Jayden's povAriana's eyes immediately locked with mine as I entered the ward where she had been admitted and hospitalised. Her brow furrowed in surprise. "Jay?" she whispered, disbelief lacing her voice.She chuckled afterwards. "Who would have thought that the almighty Jay would actually visit his sister? I thought you didn’t want to be seen with me."If only she knew it was all for her own good."What’s stopping you from reaching out if I don’t?" I replied, moving toward the chair, and added, "I guess we are both to blame.""Besides, I was here the day they brought you in after the accident," I told her."I'm sorry for not coming sooner. I had some things to take care of at the office," I apologised."Why would I be mad about that? I'm used to you not being around," she chuckled.I sighed. If only she knew I could not imagine my life without her and how much it had tore me apart to see her lying on that same bed unconscious.Then, I asked her how she was feeling."You don't need
Mirabella's pov"You slut, do you really know what you are getting yourself into with this request?" Jay asked me while smirking as I pulled the skimpy gown over my body, my mind still spinning from what had just happened between us—the toe-curling sex.After the sex, I had told him what Lucy had advised me—the only way to escape this hell.***Flashback***"Didn't you say he ordered that no one touch you until he finally fucked you?" she had asked, her voice low as we spoke quietly in the hallway to our respective rooms after a long day of swinging our bodies on poles to satisfy the perverts' sexual desires.She was also a stripper, but in the VIP section.That day in the restroom, she had told me the brutal truth: the only way people like us ever got out was through the quarterly auctions, where we were sold to some rich pervert. It was a sick and twisted system, but it was the only ‘freedom’ people like us could hope for.Since then, we had become close, or at least as close as two
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 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
Mirabella's pov "Did we... Is he dead?" My eyes shot wide with shock, locking with Jayden's equally panicked gaze. Without a word, he unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped out of the car. I hurried after him, heart pounding as we approached the front. "Shit!" he muttered, his voice strained with panic. He crouched down immediately, pulling the boy toward him. Blood was seeping out fast, staining the floor. "Is he...?" "He's alive," he said suddenly, his face lighting up with relief as he felt for a pulse. "He's alive, Bella!" he repeated, a shaky laugh escaping him. Around us, a crowd had started to gather. Some were filming on their phones, others just standing there, watching like it was a movie. "Are you all seriously just standing there?" Jayden's voice boomed. "Put your damn phones down and help!" His shout echoed through the street, cutting through the murmurs. But no one did. "We should call an ambulance," I said quickly, turning back to the car to grab my p
Jayden's povIf there was one thing that still got under my skin, even after things had started to shift between Mirabella and me, it was how she still was not completely at ease around me. "What do you want to listen to?" I asked as I prepared to drive out of the mansion, my fingers drumming lightly on the steering wheel. She turned her head to me, eyes narrowed like I had asked a tricky question. I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "Come on, don't overthink it. What genre do you like, dummy?" A small laugh escaped her lips as realisation dawned on her, and for a second, I felt the warmth of it. "Anything works, I guess," she shrugged. Her answer rubbed me the wrong way, and I could not hide the flicker of disappointment on my face. I still could not wrap my head around why she was still walking on eggshells around me. "Come on," I said with a short laugh, masking how I really felt. "How can you say that? You can’t be serious. Just name something. Any artiste or genre. Just name it
Mirabella's povIt turned out to be Jayden as he leaned casually against the doorframe."Relax, it's just me," he said, throwing his hands up in the air with that stupidly charming grin of his."I'm not here to steal anything from you or harm you."I rolled my eyes as a faint smile tugged at my lips."Oh really? Then why exactly are you sneaking into a girl's room uninvited? Pretty sure that's called trespassing, you know." I chuckled, my brows furrowing playfully.He shrugged, trailing his gaze down my body with a slow, deliberate stare that made my cheeks flush. "Well... just making sure things are in perfect ways."My breath caught in my throat as my mind raced to decipher what he meant by that. "Things like?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, the smile still lingering on my lips despite the heat creeping up my neck.His smirk deepened, and he took a step closer, his presence filling the room with an almost tangible intensity. "Things like making sure your appearance is p
Mirabella's pov The fear and foreboding that had hung over my time with Jayden seemed to fade with each passing day. Our silent meals in the dining room, which I always expected to end in having sex with him, which didn't, began to include small conversations. They were not much, just fragments, but enough to make me realise he could be something other than the cold and ruthless man I first knew. Evening walks through the mansion followed, requested in a surprisingly humble tone instead of his usual commanding bark whenever he did want to make me do things, and even shopping trips, where he bought me anything I desired. If someone had told me this shift would happen between us, I would have laughed in disbelief. Yet, here I was, growing oddly comfortable around him. This made me recall Eunice and Lucy’s observations, trying to follow their suggestions in the hope of bridging whatever strange gap lay between him and me. Standing in front of the mirror in my room, a faint smile cur