chapter 1 : The spoiled princess
"Selena!"
A series of loud knocks echoed through the grand bedroom door.
"Selena Valencia! Wake up! It's already morning!"
The girl buried her face deeper into her fluffy pink pillow, letting out a sleepy groan. She pulled the silk blanket over her head as if it could block out both the sunlight and her mother's voice.
"Mum..." she mumbled lazily. "Five more minutes. I promise."
"You've been saying 'five more minutes' for the last thirty minutes!"
Selena frowned without opening her eyes.
"Then... another five."
Outside the room, Mrs. Valencia sighed before shaking her head with a smile.
"My little princess..."
She gently pushed open the double doors and stepped inside.
The room was breathtaking.
It was less of a bedroom and more of a private palace.
The walls were painted in elegant shades of ivory and gold, while a magnificent crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, scattering tiny rainbows across the polished marble floor. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the vast Valencia estate, where colorful flowers bloomed around sparkling fountains.
Designer handbags rested neatly on custom shelves beside limited-edition teddy bears collected from different countries. A walk-in closet filled with expensive dresses stood on one side of the room, while a grand piano occupied the other.
Every corner reflected luxury.
Every detail screamed wealth.
Yet the owner of this luxurious room slept like someone who had no responsibilities in the world.
Mrs. Valencia walked toward the enormous king-sized bed where a mountain of blankets hid her daughter.
She smiled warmly before sitting on the edge of the bed.
"My princess."
A tiny hand slowly emerged from under the blanket.
"Hmm?"
"It's time to wake up."
"I'm awake..."
"You said that with your eyes closed."
"I'm... resting my eyes."
Mrs. Valencia laughed softly.
"You'll be late for school."
Selena slowly peeked out, revealing a pair of sleepy emerald eyes and messy chestnut hair.
"But I'm tired."
"You slept for almost ten hours."
"I know."
She yawned dramatically.
"I'm still tired."
"What am I going to do with you?"
Mrs. Valencia gently brushed the loose strands of hair away from Selena's face.
"You know your father won't allow you to skip school."
The moment her father was mentioned, Selena pouted.
"Dad is too strict."
Mrs. Valencia raised an eyebrow.
"Strict?"
"The same man who bought you a limited-edition sports car because you said your favorite color had changed?"
Selena blinked innocently.
"I really needed it."
Mrs. Valencia laughed even harder.
"My princess, you're impossible."
Before Selena could reply, another voice came from the doorway.
"Impossible indeed."
Mother and daughter looked toward the entrance.
Standing there was a tall man dressed in an expensive black tailored suit.
His sharp features, commanding aura, and cold eyes had made countless business rivals fear him. In the underworld of Oceana, his name alone was enough to silence a room.
Adrian Valencia.
One of the richest and most influential men in the country.
To outsiders, he was ruthless.
Merciless.
Untouchable.
But the moment his eyes landed on his daughter, all traces of that intimidating aura disappeared.
His expression softened into a gentle smile.
"Daddy!"
Selena instantly threw off the blanket and jumped into his arms.
Adrian caught her effortlessly.
"Good morning, Princess."
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Good morning!"
He smiled before gently pinching her nose.
"I heard someone calling me strict."
Selena giggled nervously.
"I was joking."
"Were you?"
She nodded repeatedly.
"I promise."
"Hmm..."
He pretended to think for a moment.
"I'll let it slide this time."
Selena grinned victoriously.
"I knew you loved me too much to be angry."
Adrian laughed before carrying her back to the bed as though she were still five years old.
Mrs. Valencia folded her arms.
"If anyone saw the feared Adrian Valencia acting like this, they'd think we had the wrong person."
"They don't need to see this side of me."
He looked at Selena with unmistakable affection.
"This side belongs only to my daughter."
Mrs. Valencia smiled.
She knew that was true.
To the world...
Adrian Valencia and his wife were monsters.
Powerful people lowered their heads whenever they appeared.
Business empires collapsed because of a single word from Adrian.
Entire families disappeared after making the mistake of betraying the Valencia family.
Yet at home...
The terrifying Adrian Valencia became nothing more than a loving father who couldn't refuse his daughter's smallest request.
Selena was their only child.
The center of their universe.
Their greatest pride.
And...
Their greatest weakness.
Adrian gently placed his daughter on the floor.
"Now, Princess."
He crossed his arms.
"School."
Selena sighed dramatically.
"I don't want to go."
"And why not?"
"I'm sleepy."
"Not a valid excuse."
"What if I suddenly become sick?"
Adrian reached forward and touched her forehead.
"No fever."
"My heart hurts."
He placed a hand over her chest.
"Heartbeat is perfectly normal."
"My legs are weak."
"You just ran across the room."
Selena gasped dramatically.
"You exposed my lie!"
The room burst into laughter.
She finally lowered her shoulders.
"Fine..."
"I'll go."
"That's my good girl."
Mrs. Valencia clapped twice.
Immediately, three maids entered.
"Prepare the young miss."
"Yes, Madam."
The maids quickly got to work.
One carefully brushed Selena's long silky hair.
Another helped her into her elegant academy uniform.
The third polished her shoes and prepared her school bag.
"I can brush my own hair," Selena complained.
"But Young Miss—"
"I know."
She sighed dramatically.
"Mum likes everything to be perfect."
Mrs. Valencia smiled proudly.
"Exactly."
Within twenty minutes, Selena stood before the full-length mirror.
Her long chestnut hair flowed beautifully behind her.
Her academy uniform fit perfectly.
Her emerald eyes sparkled with life, while her flawless smile could brighten any room.
She slowly twirled.
"Well?"
"How do I look?"
Adrian answered without hesitation.
"The prettiest girl in Oceana."
Mrs. Valencia rolled her eyes.
"You say that every single day."
"Because it's true."
Selena happily hugged both of them.
"I love you, Mum."
Mrs. Valencia kissed her forehead.
"I love you too."
"I love you, Dad."
Adrian hugged her tightly.
"I love you more than anything."
The three of them walked downstairs together.
The Valencia mansion was magnificent.
Golden chandeliers illuminated the marble halls.
Rare paintings decorated every wall.
Professional staff stood respectfully in neat rows, bowing as the family passed.
"Good morning, Master."
"Good morning, Madam."
"Good morning, Young Miss."
Selena smiled brightly at each of them.
Unlike many wealthy heirs, she never looked down on the servants.
She knew almost every employee by name and often chatted with them whenever she had the chance.
Soon, they reached the dining room.
Selena's eyes widened.
The massive dining table was completely filled.
Fresh pancakes.
Belgian waffles.
French toast.
Croissants.
Fruit salads.
Freshly squeezed orange juice.
Eggs cooked in different styles.
Bacon.
Pastries.
Cakes.
Even chocolate-covered strawberries.
She looked from one dish to another in amazement.
"Wow..."
Mrs. Valencia smiled knowingly.
"Yesterday you couldn't decide what you wanted for breakfast."
"So..."
"So we prepared everything."
Selena's face lit up.
"I seriously have the best parents in the whole world."
Adrian chuckled.
"And don't you forget it."
The family enjoyed breakfast while laughing and chatting about random things.
For a brief moment...
Everything felt perfect.
Peaceful.
Happy.
None of them noticed the sleek black luxury car parked across the street.
Its dark tinted windows concealed the person inside.
The engine remained off.
The driver never moved.
A man sat quietly in the back seat, watching every movement inside the Valencia mansion through a pair of binoculars.
He watched Selena laughing.
He watched Adrian smiling.
He watched Mrs. Valencia lovingly serving her daughter breakfast.
A slow smile spread across his lips.
"So..."
"The little princess has grown."
His cold eyes narrowed.
"Much prettier than I expected."
He leaned back comfortably.
"The time has finally come."
The driver spoke carefully.
"Should we begin?"
The man's smile deepened.
"Not yet."
"I've waited eighteen years."
"I can wait a little longer."
His gaze returned to the mansion.
"Soon..."
"The Valencia family will learn what true despair feels like."
Several miles away, another luxurious estate stood atop a hill overlooking the city.
Inside the mansion, a beautiful teenage girl stood silently beside a tall window.
Her expression remained cold.
Emotionless.
A middle-aged man approached her carrying a thin brown envelope.
Without saying a word, he handed it to her.
She opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
The smiling girl in the picture wore her academy uniform.
Selena Valencia.
The girl stared at the photograph for several silent seconds.
Then she slowly looked up.
"What do you want me to do?"
The man's voice was calm.
"Get close to her."
"Become her friend."
"Earn her trust."
The girl's eyes remained unreadable.
"And after that?"
A faint smile appeared on the man's face.
"I'll tell you when the time comes."
She looked back at Selena's smiling face in the photograph.
Without another word...
She folded the picture neatly and slipped it into her school bag.
A cold smile slowly appeared on her lips.
"Understood."
Outside the window, dark clouds quietly gathered above the city.
Far away, Selena laughed happily with her parents, completely unaware that the peaceful life she treasured was already beginning its final countdown.
