Crumpled Dreams

Life Goes On for Sophie

**** Bayne’s Residence

“We really appreciate you coming to our humble residence Mr. Astor”, Mr. Bayne said, surprised that the owner of the company to which Sophie applied for a job paid them a visit.

“No problem sir. It is but with greatest sorrow that your daughter is still missing after attending a job interview at my company. I am here to extend my apologies for that”, Roldan replied giving a sad expression but at the back of his mind, thinking of how he could get rid of Sophie’s family in front of him.

“No need to apologize Mr. Astor. My family and I knew you too are doing your best to find my daughter. You see, Mr. Gulf still has no leads as to Sophie’s whereabouts. We were hoping that one day, we will receive a good news. We just hope and pray for now that wherever Sophie might be, she is in a good condition”, Mr. Bayne said.

Roldan nodded thinking about Sophie in his room, either reading one of his books or rummaging through his files. He heeded Adam’s advice of paying a visit to Sophie’s family in that way, he can formulate a way to make Sophie completely his.

“She is a lovely girl, my daughter”, Mr. Bayne continued. “I kept her hidden as gems were meant to be. I kept her from outside because I know she will always find herself in trouble. I warned her of the danger that this society poses but she is hard-headed and wouldn’t listen. She would always tell her younger sibling about how she will achieve her dreams and be independent but look at where she is now. Missing.”

“Don’t worry sir. I’ve got my own security to look at the matter so Ms. Sophie will be found this instant”, Roldan replied. “But if you may allow me to ask sir, why do you want to keep her when she is already old enough to handle herself, maybe old enough to even get married?”

“I don’t trust men who will chase after my daughter. My daughter admitted she also wanted it that way. That she will live with us, that she will never marry because she doesn’t want to. You see, my daughter is weak that she couldn’t even defend herself”, Mr. Bayne replied.

How selfish, Roldan thought to himself. This family is much more selfish than he is. His urge to marry Sophie grew stronger. He will make her his queen but first he will get rid of her family.

He learned that the house where Sophie’s family lives is under a loan agreement. He planned to indirectly meddle with it and force this old man in front of him and his wife out so he could tell Sophie that they left her.

Before he left, Roldan left a cheque worth 5 million dollars to Mr. Bayne and told him it was from the company. Mr. Bayne refused but Roldan insisted remembering Sophie telling him about her family’s financial status.

**** Astor’s Residence

Sophie was allowed to roam around the house by Roldan. It seems to her that her continuous nagging was effective. She helped with morning routines such as preparing coffee, toasts and accompanying Roldan.

When Roldan left the house for work, she will clean their room and explore every contents of it. She learned that Roldan was a tough kid and probably, was constantly pressured by his family. She saw pictures of him, his Dad and grandfather but she never saw a picture of his mother.

By night, she allowed Roldan to touch and cuddle her. The moment she hates the most as she is resolute she has no feelings for him. Nevertheless, she accepted her fate slowly as she realized there was still no hope for her escape plan.

“How are you?”, he asked one night when they are cuddled together and her back hugged by him. He kissed her neck.

“I’m good. I’m slowly adapting to the routines of your house”, Sophie replied.

“You know, when you came into my life, I couldn’t get to feel my insomnia anymore. I could sleep at night without any worries and nightmares”, he opened.

She didn’t answer. But she wanted to tell him that he just needs a mother figure. She knew he never experienced that before and is only experiencing it now in the form of her.

“Why me? Roldan. Of all the women you could possibly have, why choose someone like me?”, Sophie asked already being comfortable with him.

“You are unique. You don’t chase after money. And besides being innocent, you are also pure. The moment I saw you at the garage, my instincts told me that you are the one”, he replied.

“But I don’t love you. Honestly, I have no feelings for you. You know what I want in my life is only to achieve my dreams and support my family. I love my family. I don’t know what I will do to myself if ever I will lose them” she whispered.

“f**k your dreams and live with me. We could support your family. I could provide for you and them too”, Roldan insisted now slowly reconsidering Sophie’s family after what she said.

“That wasn’t what I wanted and will allow. You were not born to provide for me or my family’s needs. That is my responsibility as their eldest child. Please do understand”, Sophie pleaded.

“You are my responsibility when we will be getting married, and so will be your family. And when you will bore me children, then our family will grow the way we wanted it”, he reassured her.

The way you want and not mine, Sophie thought. She promised herself that she will break free from him and his illusions. She never imagined a family of her own. Nor with a man whose evil acts shuttered her perceptions of the society. She will gain his trust and if there’s an opportunity, she will escape.