Jasmine has no idea why her father hates her so much to even want her to marry an old dying man so he can get some money from selling her off.
She has never received love or anything from her father since birth.
She live with her mother and twin brother somewhere in the slump before they lost their mother in an accident and a man came to them claiming he is their father.
After moving into his house where Jasmine find out he has a daughter around their age, her life seems a little better until her brother dies from his allergy and she is faced with harsh realities.
Turns out her father only came for them because he wanted a male child to carry on his name and once he is dead, she was thrown under the bus and her misery begin again.
Jasmine rolls the window down slightly, inhaling fresh air. The city lights blur past.
The road looks familiar.
"Where are we going?" she asks Gabriel, who's seated beside the driver.
"To your house."
Her chest tightens.
Jasmine wants to ask why but Gabriel immediately provide the answer before she could
"To get your things" he told her.
She wants to say there's nothing there for her—not really. But she still has a few things worth retrieving: her mother's necklace. A faded photo of her brother.
Both lying in the attic where she sleeps
She nods instead and turns to her side.
"When can I have the document I gave you back?" she asks Julian, her voice small but firm.
She means the household register she stole from her father—the one that made this marriage possible.
Julian finally glances her way. Just for a second.
Then he looks away again.
Gabriel, sensing the tension, hands her a folder.
"Here it is" Gabriel hand it over to her.
"Thanks," she mumbles, slipping it into her bag.
She notices something then—she's still in her wedding dress.
Her father and stepmother can't know she's married. That's part of Julian's condition. Complications are to be avoided at all costs.
She turns to Gabriel quickly.
"I need to change before we get there."
Gabriel looks at Julian for permission.
Julian finally speaks, voice clipped.
"Turn around. Get her something else to wear first."
The driver nodded and the car veers onto a new road.
Jasmine exhales slowly and leans back, watching the city flicker by—still not sure whether she's walking into a golden cage or escaping a darker fate.
---
The car pulls up outside the Li family's rundown apartment. The air is heavy with tension.
Gabriel steps out and opens the door for Jasmine, who clutches her small purse tighter.
Julian remains inside, detached as ever.
Jasmine leads the way, quietly praying that no one is home so she can retrieve her belongings quickly.
But fate has other plans.
As she pushes the door open, she freezes. Her father, Parker Li, who runs a small furniture company sits in the living room along with his wife Lola and daughter Ava. All three turn their heads in sync, surprised—and not pleasantly.
Parker rises instantly, storming toward her, rage flickering in his eyes. His hand lifts, but before it lands, Gabriel steps forward and blocks the blow with a firm grip.
With a simple push, Parker stumbles back onto the couch.
"Wh—?" Parker gasps, eyes wide with shock.
"Who the hell is this?" Lola screeches, rushing to her husband's side.
"You brought someone here to hit your father?" she continues, her face twisted with contempt.
"After all he's done for you since your sinful mother died? I always knew it should've been you who died instead of your brother!"
The words hit Jasmine like cold steel, but she doesn't flinch. She's used to the venom they spit so easily.
She tries to walk past them, heart pounding, but Ava blocks her path, her arms folded.
"Where do you think you are going? Your husband's been calling us non-stop. You want to ruin Dad's business because of your stubbornness?" Ava tells.
Obviously, they already took money from the man they intend to force her to marry and are impatient now
Jasmine raises her chin, eyes sharp.
"I'm not married to anyone. And if you're so desperate to save your father's reputation, you marry the old man."
Gasps fill the room.
The insult lands hard, but Jasmine feels nothing but clarity. She no longer has to please them. She has a place to stay now so no more obedience.
"You ungrateful brat!" Lola snaps.
"Now you want to rebel against us, after everything we have done for you" Lola said pointing an accusing finger on her and then turn to face her husband.
"I told you we should throw her out immediately after her brother's death but you wouldn't listen, now see what she is doing!"
Jasmine lets out a sad chuckle, not wanting to argue with them in front of Gabriel but Lola always mention her dead brother at every given opportunity and insult her.
Over the years, aside from letting her live in the attic and stealing the money she got from working hard, they did nothing for her.
Not only did they stop paying for her schools fees from eleventh grade but also stop feeding her and make her work like a maid.
"What have you ever done for me?" She asks.
Her voice doesn't waver, even as Parker's fists clench.
"No matter what you say today, I'm not marrying anyone to cover for your greed. And I'm leaving this house—forever."
She brushes past Ava, ignoring her sputtered protests, and heads toward the attic.
Gabriel moves to block the family, towering over them with effortless authority. None of them dare challenge him.
They could only stand still and wait for Jasmine to return.
Gabriel silently burns with anger. He's under strict orders not to interfere, but seeing Jasmine face these people alone stirs something in him.
How can a family treat their own like this?
Moments later, Jasmine returns carrying a small nylon bag—the sum of her worldly possessions. Her shoulders square, she walks toward the door.
"Where do you think you are going?" Her father barks, desperation in his voice knowing well that if she leaves then his business will be doomed.
"If you leave now, we lose everything!"
"I'm married" Jasmine says quietly, but knowing it will make them give up.
If she keeps giving excuses they will continue to pester her
The three of them looked aghast to hear those words and stood shocked and speechless.
Their eyes staring at Gabriel in a different way.
"You're lying. The household register is in my—" Parker tries to argue
But Jasmine pulls it from her bag and places it gently on the table.
"Here. I hope that answers your question. As of today, I'm no longer part of this family."
she says and turns to the door with no one stopping her.
Gabriel opens the door, offering to get the bag but Jasmine turns to him with a soft shake of her head.
"Let me carry it."
" Please don't mention this to him " Jasmine quickly adds and Gabriel gives her his word.
He is already impressed with how she handled the situation and wanted to clap for her,, he can't help but feel proud. She stood her ground like a lioness.
Back in the car, Jasmine slides in quietly.
Julian still sits with his head leaned back, eyes closed—whether asleep or simply avoiding her, she can't tell.
"Let's go," Gabriel says, and the car pulls away from the place Jasmine called home for twelve miserable years.
She looks out the window, eyes lingering on the fading silhouette of the apartment.
That chapter is over. Once she gets her alimony, she'll leave the country and start over. College. Freedom. Peace.
That's all she wants.