Jayden's povAs she left, my lips curled into a smirk. Her confidence was absurd, almost laughable, but honestly, there was something intriguing about it. "She really doesn't know what she's getting herself into." I smiled. Even though I understood her reason to be desperate to leave this place, I had decided to make her regret this decision once she was out of here to teach her a lesson because of her confidence.Despite being impressed by it, if she had that same confidence and determination, she might have moved on and left the life behind instead of waiting to beg for my help when she was running away. Who knows? She might not have ended up here at all if she had that same confidence."She thinks I'm doing this just because of her," I chuckled.She probably realised I enjoyed our time together and thought she could use that to her advantage. Sure, I did—there was definitely something about her that drew me to her. But did she think she had control over me? I chuckled under my br
Mirabella's pov The day had arrived—the day the club’s products as we were called would be paraded like cattle and sold to the highest bidder. I stood among them, heart pounding as I tried to hold onto the sliver of hope that Jay would come through for me, just as he promised. My entire fate hinged on it. I didn’t even know if I was being put up for auction because of him or if something else was at play. Lucy had told me only girls who had been here for at least six months were sold, but here I was, barely three months in, and about to be auctioned off. The uncertainty gnawed at me, but it was all I had left—a desperate hope that he would be my savior.The hall was dimly lit, but I could see them clearly—the buyers. They were scattered across the seats below, their eyes fixed hungrily on us like predators. I felt their lecherous stares crawl over my skin. "They are not even ashamed of this,” I hissed under my breath, eyes narrowing in disgust by how brazen they were. There wasn’t
Jayden's pov Zayn had called to let me know that Ariana had left the hospital, insisting she could not spend another night there and causing quite a scene.Worried, I jumped in the car and luckily found her at a nearby bus terminal not far from the hospital.At first, she refused to get in the car, but after a few minutes of convincing, she finally agreed."Why don’t you care about your health? Don’t you realise the doctor didn’t want to discharge you for a reason?" I broke the silence as I drove her home.I knew there was no point in trying to convince her to go back to the hospital—her mind was already made up."And here you go, pretending to care again," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "I don’t care what you think about whether I care, Ariana. I just—" "Do you realise nothing you say or do will make me go back?" She raised her eyebrows at me.When I asked why she was in such a hurry to leave, she said it was because she had not been able to reach Fred, whom she was on her way to
Mirabella's povAs soon as we pulled up to Jay's mansion, I couldn't help but take in just how rich he really was. Everything about the place screamed wealth, and it made sense how someone like him could make the kind of orders that got me out of the Aphrodite Club. Zayn, who said he was Jayden’s personal assistant, had driven me to this massive, stunning house."Hello," a woman in an apron who looked like the maid, greeted us as we stepped inside. "You must be the lady of the house," she said with a smile.I couldn’t help but laugh at the idea. "Lady of the house?" I chuckled, but I nodded anyway."You're welcome. Shall we head to your room now?" She asked me, still beaming in smiles after we had introduced ourselves to each other.Excitement had been running through me the moment I stepped outside the club. It hadn’t faded, and I felt even more at ease after Eunice’s warm welcome. Her hospitality felt like a sign that I was finally accepted, free from that nightmare.After she men
Mirabella's povI knew where this was heading. I had been prepared for it. So, slowly, I stood and walked toward him. As I moved my hand to his shoulder to make the first move, he suddenly gripped my wrist, sending a jolt of pain up my arm as he yanked me closer. The force of his pull sent me stumbling forward as my knees hit the edge of the table. I winced, both from the physical pain and the cold detachment in his eyes. "Get on your knees," he commanded, his voice low and menacing. He then grabbed me by the hair, yanking me down to the floor with brutal force. I cried out, but he only tightened his grip, pulling my head back, so I had no choice but to look up at him. "You will learn your place," he growled, his breath hot against my ear. He released my hair, only to immediately grab my chin, forcing my mouth open. I struggled, but his strength was overwhelming. He leaned in closer, his eyes boring into mine as he spoke, each word dripping with venom. "You want to thank
Mirabella's pov"Did it truly happen? Is this what I've signed up for?" The questions clawed at my mind as I lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. My body ached in places I never thought possible, a sharp reminder of the pain I'd gone through last night.I buried my head in my knees, hugging them tightly, trying to muffle the devastation that roared inside me. The images of last night played on repeat, haunting me. I had cried until sleep finally took me, and now, the tears threatened to start again."How had this happened?" I wondered. It was Jay—the same Jay who has made my body sing at the club, whose touch had been a perfect blend of heat and need. But last night… last night felt like a mockery of that memory. He was not the same. It was as if a demon took over him.But despite everything, a small flicker of hope crept in. Maybe something was wrong with him. "Maybe a business crisis had triggered that brutal side of him. After all, he had been acting distant and stern ev
Mirabella's povTo clear my head, realising I could not let myself get drowned in the weight of everything happening—if it were even true—I decided to go on a shopping spree to pick up some things I needed, especially clothes, and distract myself in the process. For some reason, it worked. My mood lifted as I got lost in the moment, maybe because I never really treated myself like this before. I was in the book section, skimming through novels, when I suddenly heard someone call my name.I turned around, and my eyes widened in shock."Lucy!" I shouted, rushing to her. I threw my arms around her, accidentally dropping the book I was holding. We stayed locked in the hug for a few moments, neither of us moving."People are staring at us, Bella," she said, laughing softly.She started to pull away, but I was not ready to let go yet. The hug felt like exactly what I needed—like it was holding my whole world together—even if just for a little while."Let them stare," I whispered, tighte
Mirabella's povThe cab rolled to a stop in front of what used to be my home. I told the driver to hang on for a minute and stepped out, heading toward the door. I wanted a quick visit with my grandfather, hoping my father would not be around.I was not ready to tell Lucy how shitty my family was for now. When the door finally opened after my knock, I was stunned. Standing there was someone I did not recognise—someone about my age, looking at me like I was the one who did not belong."Who...who are you?" My brows were arched in confusion.She chuckled. "I should be the one asking you that. Are you sure you haven't missed your way?""Missed my way? You must be kidding." I muttered."Esther, who is that?" I heard a voice call out from deeper inside the house.The shock hit me even harder. Not just one, but two unfamiliar females were now in the same house I used to share with my father and grandfather."What's going on?" My confusion made me look around to check if indeed I was in the
Mirabella's povFor days, I hadn’t given much thought to my conversation with Lucy and Caesar. I had been too caught up with Jayden—spending time together, going on dates, and having sex. But one evening, after dinner, he took me to what everyone believed to be his study room.At first, I thought he was taking me on another date when he mentioned earlier that he had a surprise for me until we stopped in front of the door.At first, I was not sure what I was looking at as the warm glow of a chandelier hanging from the ceiling slowly illuminated the space before me, revealing a breathtaking sight. Floor-to-ceiling shelves lined the walls, packed with books. A large wooden desk sat near the centre, between two chairs. But what truly caught my breath were the artworks. Framed paintings and sketches hung meticulously on the walls. Scattered around the room were more canvases, some stacked against the shelves, some propped up on easels as if abandoned. A scent of aged paper and faint t
Mirabella's povI woke up to the soft golden glow of sunlight spilling through the blinds, warming and painting stripes of warmth across my skin.My body instinctively craved a stretch to shake off the remnants of sleep, but just as I began to move, a voice cut through the stillness. “Stop.” It was sharp, yet calm, and it made me freeze mid-motion. Slowly, I turned my head toward the voice, my gaze landing on Jayden.There he was, perched on a stool by the window, a streak of sunlight catching in the messy strands of his hair. A faint smile curved his lips, but his eyes were sharp, focused on the canvas before him. In one hand, he held a brush, dappled with shades of vibrant color, and his other rested lightly on the edge of the easel. The brush danced effortlessly over the canvas, his wrist flicking with confident precision.“Don’t. Move,” he repeated, softer this time, his smile widening ever so slightly.“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, my voice groggy with sleep. H
Author's pov"So, you're saying he asked you what she likes?" Caesar smirked, the neon lights of the Aphrodite Club’s VIP section casting a glow on his face as he spoke to Noah, Mirabella's father.Helen had tipped Caesar off that Jayden had asked her for Noah’s contact info and address a few days ago.Curious about why Jayden was interested in meeting Noah, Caesar called him over to figure it out.When Noah confirmed the details, Caesar’s grin widened. "This is getting interesting," he mused, clearly entertained.After giving Noah a stack of cash and telling him to report back the next time Jayden reached out, Caesar dismissed him.Caesar could not stop smiling all through as he watched Noah leave. "This is it right? Since we've confirmed that asshole's weakness, it's time we strike." Levine snarled, a smirk playing on his lips.Helen, who had been sitting beside Caesar cut in, scoffing. "Has he really fallen for her? Even if he has, which I still can’t believe, her of all people?"
Mirabella's povThere was nothing more I had prayed for than to find a home—an actual home where love did not feel like a transaction or a weapon. Now, I had it. Jayden, our adopted son Lucas, and Eunice had become my everything. For the first time in my chaotic life, I felt like I belonged somewhere.The room buzzed with warmth as I sat in Lucy and Caesar’s luxurious living room, gushing about my life with Jayden. I spoke with a wide grin, my hands animated as I described Jayden's hilarious antics and his sudden obsession with baking cookies for me. But something was off. Her silence had been gnawing at me for minutes. She usually had this infectious energy that lit up every conversation, but now, she sat stiffly, her hands clutching the hem of her dress like it was the only thing holding her together. Her face was swollen, bruised, and far too quiet. My words faltered mid-sentence, the grin melting from my face. “Lucy, what happened to your face?” I asked.Her eyes darted away
Mirabella's povI left the hospital with Jayden and the boy, Lucas, whom he had adopted. To my surprise, Jayden was not just changing towards me—he seemed different overall, especially with how friendly he had been to Lucas since we left the hospital. The man who once seemed cold and distant now wanted to take a little boy on a tour around the house. “Are you sure the kid isn’t your long-lost son?” I raised an eyebrow and smirked.It was so unlike him that I could not resist teasing him about it. His face scrunched in confusion. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” “Have you forgotten how you used to barely tolerate me?” I shot back, crossing my arms. "And now here you are, ready to give Lucas the grand tour.” He let out a scoff, shaking his head in disbelief. “Don’t tell me you are jealous.” “Me? Jealous?” I shrugged nonchalantly, though my smirk gave me away. "Please. I’m just stating the obvious.” That was all it took to flip the switch. His gaze darkened as he bega
Mirabella's povJayden's voice dropped low. "You probably should have figured it out by now that you were operated on while you were at the club, like so many others in your position."He paused, his eyes fixed on the floor."A tracking chip was implanted in your arm to monitor your movements in case you tried to escape. It’s still there, and it’s how I’ve been able to keep track of you.”The fact that he was finally telling me now... stripping himself bare just like he had been doing of late was the final confirmation I needed that he's now changed and loved me dearly like he had been claiming.Slowly, he raised his gaze, his eyes meeting mine for the first time since he started speaking."You didn’t know, did you?" His voice barely above a whisper.He hesitated, then stepped closer, just two small steps, as if unsure of how close he could get. "I’m sorry for keeping this from you until now," he said, his voice cracking with emotion."I—""It’s okay," I said, cutting him off gently
Mirabella's povI had expected Jayden to storm into my room first thing this morning, dragging me out of bed out of anger after what happened last night. Instead, I woke up on my own. It made me wonder if maybe, just maybe, he had actually changed like Eunice and Lucy kept insisting—and maybe he did deserve a chance after all.Then it hit me that I had completely flaked on my plan to meet Lucy at the art exhibition last night. Grabbing my phone, I dialled her number but got no answer. I tried again. Still nothing.Feeling a pang of guilt, I typed out a quick message: "I'm sorry, babe. Jayden and I couldn't show up there because something unexpected came up. You know I’d never ditch you on purpose, right?" "Let’s meet up later today so I can make it up to you. We’ve got a lot to talk about!" Even as I sent the message, my stomach twisted with worry. Was she still mad at me? Or worse, was she hurt? I told myself she would eventually reply or call me back, so I pushed the thoughts as
Jayden's povThe sex with Mirabella last night was thrilling, but a wave of regret kept hitting me afterward. Now, I could not stop questioning if I had made a mistake. Sure, I could blame the alcohol, but was that really a valid excuse? I let out a heavy sigh as I drove to the hospital to check on the boy I had hit last night as Ariana’s words of advice kept echoing in my mind. “I’ll deal with that later,” I muttered to myself, even though I hoped Mirabella would not feel hurt to prevent pulling us back together—exactly what Ariana had warned me against. When I reached the hospital's registration desk, I felt a small wave of relief when the nurse informed me the boy was awake and doing fine. Without wasting a second, I headed straight to his ward. The moment I walked in, our eyes met. He tried to adjust himself in bed but winced, clutching his side. “Take it easy,” I said softly, offering a faint smile as I moved closer. He kept his hand on his ribs, his eyes narrowing in susp
Mirabella's pov“Why are you trying to drink yourself to death?” I asked Jayden, surprise and shock still etched on my face. He didn't say anything but only stared at the ceiling as though it held the answers to every question he was too tired to ask. The Jayden I knew was sharp, always in control. But version of him looked... shattered and exposed, a shift that had been obvious since he struck the boy. "Why are you doing this to yourself?" I asked gently, moving a little closer. He muttered something under his breath, too low to catch at first, but the words eventually registered.“What if the boy dies, uh?” His eyes darted to mine, wild and glassy, searching me for something I didn’t understand. "I can't just stop wondering about the possibility no matter how hard I try not to."It was hard to ignore the state he was in."You are drunk, Jayden," I said, closing the distance between us after realising there was no point in having this conversation with him again. "Come on, l