Eternal Knot

CHAPTER ONE

Clare lay on her bed, motionless. She didn't want to go out because she'd just see her father. She was angry with him, yes, but her anger had a reason. She immediately looked towards the door when she heard a knock. Quickly, she got up from her lying position and straightened herself.

"Come in," Clare said, looking at the door to see who was knocking.

"Nana Isabel, why?" Clare asked the elderly woman. Nana Isabel had been taking care of her since she was a child.

"Why haven't you come down? Your father has been calling for you," the old woman said softly as she slowly sat on Clare's bed. Clare sighed deeply. "What am I supposed to do down there? You know I don't want to see Papa, so please don't force me to come down. If he gets mad at me, that's even better, so I have a reason to leave this house," Clare retorted sharply, looking out of her window.

"If I do that, I'll be the one scolded. You won't see me anymore, do you want that?" the woman asked her. Clare immediately shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, Nana. I'll come down later, I'll just change clothes quickly," Clare said sadly. Even though it went against her will to leave her room, she had to do it for the old woman.

Despite Nana Isabel working for them for a long time, her father still didn't forgive her. Because when his wishes weren't followed, he would get angry immediately.

And when her father was angry, everyone in their mansion would hide immediately. She included. Her father was known as the leader of the strongest gang in the city. He had killed many people before, and Clare had seen some of them with her own eyes. She didn't know why her father did those things. She didn't know how he became a gang leader. Almost all of his businesses were illegal, yet they always managed to evade the police, and she didn't know how her father did it. Were they bribed? Were lives threatened? Only two possibilities.

After Clare finished dressing, she immediately went downstairs. She took a deep breath before heading to the kitchen. There, she saw her five brothers, her father, and her mother. Everyone was looking at her except her father, who was reading the newspaper and seemed uninterested in her arrival.

Clare glanced at Nana Isabel, who gave her a smile, so Clare returned it.

"Sit down, dear," her mother called out to her. Clare nodded and quickly took a seat beside her father.

"Dinner later. 8 o'clock," her father mentioned before promptly leaving. He didn't even spare her a glance. Clare rolled her eyes and started eating. When her father left, the household staff began moving again. They seemed like they were frozen in their places while her father was still there. They were just short of not even breathing.

"Hurry up and eat, because we'll be buying something later," her mother said. Clare nodded and forced herself to eat. She didn't have an appetite, but her mother might scold her if she didn't obey.

Clare glanced briefly at her brothers who were laughing on the side. Clearly, they were the favorites. Clare continued eating, ignoring her brothers.

--

"Nana Isabel, please call Peter. Tell him we have somewhere to go today," Clare's mother said. Until now, Clare didn't know where they were going, so she decided to ask her mother.

"Mom? Where are we going today?" Clare asked her. Her mother looked at her and quickly approached to stroke her long hair.

"Well, we have a family meeting later and we're going to meet some...friends of your Papa," her mother replied. Clare furrowed her brows. The last time his dad had a visitor, it didn't end well. So now that they were going to meet one of her dad's friends, Clare immediately had a bad feeling about it.

This is not going to end well.

"Just... behave later, okay?" Clare nodded. She wasn't really going to do anything anyway; it's her dad's friends who always have plans for her. She used to think they were afraid of her, but why did one of his friends almost assault her? And the worst part is, her father didn't even acknowledge it. Clare was furious about it. She was even accused of hurting his friend. To hell with them!

Clare clenched her fist. If any of his friends did something wrong to her again, she would leave. And she was determined to do so.

When her mother called her to get into the car, Clare immediately followed.

--

"Dear, can you promise me you won't do anything foolish later?" her mother asked as they sat in the car. Clare frowned. "I am not going to promise you anything, Ma. I'm not really doing anything. You should tell Papa's friends about that," Clare replied coldly to her mother. She still believed that her mother thought Clare was the one who hurt her father's friend. She couldn't believe her mother saw her that way.

"And besides, why am I always the one to meet Papa's guests? What about Andrei? Lance? Kier? Al? Gab? Can't they do it?" Clare asked her mother. Her mother shook her head. "They can't come. They're not allowed in there," her mother replied.

"Are you pimping me out that's why you're sending me?" Clare boldly asked. Her mother stopped what she was doing and seemed shocked by Clare's question. "W-what are you saying? Just be quiet, we won't do that to you," her mother said angrily. Her face was turning red, and she seemed flustered. Clare noticed that. So I am right, they are up to something. But what else could she do? It seems this is her only use to their family.

"Let's just enjoy our shopping today, okay?" her mother said. Clare didn't respond and just looked out the window.

--

"My daughter looks so beautiful!" Nana Isabel exclaimed happily as she adjusted Clare's loose hair. It was already seven in the evening. Clare had already dressed up. Her mother even chose the dress she would wear tonight. She wore heels, which made her legs look longer. She had put on makeup, but not too much. Her mother even hired a makeup artist, but Clare declined immediately, so now she was alone in her room, her face looking terrified. Suddenly, Clare felt sorry for her.

"Don't worry, I'll tell Mama I insisted," Clare said with a smile. Nana Isabel nodded at her but still seemed uneasy.

"Nana Isabel, the dress Mama bought me seems a bit short. I might feel cold later," Clare said as an excuse. Nana Isabel chuckled. "Just say you want to change what you're wearing now. It’ll be okay, dear. This is just for tonight, so endure it for now. And remember, if they do anything wrong to you again, kick them where it hurts the most. Do you understand?" Nana Isabel reminded her. Clare nodded and laughed.

The three of them walked out of her room. The makeup artist was behind her, while Nana Isabel was beside her, fixing her hair.

"Oh My God! You look so beautiful, dear! Did you put some make-up on?" Clare's mother immediately asked when she saw her coming down. She stared at her face as if she was examining whether she had put on any makeup.

"Yes, I did," Clare replied modestly. Her mother immediately looked at the makeup artist behind her. "Thank you for making my daughter more beautiful tonight. The driver will give you the payment, so you can go there now, and he'll escort you," her mother said, tapping the makeup artist on the shoulder. Clare glanced at the makeup artist, who happened to be looking at her too, so she winked at her.

"Dear? Let's go?" her mother invited her. Clare nodded immediately and followed her mother.

The driver opened the door for her, so Clare smiled at him. She took a deep breath and smoothed out her wrinkled clothes. Clare then opened the window and called out to the driver. Her mother was still outside the door, talking on her cellphone.

"Hey, where's the thing I asked you to buy yesterday?" Clare asked her driver. He immediately approached her and handed her a piece of cigarette. Clare frowned. "Why is it only one?" she asked the driver, frowning. He scratched his head and leaned in to whisper to Clare. "It's bad for your lungs, so just one for now," he replied. Clare smirked and quickly tucked the cigarette into her bra. She was about to ask for the lighter, but her mother was close to the door, so she quickly composed herself. She made sure her mother didn't see the cigarette hidden in her bra. Her mother got into the car. She smiled at Clare, so Clare returned it with a sweet smile. "Let's go."