Chapter 1 Sudden Loss

The birthday party was perfect at first. The soft glow of the lights, the warm laughter of friends, and the presence of Dad always gave a sense of security in the crowd.

Livia still remembers how she laughed out loud next to her father, Rhysand, who was serving the guests with his trademark smile.

Everything was so ordinary, yet full of simple happiness. However, no one knew that it was their last moments together. There was laughter, music, and the smell of freshly baked blueberry cake. Livia felt very happy, surrounded by the people she loved.

In the festivities, a phone call broke the fun. Rhysand frowned when he saw the caller's name on his cell phone screen.

"Sorry, I have to take a quick phone call," he told Livia before moving away from the crowd.

Rhysand's initially bright face slowly paled when he heard the panicked voice from the other side. He staggered back, his hands trembling as he held the cell phone. "What? How come?" he muttered, his voice choked.

Livia, who saw the change in her father's expression from a distance, had a bad feeling. She approached Rhysand, her heart filled with anxiety.

"Dad, what's wrong?" she asked anxiously. Rhysand fell silent, his breathing ragged, his chest tight. He tried to speak, but no words came out of his mouth. It seemed like his vision blurred, his body was unsteady, and...

At the same time, Livia felt her father's grip loosen. The cell phone slipped from Rhysand's hand, falling with a thud to the floor as her father's body collapsed unconscious.

"Dad!" screeched Livia, panicking. Her world seemed to collapse in an instant. The happiness that had once enveloped her heart vanished instantly, replaced by an overwhelming dread.

Livia's scream broke the party's silence, causing panic among the guests. They crowded around, watching in horror as Rhysand lay helplessly on the floor, his face deathly pale.

"Father! Father!" Livia kneeled beside Rhysand, desperately shaking her father's body, hoping he would open his eyes. However, Rhysand did not respond. Her body felt cold.

"Call an ambulance! Hurry!" shouted one of the guests, his voice filled with panic. Some guests rushed out to seek help, while others tried to calm the hysterical Livia.

Isolde, who had just come out of the kitchen with a tray of cookies, was rooted to the spot. The tray slipped out of her hands and fell to the floor, the once beautiful cakes now falling apart just as her heart broke.

"Rhysand!" Isolde ran to her husband, tears streaming down her cheeks. She kneeled beside Livia, hugging her daughter tightly. "Hold on, my darling," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please..."

The ambulance's sirens broke the night's silence, but to Livia, the sound was like the howl of a wolf as her father departed forever. The medics tried their best, but fate had a different opinion.

Rhysand Vane, the master bartender and the loving father has breathed his last.

Her sudden departure made Livia feel like she was losing a part of herself. Every second that passed felt heavier. Her tears seemed to have dried up, and she could no longer wet her pale cheeks.

Isolde, unable to bear the burden of grief, collapsed beside her husband's body. The neighbours rushed to carry her to her room. Livia remained transfixed, like a statue, her body rigid but her soul trapped in a painful void.

Some of her close friends tried to comfort her with encouragement, but Livia only nodded weakly and flashed a very forced smile. Their words were like the wind, unable to penetrate the wall of sadness that surrounded her heart.

Rhysand's funeral was full of emotion. Isolde, still shrouded in grief, could only sob by her husband's grave. With a pale face and blank stare, Livia stood beside her mother, trying to remain strong despite her broken heart.

Their home, which was once filled with laughter, now feels empty. The beautiful memories with Rhysand, which used to be a source of happiness, have now turned into thorns that pierce the heart.

Days passed, but Isolde and Livia's grief never subsided. Isolde became more withdrawn, often staying up late into the night, staring at Rhysand's picture with a regretful gaze.

Livia, once cheerful, became more introverted, withdrawing from her friends and drowning in unbearable sadness.

One week after Rhysand's departure, a loud knock on the door shattered the silence of their home. Isolde, still deep in grief, opened the door. In front of her stood two cold-faced men with thick folders in hand.

"Mrs. Isolde Vane?" one of the men asked flatly. Isolde nodded weakly, a bad feeling in her heart. "We're from the National Bank, ma'am. We are here to foreclose on your home and business on behalf of Mr. Rhysand Vane."

The man's words were like a bolt of lightning. Isolde felt like her body was about to fall, locked in a void."Confiscate? On what grounds?" asked Livia, her voice trembling.

"Mr. Rhysand Vane is listed as having an outstanding debt to the National Bank," the man explained, his calm voice breaking the tension. "As collateral, he has pledged this house and business."

"That's impossible!" exclaimed Livia. "I've never been in debt!" Isolde, who was confused, tried to recall the conversations she had heard.

Rhysand had told her about a financial problem involving his confidant, but how severe was it?

We're just doing our job, Miss," the man continued in an unchanged tone. "Please prepare your belongings. We will be sealing this house soon."

Isolde and Livia's world came crashing down. They would be evicted from their home, losing their shelter and livelihood while they were still mourning Rhysand's passing. Isolde tried to stay strong, explaining that there must have been a mistake that her husband could not have left such a huge debt.

However, the two men remained unmoved, showing the documents Rhysand had signed. Livia felt her anger rising, her body trembling with rage.

"Cheater!" Livia shouted. "Our father would never do such a thing!" But Livia's screams didn't faze them. The two men stared at them with emotionless eyes, carrying out their duties without mercy.

Isolde and Livia, heartbroken, packed their belongings.

Family photos, paintings of Rhysand and Isolde, and other valuables were the only memories they had left. They were forced to leave the house full of memories without knowing where to go.

Amidst the heavy silence, Isolde stared at her house, encased in seals, as if every wall had said goodbye. Inevitably, her mind began to spin. Where else should they go? What was there to do? All roads seemed closed.

Still holding her hand, Livia looked up at her mother with questioning eyes. But Isolde could not give a definitive answer. All there was was a gnawing uncertainty. She tried to smile, but it felt stuck in her throat.

"What should we do, Mom?" asked Livia once more, her daughter's voice taking Isolde aback.

He looked up at the sky, which was no longer blue but red and faded by the hot sun. Every passing second felt like a heavier burden, but she didn't know what to say.