Chapter 4: The Deal

They took Steven and me to a remote place, the house was as large as a castle. Upon entering the door, I saw a huge, empty room. It was so silent, I could have heard a pin drop. The marble floor was as shiny and bright as a mirror, which gave me the illusion of walking on a frozen lake.

I was frightened and stepped back when I saw my reflection, a slightly baggy, cotton dress hanging over my knees, my scruffy hair was down to my waist, and I had such a pale complexion that I looked like a ghost. As I gazed at my reflection, I saw the helpless look in my eyes. I touched my face and thought, "No wonder Jonathan didn't recognize me." I could hardly even recognize myself.

Steven held my hand and whispered, "Don't be afraid. I'll protect you." I looked into his innocent eyes and didn't know what to say. Anton came to Jonathan and said, "This is all the information I could find about the boy. There is no information about the girl."

"It doesn't matter, that's fine," Jonathan said and took the stack of papers from Anton, looking through them. Then he glanced up at Steven and said, "Come here." Steven gripped my hand tightly and did not move. Jonathan looked up at me and pointed at me. I knew what he meant when he did that, but I couldn't change anything and saw Anton push Steven away and drag me towards him.

The man I had been searching for all that time was right in front of me. "What should I do?" I thought and racked my brain trying to figure it out. Then he reached out and touched my head, holding my jaw, and asked, "What's your name?" I shook my head, with eyes wide open. In the dim light, his eyes seemed so black and his face was just as handsome as before.

"Well, from now on you are my daughter and your name... Desiree Li," he stated.

How ridiculous, that a man who killed my family took me as his daughter. "You'd better let her go," Steven shouted.

Jonathan smiled and asked him, "Do you like her?" Steven just stood there and didn't say a single word.

"I will arrange your training tomorrow. I'll give you eight years to improve yourself, if I am content with you by the time you come back, then I'll give you one thing you want most. If you fail, don't blame me!" Jonathan said. Steven looked at me calmly despite the circumstances. I feel his eagerness to protect me but he can't do anything right now. Then Jonathan stretched out his hand to me and put me on his knees. His long fingers touched my neck and stroked my skin with his thumb. I was too scared to move. I knew, given his cruel personality, that he could choke me at any moment if he wanted.

"It's a deal," Steven answered while looking at me scared.

"Good boy!" Jonathan nodded with satisfaction and lifted me up the stairs saying, "Desiree, Daddy will send you to school tomorrow."

When I was a child, my father told me stories about the devil with the face of an angel. At that stage, I did not understand, "Then… facing Jonathan Li right now I suddenly understand what my father means!" I realized that if Steven had said no, I could have been strangled to death by those beautiful hands.

From that day forward, I never saw Steven, but I always knew he would come back and rescue me from this place.