| Fan Fiction |
by ferine
It was a busy afternoon, Maki's mother had insisted on helping out at the store despite her poor health condition. However, just as they were preparing to close the store, Maki's mother fainted. Maki accompanied her mother to the hospital, where she was immediately sent to the Emergency Room. Maki's mother suffer from severe anaemia and had been admitted into the hospital for several times.
There was no sign of Maki's father at all. He was a heavy gambler and a drunkard. At this time, he would probably be spending his time at the gambling den. Maki was an aspiring lawyer, but because of all the debts that her father ran up, she was forced to give up this dream of hers and maintain the store. However, she studied law on her own, often late into the night.
After ensuring that her mother was out of danger, Maki returned home only to find that there were a few strangers making a mess out of it.
"Stop it!" Maki shouted. She had seen this too often, her father must have borrowed money again.
The few strangers turned around at her call. They looked at one another and before Maki knew what was happening, she was forced onto a car, making her way to an unknown destination.
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Maki struggled to escape, but the two men locking her arms were too strong for her. They brought her to a room where she saw her father for the first time in many months. Besides her father, there was also an old man sitting on a high chair, with two bodyguards by his side.
"So this is your daughter?" the old man asked.
"Yes, she's my daughter, Maki, she'll repay my debts for me" Maki's father replied.
Maki turned to stare at her father, that almost stranger face. Everytime she saw him, there was never anything good.
"I'm afraid you're mistaken, I don't know this person here. If there is nothing else, pardon me for leaving now, I have other things to do." Maki said in a as-a-matter-of-fact tone. She struggled to get out of the hands of the two men again, this time succeeding to free herself from them. She immediately turned to attempt escaping from the door. However, almost immediately after she freed herself, she found herself locked in a stronger armhold by the two men.
"Tough girl, I see," the old man in high chair spoke once again. "I heard from your father that you are an aspiring lawyer?"
Maki turned her head away, refusing to answer to any questions.
"Well, you should know that one should abide by a contract?" The old man snapped his fingers and one of his bodyguards brought a sheet of paper filled with words to Maki. "Here is the contract your father signed, in any case he is unable to repay his debt, his immediate kin would be responsible for repaying it."
"I've already said I've got nothing whatsoever to do with this man here, so whatever he signs is none of my concern."
"Well, well, what's the situation here? There's actually a very simple solution to all your problems girl. I admire you, you're a gutsy girl and an aspiring lawyer as well. I know that you are studying law at home. What about this, you'll be my daughter-in-law, and I'll see you through university plus I'll write off your father's debt."
"I believe I can get my lawyer license without you help, thank you very much." Maki thought the idea was ridiculous. Giving up her marriage for a license and a useless father?
"I believe your mother's in the hospital right now? I wonder if she's alright now?"
"Don't you dare harm my mother," Maki warned.
"Whether she's safe or in danger is entire up to you, little girl. I'll throw you a bonus. If you agree to be my daughter-in-law, I'll pay for your mother's hospital bills as well. But if not, I can't be sure when your mother's death anniversary will be."
Maki stared at the old man before her, that was not a choice at all. There was no other way out. She had to accept his offer, to be his daughter-in-law.