Chapter 1

The street was busy with people walking here and there. Not to mention they keep bumping each other shoulder whenever they walk. It was just a normal day in that city. People go in and out for work.

In that busy street, one girl walks among them wearing a hoodie and the hood over her head. Her eyes darted here and there looking for her victim.

“Ah!” she bumps into someone, “I—I’m sorry, sir,”

“Watch where you are going, bitch!” the man scowls and stomps off.

Melody bowed her head. She slowly turns away and in her hand, she manages to take his wallet. A smile appeared on her face and continued to walk.

She stands in the alley and opens her wallet. There’s a few hundred dollars in it. Enough for her. More than enough. Melody took it out and put it in her pocket. Pick-pocket or stealing things has become one of her skills.

More like a hobby.

After losing her father at the age of 10, everything changed drastically. Her mother, Mrs. Tiana married her father’s best friend, Frank. They had been married for a year and then, her mother passed away due to illness.

Now the only ones left are her step-father and step-sister. She thought nothing would change after that but she was wrong.

They start to become abusive towards her. They despise the existence of Melody and make her nothing but trash in that house.

“I swear, she is around here!!”

Melody flinch to hear that. She quickly threw away the wallet and ran from there. Not a good thing to do but the only thing that keeps her alive. Frank never gives her eat freely or does her routine peacefully.

She lost all of that.

She was on her way home but her eyes caught a person selling bread at the side of the road. Melody went closer and smoothly sneaking to grab one.

“Breakfast time,” Melody grins and takes a bite of that bread.

__

She finally reaches her mansion. Her mansion? More like her stepfather's mansion. Frank has taken over her father’s clan. Some guards are not happy since he is so greedy and much opposite of her father.

Melody’s father would think of his men first but Frank, he didn’t do that. He cared about himself and only wanted the benefits to him.

She pushes the door open slowly before shuts it closed. Melody pulls the hood off her head. She was about to go upstairs to her room but her steps halted when her name was called.

“Melody, there you are,” Teresa, her step-sister.

She mentally sighs. With a hesitant, she turns toward her. Teresa sitting on the couch with a few men surrounding her. They touch her like she some kind of mannequin doll there.

“Yes...”

“Where are you from?” Teresa questioned.

“Just...finish my morning walking,”

She rolls her eyes, “That kitchen wouldn’t clean by itself. Stop going out instead, do your job.”

“I’m sorry. I will go now,” Melody nodded and went to the kitchen.

She puts her hands on the countertop, with a heavy sigh escaping her lips. She is nothing to them but an eyesore.

Frank walks downstairs to see his daughter having fun with a few men. He lets out a heavy sigh and puts his hands on his hips.

“Teresa, sweetie. Stop inviting random guys here. You know it is dangerous. I don’t want you to get pregnant by those scumbags,” he firmly speaks.

“Dad, calm down. I know what I’m doing,” she chuckles. “How about you lecture that bitch in the kitchen instead of me.”

Teresa rolls her eyes feeling annoyed. It’s not like she always did this. Usually, she will target their guards, seducing them to come to her room. Only Melody got to see that since she always stays late at night.

“She already home?”

“Yeah, she belongs to where she is. In the kitchen,” she grins.

Frank stomps to the kitchen. There, he saw a small figure washing dishes. Every time he saw Melody, he couldn’t help but feel disgusted. There’s a reason why Frank didn’t kill her.

A lot of men from this clan still love her and always watch her to make sure she’s fine. They know the state she is in right now but couldn’t do anything since the leader is Frank.

“Oi, where are you going just now, huh?” Frank grabs her shoulder.

Melody flinches, and stops her work, “I—I just go out to have my morning walk, Dad.”

His eyes twitch to hear her calling him that, “Don’t you fucking call me that.”

She lowers her gaze and nods.

“Next time, you come home late, I wouldn’t hesitate to beat the shit out of you, understand!?” he raise his voice.

“Yes...sir.”

“That’s much better.” Frank turns around to leave but halts as he remembers something, “Oh! Make sure you cook a lot tonight. My friends will come to have dinner. Of course, don’t you dare show your face?”

He glares at her. Melody just nods in obedience. It’s not like she wanted to. Melody watches her father leave the kitchen.

It was finally dinner time, and after a while, Melody took off her apron. The last dishes have been put down on the table. She let out a satisfied huff. Thank goodness, she is good at cooking and her food would never be a disappointment.

“Oh well, it’s time to go back to my room,” Melody speaks to herself.

She went upstairs to her room. As the door opened, her gaze met with Teresa who was rummaging through her closet.

“W—What are you doing?” she asks with a hint of bewilderment.

“What else? Trying to find clothes of course,” Teresa rolls her eyes. She keeps throwing out things from Melody’s closet.

“Stop! You got your clothes! It's all branded yet you still rummage through mine!?” Melody pulls her arms.

Teresa pried her arms from her, “Excuse me? Dad has cut my allowance and I can’t buy branded clothes. I don’t know how you got all these fancy clothes—but I don’t care.”

She grabs one dress that is one of Melody’s favourites. She has kept it even though she knows she wouldn’t wear it for any events.

“No! Give it back!!” Melody reaches for the dress.

“This one looks beautiful,” she chuckles. The dress was pulled away from her reach. “Why? It’s not like you will wear it though.”

Her words stung. Yes, Melody wasn’t permitted to go to any social events or parties. Melody clenched her fist.

“Instead of keeping the dress with all that dust in your closet, it is better to give it to someone who wears it. And guess what?” Teresa grins, and leans towards her, “I’m prettier wearing this dress than you.”

She bursts into laughter and leaves the room. Not forget to slam the door shut. All her stuff is scattered on the floor. Some of it broke. Melody let out a sigh and slowly got on her knees.

A snow globe from her father catches her gaze. The glass is broken there’s no snow in it. Melody grabs it and traces her fingers on it.

It’s the last gift from her father.