Guontiveros: Vivid

Chapter 1

Seven years later, there was little Alice, a young girl with a beautiful smile and a radiant personality. She was so bubbly that you wouldn't even notice that under her cute pink sweater, she was hiding bruises all over her body.

Alice lived on a farm with her yaya and her father, Jian Zhong, who was rarely around. Her only memories of him were when he came home drunk and argued with his now ex-wife. He would release his anger on Alice, beating her until he passed out, leaving the little girl crying in pain. Her yaya would find her in the morning on the cold floor, pale and bruised.

His wife discovered his affair with Amelia and their daughter of infidelity, and she divorced him, taking their sons and moving to Canada. And, Jian Zhong blamed Alice for all the bad things in his life.

"You fucking little brat! You ruined everything! I hope you'll die!"

Those were the exact words Jian Zhong said to Alice. She was only seven but understood clearly that her father despised her. Despite this, she still loved him, hoping he would change.

Today was Alice's seventh birthday. Her yaya, who loved her dearly, cooked spaghetti and baked brownies for her.

Alice jumped with happiness when she saw her favourites lying on the table.

"Wow! These are my favourites! Thank you, yaya. I love you," she said happily and hugged her yaya.

"I love you, my little Alice," her yaya smiled, lit the tiny candles on the brownies, and sang her happy birthday.

When the song ended, Alice closed her eyes to make a wish.

"I wish Daddy would come to my birthday and stop beating me."

After making her wish, she blew out the candles, hoping it would come true.

As they were eating, the doorbell rang. Alice felt excited, thinking it could be her daddy.

She stood up and ran towards the door, with her yaya following her.

Alice opened the door and was surprised to see her Uncle William holding a pink bicycle. "Hello, princess! Happy birthday!" William greeted her.

Alice screamed with happiness at seeing the pink bicycle and her favourite uncle, William.

William came in, placing the bicycle down so Alice could try it. Alice excitedly jumped on her bike and roamed around the house, squealing as she pedalled.

Her yaya and William watched her, smiles on their faces. They loved seeing Alice enjoying being a kid despite lacking affection from her father. They wanted Alice to feel loved, even if it wasn't from her father. So, they spoiled her as much as they could.

Alice got off her bike and went to hug her uncle, thanking him for his gifts.
William smiled and knelt to properly hug her.

Then Alice hissed in pain as she was slightly squeezed into her uncle's embrace, surprising him.

"What's wrong, Alice? I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" he asked, concerned.

Alice didn't speak and stood stiffly in front of him, her eyes glued to the floor.

William became more concerned and confused. He gently held her arms, and Alice flinched.

Realizing something was wrong, he lifted Alice's sleeve, revealing old and new bruises.

Feeling his blood boil, he turned to Alice's yaya.

Yaya quickly assured him she wasn't responsible.

"Who did this?" he asked, his eyes darkening.

"S-sir Guo Jian Zhong," she answered, lowering her gaze.

"Since when has this been happening?!"

Alice started crying, scared that her uncle and her father would fight. She feared her father would beat her again if he found out Uncle William knew.

"Please, don't tell Daddy," she pleaded, crying.

William nodded and comforted Alice. He knew what she meant.

"Don't cry, Princess. I won't tell your dad, I promise. But I want you to know that Uncle William will do everything to protect you, okay?" he assured her, though he was furious inside.

William had always wanted a daughter since he already had three sons. His wife was no longer young enough to carry another child. So, Alice became his daughter since Jian Zhong neglected his responsibility to her. She was also the only girl in the Guo and Gatchalian families.

Not wanting to ruin his niece's birthday, he told Alice she could go outside and ride her bike.

Alice had never been outside the house. Her father didn't allow it, fearing it would produce gossip. Few people knew about the Chinese businessman's illegitimate child, so he kept her locked up to avoid questions.

Alice hesitated at first, but William
encouraged her to go out since it was her birthday. She was free to do anything she wanted. And, surely, her father wouldn't even show up.

The three went outside, and Alice was amazed by the vastness of their farm. She became excited and rode her bike while her Yaya and Uncle William watched her.

Alice, focusing on pedalling, almost got hit by a car, causing her to crash in the dirt.

Her yaya and Uncle William quickly ran towards her and were shocked to see that it was Jian Zhong's car that almost hit Alice.

Jian Zhong furiously got out of his car when he saw Alice outside.

He aggressively grabbed her sweater and dragged her into the house.

"Who the fuck told you to go outside?!"

He threw Alice on the floor, making her cry.

Yaya and William tried to calm him down, but he suddenly pulled out a gun and pointed it at them.

"Get the fuck out of here! Or I'll fucking shoot both of you! OUT!!!" he shouted, pulling the trigger and aiming at the wall in their direction.

"STOP, JIAN ZHONG! THAT'S YOUR DAUGHTER!" William shouted as he tried to save Alice from her father's wrath.

"I DON'T FUCKING CARE! IF YOU DON'T GO OUT, I'LL FUCKING SHOOT HER!" Jian Zhong pointed the gun at Alice's head, threatening to shoot her.

William's heart shattered when he saw Alice on the floor crying. He became quiet and did what he was told since he was overpowered by Jian Zhong and also to avoid putting Alice in further danger.

He and Alice's yaya left without turning around.

Outside, they could hear the sound of whipping and Alice screaming and crying as she was being hit continuously.

They couldn't do anything yet because they knew how powerful Guo Jian Zhong was.

But William promised himself he would save Alice from that monster.

Alice, exhausted from crying and screaming, her body in pure agony, could only watch her father from the window, breaking her bike into pieces.

Tears streamed down her face as her birthday became her almost-death day.