him about what happened between her and her parents.

She suddenly remembered Ruby.

Ruby has been her girlfriend for a year already. And like her, Ruby also came from a well-known clan but that is not enough for her parents to accept her relationship with her. And her father is right. Ruby is one of the reasons why she disagreed with the fixed marriage. She loves Ruby very much and she knows that she loves her too. So no matter what his father does or says, she will never allow it and agree to it.

"She doesn't know anything. I haven't told her yet. I instantly came here after I left the house. Also, I don't want her to be involved in my problems anymore. She already has a lot on her mind." She replied to Andrei.

"But she needs to know this, Claire. She is your girlfriend. And we both know that she is already involved in this, Claire." Andrei answered him seriously.

"But Drei...I don't want her to worry anymore."

"But she has to know. Besides, she'll also know about this sooner or later so it's better if it would come from you than for her to hear it from anyone else. You must tell her." Andrei said and she did nothing but nod in response.

Andrei is right. Somehow, she just can't argue with what Andrei said.

She just sighed.

A few minutes passed before Andrei spoke again causing her to return her attention to him. "What are you going to do now? I'm sure you can't use your credit cards because right now, your father is freezing your accounts." Andrei asked.

"I'm sorry, Drei. I'll be a burden to you for now. I have nowhere else to go so---" But before she could finish her sentence, Andrei already held her hands that were on her thigh.

Andrei gently squeezed her hands and stared at her with understanding in his eyes. "You are not a burden to me, Claire. You know you can always count on me. I'm just worried about you. I know you. I know you will not accept my help aside from living here in my house." Andrei said and gave her his most sincere smile.

"Drei, just letting me stay here is already a huge thing for me. And I don't want to ask for more because that would be too much already." She said and smiled back at him.

If she is just straight, she would probably be one of those women that are so into Andrei.

Andrei is almost perfect. That is why she wonders why he still does not have a girlfriend. He has never introduced a girlfriend to her.

"Thank you, Drei. I owe you this one." She took her hand that Andrei was holding and she tapped on Andrei's hands. "Don't worry, I will look for a job right away so that I can contribute at least for food." She said to Andrei with a smile on her face before she stood up and stared at the window that was just in front of her.

Andrei also stood up and stood behind her. "You can work in our company, Claire." Andrei offered.

But she immediately rejected the offer. "Drei, I thought you already knew me? You know that I would not accept your offer, right?" She replied and smiled at Andrei again.

Andrei smiled and shook his head. "Yeah, I know. I was just trying, hoping you'll consider it. It's a job, you know." Andrei said, trying to convince her.

"Yes. But you will be my boss. And knowing you, I know you will be easy on me." She replied and rolled her eyes which made Andrei laugh. "I also want to experience how to apply for a job. You know, being interviewed and so on. I want to work hard for me to get what I want, I want to show Mom and Dad that I can live without their help, that I can stand on my own feet without their help so please, Andrei, just let me. "

She saw the uncertainty on Andrei's face. But eventually, Andrei just sighed and nodded his head, an indication that he already agreed.

"Thank you." She said and gave him her most sincere smile.

After their conversation, Andrei invited her to dinner. And then he took her to the room he had prepared for her. Andrei also gave her clothes that she can wear. After she got dressed, she immediately went to bed. And when her back finally landed on the bed, she finally let her tears flow.

She knew that by this time, her parents were already looking for her.

She loves her parents. All her life, she's been trying to be the perfect daughter that they've wanted her to be. Whatever they wanted her to do, she does it without even saying anything, without complaining. She was just like a puppet who followed everything that her parents wanted her to do.

She still remembers when her parents found out that she has a girlfriend. Her father almost killed her in anger. Her father even threatened her that if she didn't break up with Ruby, she would lose her inheritance. But that did not stop her. And instead, she ran away and stayed with Ruby. But just a few days later, her parents found her and tried to send her home. She wouldn't even go home if only her father had not told her that he won't try to ruin their relationship anymore.

She thought that that would be the end of it and they would never have a problem again. But here they are. He is dictating her again.

She's sure that his father is furious now. But she doesn't care anymore. She has done enough for them. She had enough of being the perfect daughter that they wanted her to be. She will show her parents that she can be successful even without their help. She will show them that she can stand on her own. She will prove to them that she is not just a mere puppet who would do nothing but obey.

Starting tomorrow, things will never be the same again. She told herself as she slowly drifted to sleep.