Sign of the Zodiac: Aries
[Sign 3: Gemini] Destiny

“Kara, where all day? Your father's looking everywhere. Tonight we are invited to dinner with the family of the owner of the auction house.” Her mother's nagging welcome Chiara's arrival at her humble family home.

The front door is old and makes a sound every time it is opened or closed. The wood floor is a little moldy with damp walls that are always wet every time the rainy season comes. His father said that the house was once a magnificent mansion that was always used by their family ancestors, whether since when. But this place now is not even worth calling home what else is the mansion. The front and back gardens have become slum streets crowded with people passing by. Several houses have been demolished and have now changed owners. Only one two-story building remains too narrow for five family members to live in.

As Chiara recalled, ever since her grandfather was alive, their family no longer had servants. Perhaps even long before that, servants were no longer employed in their families. His father's brothers were married to other families and the one who inherited this house now is the Chiara family now. I don't know what happens in the future when Chiara's three younger brothers have grown up. They might be scrambling to get this old house. As a woman, Chiara obviously had no chance to just think about it. His destiny is to be sold to another family man as a wife or perhaps a mistress.

Just thinking about it already made Chiara shudder. That's why since she was ten years old, Chiara has been thinking about making her own money. His father was a street gambler. Because of the many debts of his family, now the father has become a person who is blacklisted by all casinos in Forex. He was finally only able to gamble on a small scale with poor con artists in the market. And still always bring home a debt that is increasingly piling up. Luckily, Rein's family, who are already in close contact with Chiara's grandfather, are still willing to hire his father as a curator at the auction. Although his life was chaotic, but the father had a good eye in judging the artwork. Family descendant – if said father Rein.

“Why not answer your mother, Kara? As the first and only child of this family, your attitude is completely unethical. How can a girl always wander from the morning blind and return home after noon?” nagging Chiara's mother who followed the girl went up to the second floor, into her room that smelled of mushrooms and wet wood.

“Why does mom just always take care of my life? Rather than scolding me for never making trouble at all, I better pay attention to my father who always comes home with a debt. Or Kale who hasn't even been home for two days because he's busy busting the prostitute girls in the market. Khan and Kai still need my mom's attention. But why does mom always bother me who doesn't even do anything?” sergeant Chiara exploded in anger.

His mother's eyes flashed with anger. Chiara knew that a big fight was about to happen. Two angry people will only cause chaos. It's time he stopped. Chiara had better give up and avoid that annoying drama.

“Alright, I'm sorry Mom. I was with Rein the whole day. He asked me to help him tidy up the shop and decorate a new storefront. I can ask him at dinner. Rein had also told me about the event,” Chiara replied as she turned her face away from her mother. He then reached into his pocket and took out a few pieces of silver to hand over to his mother.

“This is the result of my work today,” said Chiara while holding out no more than ten pieces of silver.

That's not a small amount. At least with that much money, her mother could probably buy ten new dresses for the two of them. Or fix the roof of a house that has been leaking everywhere. Even two or three jewels with gemstones could also be spent with that amount.

But of course his mother could not do it. Chiara's income from the gambling house would only be used to cover her father's debts. Chiara was upset, of course. But not trying to protest. What he got from the casino all day was three times the money he just gave to his mother.

“You should have told mom from the beginning. You don't have to worry all day. Next time tell mom before you leave. I can prepare a snack for Rein,”, his mother said after her anger subsided.

Chiara took a deep breath. “Food at home Rein is even much more quality than the cuisine here,” muttered indifferently.

His mother appeared to be injured, but did not attempt to refute. Chiara's words were not wrong.

“Then get some rest, Kara. Mother will come again if it is time we go to the house of the owner of the auction,” said her mother then turned away.

Chiara did not reply and was just busy changing her shabby dress into a comfortable nightgown.

After her mother left, Chiara laid her body on the bed. The money box he left in the secret room of Rein's shop. The place was safe considering Rein's wealth was far more numerous many times over. And no one knew about the secret room of the two of them. Even Rein's father never visited his son's room. He will only come to the store when he wants to pick up or bring new items for auction.

Chiara was tired. His two younger siblings – one of them is a half-sister born to a prostitute whose father slept – is now playing boisterously next to his room. They screamed as if there was no one else in the house. Occasionally the sound of items being thrown hit the walls of Chiara's room. The commotion left Chiara unable to sleep or rest in peace. Though he was very tired after going undercover and facing the fraudsters in the casino. Although it is undeniable that he is also a fraud.

How could his life be so fucked up? He never asked to be born into such a messy family. As if that problem wasn't enough, Chiara was also destined to become a despised woman in her community. His early career as a gambler was not at all easy. Many people tried to destroy him, tricked him and even raped him. But thanks to her shrewdness toying with the minds of others, plus the support of Rein, her best friend since childhood, Chiara managed to be in her current position.

He probably came from a poor, messy family. However, in the world of gambling, she is the Queen. Everyone knows how Chiara has been doing for the past eight years. There is no game he does not win. Whether since when the satisfaction of playing in a casino has made Chiara so addicted. The satisfaction of taking down his opponents and bringing home luck was something he could not get from anywhere else. Even though in the end, he had to betray his own conscience and become the same person as his father whom he hated so much.