Daniella's Pov

The hot sun seems to be piercing into my skin like needles, it could have been doing the same to my head and face if I hadn't covered it with my sun hat. I've been in the plantation since morning, seeding for the season that seems to be fast approaching because of the harsh sun.

"Jeez! This summer is a hot one, I wonder when we'll enter winter…my skin can't bear the harshness of this summer any longer." Helena said with a pout which made me chuckle on her cuteness.

Helena Soler is my childhood best friend. We do a lot of things together, mostly sharing our happy and sad lives together. Just like me, she's from a pauper family. We work for people's plantation in exchange for money, that's how we do to earn a living in our simple lives.

"C'mon princess, it's little already so let's round up quickly so our skin won't get tanned!" I half yelled to her because she's across the fields.

"You know, I wish a charming prince can come and sweep me off my pauper's life." She said dreamily, leaning to her rake stick.

"It's sweet to day-dream, but don't drown in it." I said with a chuckle.

"You know you are a dream killer!" She yelled with a fake frown, making me chuckle.

This friend of mine can be so sweet with her curly blond hair, I admire her blond hair a lot but God decided to give me black hair instead.

***

After we were done seeding the plantation, Helena had to go to the market to help her mother in selling tomatoes, leaving me to walk home alone. I swear I'll make her pay for making me walk all alone under this cruel sun.

On reaching the house, I pulled my boots and gloves, then my hat before making my way into the house. I stood stunned at what's in front of me, everything seems to be turned upside down. We don't have much property though, but that's the little we can provide.

But why is our little property scattered like some wild animal has invaded the place?!

My eyes suddenly caught hold of my father on the floor, groaning in pain. I immediately went to him, I managed to raise him up to his feet and placed him on a wooden seat of ours. His forehead seems to be bleeding, panicked. I went to our old kitchen cabinet and brought out a first aid kit.

I went back to him, opened the kit and brought out a dressing solution and started wiping the blood. After I was done, I applied some ointment and then bandaged it. He seemed to be gasping in pain. I went to the kitchen and came out with a glass of water which he gulped down.

"What happened father?! Who did this to you and our home?!" I asked, curious to know what really happened here.

"Car… Carlos…his men. They came for their money." He said, groaning in pain.

Carlos is a loan shark who had lent my father money to save my sick mother six months ago. Unfortunately she couldn't make it. Now these dangerous people are on our neck for their money, what are we supposed to do about it?

***

"What?!" Helena half yelled after I had told about the incident that happened at my house today.

"What are you going to do now?" Helena asked as we strolled.

To be honest, I've been pondering real hard on what to do about this loan. Dad said they would come back by next week to collect their money or his death, him dying would mean me dying as well. He's the only family I've got!

"I don't know Helena. Right now we have no money in the house,talk more of paying a debt." I blurted out the way I am feeling right now.

"You don't have any blood relatives that could help?"

"I wish." I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

I do have blood relatives, but they are all high and they look down on my father because he isn't of their status. I could remember the last time my father had called them up for some help for my mother's treatment, they just insulted him and sent him away.

"I do know of someone who might be of help but it's a long shot." Helena said, making me come to a halt and stare at her like I don't recall her.

"Are you being serious right now Helena?" I furrowed my brows, "I just told you that we owe a loan shark a dangerous one at that. Now you want me to borrow from another to pay another?!"

"Calm down Dani, this one isn't like the others. He's different, he gives loans in exchange of something equivalent to the loan he gives you, my father once went to him for some loan and in exchange my father gave him a piece of land equivalent to the money he took from him. I'm telling you, this one is very pure and not dangerous." Helena said.

"I don't know…I don't want to add to the problems we already have at hand." I pouted, sadly.

I really want to get my father out of this mess, but I really do not want to add to his troubles by having another loan shark on our necks.

"Trust me Dani, this one won't cause you much." Helena said, giving me a sweet convincing smile.

"I guess there's no harm in trying." I said with a shrug.

If there's a means to save us from this, I'll take chances.

"Where does he stay?" I asked.

"He stays a few towns away from here, he is well known over there for his wealth. He is a billionaire as I have heard, and very handsome too." Helena said with a grin, I rolled my eyes.

"Could you ever be serious for once in your life?" I said, before I started walking.

I had her running up to me after she had recovered from her dream world, she can be annoying at times.