CHAPTER 1
1993 Words
WHEN KIRSTEN ARRIVED in her room, she immediately closed her eyes and sighed deeply. She leaned against the door and clutched her chest, rubbing it to ease the turmoil inside. She didn’t feel well because she was confused about whether to grant her friend’s request.
“Hey!” a voice suddenly interrupted.
“Shi—”
Kirsten almost screamed in shock but froze when Ice Miranda, the son of her employer, appeared before her. She tried to push him away, but he was too strong. She wanted to leave, but the young man trapped her in his arms. With no other choice, she let herself be caught in his hold.
“What the heck! Get away from me! Do you think the view is great when you are in front of me? So annoying! Go away!” Kirsten said in frustration.
Ice smiled slightly. “You’re even prettier up close.”
Kirsten raised an eyebrow. “I already know that since I was born. So, are we done here? Can I leave now?”
“You hate the view, don’t you?”
Kirsten sighed. “What exactly do you want?”
“To convince you to agree with what Lorraine and I want. You know me, right? Do you think I’m ready to be a husband? The answer is no, Kirsten. So, can you help us?”
“You think I’ll help you after what you just did? You’re only making the situation worse. You’re irritating me.”
“You can’t resist my charm, which is why I’m here. Girl weakness—handsome guy,” Ice said with a grin. “I’m here to seduce you.”
Kirsten shook her head. “Hello? I’m not weak for good-looking guys. So, don’t even try, okay?”
Ice leaned closer, his mouth near her ear. “What about a man with a sexy voice?”
Kirsten’s face twisted in disgust at what he did. Yes, she acknowledged that he was attractive. His features were refined, like a model you’d see in magazines. His chocolate-colored eyes were striking, and his physique was impressive. She knew that because he often barged into her room wearing nothing but a towel around his waist.
But no matter how good-looking Ice was, she judged people by their attitude. They had grown up together—he was just two years older than her. She remembered them being friends when they were kids. But after he moved abroad for over eight years, he came back different—aloof and always hot-headed. Even when she was busy, he wouldn’t stop bossing her around.
“You used to like my voice,” Ice said seriously.
“Before you flirt with me, make sure you’ve brushed your teeth. I wouldn’t want to catch a whiff of that dried fish with crispy mix you requested to be cooked. You’re ridiculous, like a pregnant woman with cravings.”
Ice’s eyes widened in embarrassment, while Kirsten held back her laughter. She knew she had caught him off guard. Taking advantage of his distraction, she pushed him away, finally breaking free from his grasp.
Ice subtly smelled his breath using his hand. Upon realizing it wasn’t fresh, he bit his lip in frustration, clearly embarrassed.
“Sh*t!” Ice exclaimed angrily, glaring at her. “Are you mocking me?”
“Not obvious at all. So? Where’s that charm you were bragging about?”
“I’ll brush my teeth first. I’ll come back for you.”
“Crazy!”
“I’m still your boss, okay? I can have you kicked out of this house,” he said irritably.
“I only follow Auntie and Uncle’s orders. You’re just feeling entitled. You don’t even pay me,” Kirsten retorted before Ice stormed out.
Relieved, she lay down on her bed, only to notice her drawer wasn’t closed properly. Standing up to check, she saw its contents in disarray. On top was her photo album, filled with cherished memories with her mother and her childhood friends—Ice, Lorraine, and Snow. Opening it, she noticed a picture of her and Ice was missing. She suspected the young man who had just left had something to do with it.
She sighed and left her room, intent on retrieving it. But as she ascended to the fourth floor of the mansion, she saw Ice’s mother, Ivy Miranda, coming down.
Out of respect, Kirsten bowed her head. Ivy tapped her shoulder gently, causing her to look up. A smile involuntarily formed on her lips as she admired Ivy’s impeccable elegance. Even at home, Ivy always ensured she looked her best. Kirsten appreciated her kindness, one of the reasons she hesitated to grant the request involving the people who had played a significant role in her life.
Climbing the stairs, Kirsten encountered Ice’s father, Sid Miranda.
“Don’t forget to feed Ice’s bulldog,” Sid reminded her.
“Okay, Uncle.”
“Thanks.”
When she reached Ice’s room, she found the door slightly ajar. She was about to enter but stopped when she heard Ice’s grandmother, Doña Irwana—Mamita.
Peeking through the door, she saw Ice kneeling before Mamita, seemingly pleading. When she noticed him wiping away his tears, her heart softened.
She was about to leave to give them privacy when Ice’s voice stopped her. Turning back, she saw Ice with his grandmother.
“Mamita, please… I’m not ready. There’s still so much I want to do,” Ice said, his voice filled with desperation.
“My grandson, this is for the future of The Miranda Incorporation. Besides, your grandmother is getting old. Give me a grandchild before I leave this world,” Doña Irwana replied.
“Damn, Lola! I don’t even love her! I can’t f*** her, so I can’t give you a f*cking grandchild.”
“No. This is our family’s tradition, Ice. Look at your sister Snow—she didn’t want it at first. Now, she has three kids and is even possessive of her husband. You’ll learn to love Lorraine. She’s beyond perfection, Ice.”
“I don’t want her.”
“Then how about Kirsten? Honestly, I like her for you.”
Ice immediately stood up. “Yuck. Fine! I’ll get married.”
Kirsten furrowed her brow in frustration. She had just witnessed firsthand how much Ice looked down on her. She hadn’t expected him to say anything nice, but the way he reacted to his grandmother’s suggestion was utterly degrading. It wasn’t as though she were ugly. Not to boast, but she knew she was beautiful—she praised her own reflection in the mirror daily. She even thought her father must have been handsome.
Since she was a child, Kirsten had never known her father. She had no idea who he was. Her mother never told her, even until her passing. She had asked Sid and Ivy, but their answer was that her mother had simply gotten pregnant without anyone knowing who the father was. Ice had been one year old when her mother became pregnant with her. Now at twenty-three years old, she still had no clue whether her father was alive or dead.
Kirsten decided to let it go. She would leave Ice to keep the photo he had taken of her, him, and Snow. She realized it didn’t affect her personally if he kept it. Besides, that wasn’t the only picture of them—there were plenty more in her photo album.
As she went down the stairs, she noticed several people in the living room. She recognized them as the designers hired by the Miranda and Guillermo families. She also saw the dresses hanging on a rack. It embarrassed her to think she’d be wearing one of those beautiful dresses in the hall. She had been chosen as Lorraine’s maid of honor because she was her closest female friend.
Slowly, Kirsten descended the stairs, avoiding eye contact with anyone. She kept her head down until she reached the bottom. She intended to go straight to the storage area to get food for Ice’s bulldog, but she stopped when one of the people in the room called her.
When she turned, it was the designer who had summoned her. The designer gestured for her to come closer.
“What is it?” Kirsten asked.
“Try on what you’ll be wearing tomorrow,” the designer said authoritatively.
“C-Can we do it tomorrow instead?” Kirsten asked shyly.
The designer rolled their eyes at her. “No room for shyness here. Come on.”
“Kirsten, come here,” Ivy said with a smile.
Ivy took the gown from the designer’s hands and approached Kirsten. Kirsten’s knees trembled. She felt there was no escape and that she would have no choice but to comply.
Ivy handed her the gown. “Wear it, Kirsten. I can already picture how stunning you’ll look. Last time, I was impressed by your debut. I didn’t expect it. I already knew you were beautiful, but you’ve surpassed that.”
“Thank you, Auntie. But does it really have to be now?”
“Of course, so they can see if adjustments are needed. Go on, head to your room and try it on.”
There were many housemaids in the Miranda mansion. The difference was that Kirsten and her mother had their own room. Her mother had been a kind soul, which endeared her to the Mirandas. They had seen how dedicated her mother was when she cared for Ice and Snow. Even when her mother got pregnant while working for them, her performance never wavered. The Mirandas saw the goodness in her mother’s heart, eventually treating them like family.
“Okay, Auntie. I’ll try it on,” Kirsten said, conceding. She had no choice.
When Kirsten reached her room, she immediately removed her clothes, leaving only her bra and panties. Once ready, she stood in front of the large mirror and slipped on the gown. Its gradient color was elegant and striking.
Once she had it on, she couldn’t help but smile. She admired herself even more in the gorgeous gown. The flattering cut highlighted her figure, and the beauty marks on her neck and chest added a touch of allure. Her milk-white skin stood out even more.
As she stared at her reflection in the mirror, she gave a faint smile—not of joy, but of sadness. She thought about how, when the day came that she would marry the person she loved, there would be no parents to walk her down the aisle or wait for her at the altar. Both her parents were gone. She didn’t even know who her relatives were because her mother had been abandoned as a baby and grew up in an orphanage. Tears streamed down her face as she pitied her mother’s fate. Thankfully, her mother had met the Miranda family, who accepted her wholeheartedly.
Kirsten wiped her tears away. She remembered her mother’s advice to always be strong no matter what. She smiled at her reflection one last time before heading out.
When she opened the door, she stepped out with a smile. But her mood soured when she saw Ice descending from the fourth floor. He stared at her, and her hands trembled as she recalled how he had insulted her earlier in front of Doña Irwana. To shake off her frustration, she decided to ignore him.
She began walking until she stood beside him at the staircase. She didn’t pay him any attention and was about to descend when he cleared his throat.
She turned to him. “W-What?”
“You’re so ugly, you know? You look like Amara.”
Kirsten sighed heavily to calm her anger. She grew even more irritated with Ice. He had just compared her to his bulldog. With all the beauty she possessed, he had the nerve to compare her to a dog. She couldn’t accept it.
~~~
- Writer
