Petal stared outside the closed window, looking at the green space in front of her. She wished that she could go out for a walk there but she knew that her father wouldn’t allow her to.

She moved away from the window when she saw her father walking towards the house entrances knowing that he would be very angry if saw her, she closed the curtains and walked back towards her bed and climbed it before she covered herself with the blanket.

she lay down on the bed, waiting, she fell asleep while she was waiting for the maid to bring her the food and just like every time she fell asleep, she had the same dream, it was like her mind didn’t want her to forget that memory.

not able to speak or hear, Petal didn’t hear the door being opened, the maid placed the tray on the bed before she woke her up.

"Your breakfast is ready." The maid said before she bowed her head and left.

Petal stood up from her place and walked towards the table to eat her breakfast, after that she changed her clothes and went downstairs.

She saw her father and some man in the meeting room, when her father noticed her, Patel quickly moved from there and walked towards the living room. That’s when she found her mother.

"Petal, good morning." Her mother said using the ASL language.

Petal was her firstborn after a long time of waiting, to her parents, she was the joy of their life, but unfortunately, she was born with a weak body and disabilities, she can’t speak or hear, that’s why she had to learn the ASL language so she can communicate with people and so her parents.

"I just wanted to be alone." Petal replied, as much as her parents love and dote on her but she doesn’t like the fact of what they do and it bothered her that her mother accepted what her father was doing.

Tugging her daughter’s hair behind her ear, she kissed her forehead.

"I love you, I just want to know that." Her mother said to her.

Petal nodded her head and left her mother standing there.

Olivia sighed as she watched her daughter walk away, the gap between them had started to get bigger and she was scared that she might lose her daughter in the process.

"Don’t worry my lady, all the kids are like this at this age, lady Patel is only eighteen, she understands when she grows up." Petal nanny said.

"I hope so, but I’m only feeling that she becomes more stubborn the more she grows up." Her mother replied.

The nanny laughed before she said.

"I believe that she took after her father in this one."

Petal walked to the end of the hallway, this place is always empty. That’s why she enjoys staying here most of the day. She looked outside the big glass windows and noticed that the weather is good today.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Patel turned around to see who, It was Jacob, her guard.

"You don’t have to protect me when I’m inside." Patel said using the ASL language.

Jacob chuckled and patted the girl’s head gently.

"Come." He said to her, offering his hand to her.

Petal placed her hand in his and both of them walked outside the house towards the garden, only if Jacob was around that her father allowed her to go outside the house.

Petal took a deep breath as she stared up at the sky, she looked down at the bird who was standing at the tree branch and she turned to look at Jacob and asked.

"I read in a book that hearing a bird is relaxing?"

Jacob smiled and nodded his head

Petal turned to look at the bored but he was no longer there, she smiled and walked forward with Jacob behind her.

Jacob is five years older than her, he was her guard for as long as he could remember, having been able to stay around for a long time, he can say that he is the one who knows Petal the best, and to her he was the good friend that she never had.

Jacob is aware of Petal opinion about her father’s dirty business, but he always made sure that she keeps her thoughts to herself because her father won’t be happy if find out, especially after the incident that happened two years ago.

Petal stopped walking and sat down under the tree and asked Jacob to join her, she placed her head on his shoulder as she stared at the beautiful view in Infront of her.

Jacob stared at Petal who was paying with the flowers that she picked from the garden, for her the abilities to touch and smell and see are the only ways that she can use to experience and feel everything around her.

Petal is a very sensible person despite always being quiet and likes to be alone.

seeing her father coming towards her, Petal throws the flowers away.

"Petal dear, how are you today?" her father asked as he kissed her forehead.

"Good." Petal replied signally.

Henry looked at his daughter and smiled.

"One day she will understand why I’m doing this," Henry said, knowing that only Jacob will be able to hear him.

Jacob stayed silent knowing that it’s not his right to voice out his thoughts, if he learned something by working with Henry Santos it’s that it’s not wise to voice out your thoughts.

Jacob noticed how Petal was frightened by her father presence and she should be, she had witnessed how her father torture and kill people and she was tortured by him for trying to safe one of his prisoners.

Petal excused herself and went inside the house, she hated staying beside that man, it’s funny, a few years ago, she used to see him as the most loving father but after witnessing his true nature, she was terrified by him.

Now everything changed between them and their relationship wasn’t the same as before.

Petal closed the door to her room and walked towards her bed laying down on it.

Suddenly the image of that woman appeared in her mind, making her flinch in fear.

That day, two years ago, she stood up for her father and she was punished greatly for it, but she didn’t regret it, she only regretted not being able to save the other women.

She watched her die Infront of her eyes, her father merciless put a bullet in that women head before he dragged her out of there, she could still remember that women eyes as she looked at her as if she was saying that it’s not her fault, but Patel couldn’t stop the guilty feeling that was eating her from the inside for two years now.

Petal closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She needs to leave this place and go somewhere saver, away from her father, but this is what she needs to figure out.

...

later at night.

Olivia was sitting in the living room when her husband came to sit next to her.

"Did Petal go to sleep?" Henry asked his wife.

"Yes." Olivia replied.

Henry nodded his head and stayed silent for a while.

Olivia glanced at her husband before she looked away, she had a feeling that Henry is up to something and it’s bad.

Just then, Jacob arrived in the living room.

"Sir, you ask for me." Jacob said.

"Yes." Henry replied and stood up.

"The Wilson’s are having their annual business meeting in ten days." Henry declared.

Hearing this, Olivia’s body tensed as she looked at her husband, as for Jacob he already knew what Mr Santos was about to say, however, he didn’t expect what he would say now.

"Henry, what are you planning this time?" Olivia asked her husband.

Henry chuckled and said.

"To finish my unfinished business, of course." He replied, making his wife frown.

"We talked about this and you said that you will forget about them, why did you change your mind?" Olivia asked.

Henry tapped with his finger on the wooden table and replied.

"The Wilson’s make it personal, we are both underground people, he should have just forgotten about what happened, it was a job and I took it."

"You killed his wife and his unborn child and you almost killed his sister. Do you want him to clap for you and congratulate you for what you did?" Olivia spoke in an angry tone.

Not paying attention to his wife’s words, Henry spoke to Jacob.

"We will use someone to kill Ethan Wilson, I already choose that person, but she will need your help to teach her how to use a gun." Henry said and his words made Olivia and Jacob frown.

"And may I know who she is?" Jacob asked.

"You will know once you start to train her, for now, you should go and get some rest." Henry said before he left the living room.

Olivia waited until Henry went upstairs before she pulled Jacob to one of the guests’ rooms so no one would be able to hear them.

"He is talking about Petal, he wants to sacrifice her for the sake of his empire, we need to get her out of here before he knows." Olivia spoke to Jacob, to her, Jacob was the son that she never had.

"Calm down, Lady Olivia, I’m sure that he won’t do something like this." Jacob spoke not knowing if he was convincing himself or her.

"No, this is what he wanted since she was born, he wanted to get rid of her because she was born disabled." Olivia said as she approached Jacob.

Cupping his face, She said.

"Please, you are the only one who could help her, I have a friend of mine who will take care of her, this time William’s family will kill him, they have been quiet for two years now but they won’t be when they attack them this time."

Jacob stared at the woman who was like a mother to him, now he is in a difficult situation, he has to choose between the man who took care of him and fed him or saving this innocent girl who will die if he didn’t do anything.

"If what you are saying is true, then I will protect Petal with my life, but right now let’s make sure first." Jacob said before he left the room heading to Patel room.

On his way towards her room, Jacob couldn’t stop thinking about what Olivia said, can a father do that to his child? he couldn’t help but wonder.

Opening the room door, he stepped inside and closed the door behind him and slowly made his way towards her bed.

Petal was sleeping, unaware of the mess that was happening outside of her room, he stared at the girl who was sleeping peacefully.

Jacob felt a heavy feeling in his heart, it was unfortunate that she was born into this family.

Henry never loved Patel, but the poor girl was saying her father was the most loving person in the whole world until she witnessed his real face.

He tortured his daughter for days mercilessly, just because she tried to save Ethan Wilson’s sister and wife when she was unaware of who they were.

Since that day, Petal was no longer the same as her relationship with her father and so is Jacob, he hated himself for not being able to stop her father from torturing her, but he won’t allow that to happen to her again.

"I will protect you at all costs, I just need you to trust me." Jacob whispered to the sleeping girl who won’t hear him before he kissed the top of her head and left the room.

The next morning, Petal looked for Jacob after she finished her breakfast but she didn’t find him. Jacob is her only friend and when he isn’t around it feels lonely.

He must have gone out with her father, she thought to herself as she made her way back to her room, but she stopped suddenly when she saw her father’s study room was open.

Petal looked around to make sure that no one was there before she entered the room, she went closer to the desk table and took a look at the files that were on the table.

She picked up a file that was written on it by the Wilson’s and opened it, the file was filled with many pictures of what it looked like a family gathering along with other pictures.

Petal looked closely at one of the pictures, she had seen that man before when she was younger at a party that her parents took her to.

But if her father has a file with the family name here it means that he is planning to do something.