"Father!"
A soft, angelic voice called from outside the house.
"I'm off to school. Bye!"
"Wait! Did you have your breakfast?"
A man in his forties asked as he stepped out of the house, holding pruning scissors in his hand.
"Yes, Father! And I told you not to trim the flowers—I'll do it when I get back. Oops! I'm already late. See you!"
The girl shouted as she ran off down the road. Her father sighed as he watched her disappear into the distance, then quietly went back inside the house.
Seventeen this year, Ariene was in her first year at the university, studying business management.
Since the age of four, she had always been grateful to her father. After her mother's death from cancer, he had been the one raising her alone, pouring all his love and energy into her with only one regret anchoring his soul.
With no stable job and no idea how to provide for his only child, Mr. Gustavo had been forced to make a desperate choice. He took a job from a man feared throughout the country—Mr. Qin, a notorious underworld drug lord. The pay was high, but the cost was his soul. Once you got involved with Mr. Qin, there was no getting out—not by mistake, and certainly not by choice.
Knowing the danger, Mr. Gustavo did everything in his power to keep his daughter hidden from Qin's world. Over the years, he raised her with unmatched care and affection, so much so that she never once asked about her mother.
He gave her everything she wanted, and she grew into a stunning beauty—milk-white skin, large dark eyes, a slender figure, and shoulder-length dark brown hair. She looked like a young model, and that only deepened her father's fears.
Those fears became reality the day Mr. Qin's son—a younger replica of his father—laid eyes on her by accident. Desperate to protect her, Mr. Gustavo fled the city with Ariene to start a new life elsewhere.
But he had forgotten one truth: No one escapes the Qins.
Back inside the house, he dropped the pruning scissors on the table and headed for the kitchen when his cell phone rang. He frowned at the unknown number but answered it anyway—unaware that it was the call he had dreaded for years.
"Long time, no word from you, Gustavo."
The voice on the other end made his heart drop.
He began to sweat uncontrollably. His hand trembled as he brought the phone back to his ear.
"M... Mr. Q-Q-Qin...?" he stuttered.
"Yes, it's me. It's good to know you still remember me. You left the city thinking you could hide from me? What a foolish mistake. You should know by now—no one hides from me."
Mr. Gustavo's knees weakened. He knew he was doomed. Even if he left the country, Mr. Qin would find him.
"Mr. Qin, I—"
"There is nothing to say," Mr. Qin cut him off. "There's no escape for you this time."
Tu... tu... tu...
The line went dead before Mr. Gustavo could respond.
He sat frozen, drenched in sweat. His mind raced. Just then, a loud bang on the door startled him. His heart skipped. Trembling, he stood silently, hoping whoever was outside would leave.
But then, the door creaked open slightly.
He grabbed the pruning scissors and crept toward the door, ready to strike. But his hand froze midair when he saw who it was.
"Ah! Father, it's me! Did I scare you? You look so tense!"
Ariene peeked inside, her brows furrowed with worry.
Seeing her father so startled made her anxious. Forgetting her own fear, she focused on him.
"Father, please talk to me. Did something happen? Did someone call you?"
Mr. Gustavo didn't answer immediately. Instead, he sighed and walked to the chair, slumping into it with a deep breath.
"Why are you back home so soon?" he finally asked.
Not the question she expected, but she answered.
"I left my assignment on my desk. I came to pick it up. But why were you standing at the door with scissors, sweating like that? Were you threatened? Tell me—I'll call the police!"
"No, not at all. Just get your assignment and return to school immediately," he said, his voice suddenly stern.
"But Fa—"
"I said leave immediately!" he snapped.
She flinched, shocked. Her father had never raised his voice at her before. Without another word, she ran upstairs, grabbed her assignment, and left the house with tear-streaked eyes.
Mr. Gustavo watched her go with a heavy heart. This wasn't what he wanted, but he had no choice. He locked the door and slowly walked upstairs to his room.
Opening his locker, he pulled out an old photo of his late wife. A tear dropped onto the picture as he stared at it.
"If only you were here... our daughter wouldn't be in this mess. I miss you so much, honey."
Clutching the photo to his chest, he lay on the bed and closed his eyes, lost in memories.
---
"Father, I'm back... huh? Where is Father?"
Ariene called as she entered the house that evening.
She looked around the living room but saw no sign of him. Alarmed, she rushed upstairs. Her heart pounded.
"Phew! Father, you scared me. I was looking—huh? What are you doing in my room?"
Her father was standing in her room, holding her packed bag.
"But... Father, that's my bag! And all my clothes? What's going on?!"
"Riene... you have to leave now," Mr. Gustavo said suddenly.
"What?! Why?" she asked, frowning.
"I don't have time to explain. I'll give you enough money. Leave the city. Go somewhere far and don't come back."
"No! I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on! You raised your voice at me today for the first time ever, and now this? I'm not buying it!"
"Riene... please. Just go. Don't ask questions. Don't come back unless I say so."
"Father! No! I'm not going anywhere!" she shouted and stormed out of the house.
"Riene! Come ba—"
He sighed, defeated. She was just like him—stubborn and headstrong.
But how could he tell her the truth? That he had worked for a criminal? That they were on the run? That Mr. Qin had found them?
He sat on her bed, his hand clutching his chest, tears spilling down his cheeks.
If only I had never worked for them... none of this would be happening.
By 10 p.m., Ariene still hadn't returned. Mr. Gustavo paced the living room, checking his watch again and again.
"Where could she be? It's past ten. This is all my fault. What if Mr. Qin's men see her? God, please protect my daughter..."
Then came a knock at the door.
Relief flooded him. He rushed to the door, ready to embrace his daughter.
"Riene... Father is so—"
He froze. Standing at the door were men in black suits.
"We're here for you, Mr. Gustavo. Come with us."
"No! Get your hands off me!"
He struggled, but he was old and unarmed—he didn't stand a chance.
"Father!!!"
Ariene screamed as she appeared at the corner, seeing him being dragged away by strangers.
"Riene! I'm sorry, okay? It's all my fault. Stay inside! Don't look for me! Just stay safe!"
He shouted with tears in his eyes as they forced him into a black van and drove off into the night.