PROLOGUE 3 "THE KINDEST MAN SHE EVER MET"

"Are you nervous, Venus?" the van driver, Delfin, asked Lara as they headed to the party.

Delfin, an older man who seemed about the same age as her father, possessed a gentle demeanor that mirrored her Papa's. His kind tone resonated with genuine kindness.

Lara nodded, stealing a quick glance at Delfin before turning her attention back to the passing scenery outside the window.

"I-I don't know if I can go through with what they'll ask of me," her voice trembled as she spoke, though she held back her tears.

Delfin's heavy sigh was audible. "That's for you to decide," he offered, giving her a meaningful look as their eyes met.

"What do you mean?" Lara inquired.

He simply shrugged. "Did you know that the police apprehended the three men who sold you here? Your father reported it right away," he shared, his gaze still fixed on her.

She remained silent thereafter. The truth was she wasn't quite sure what Delfin was implying, but she had plans to escape after this ordeal anyway. Even though Nati, her manager, warned her that there was no place to hide, she refused to believe it.

---

"HEY, dude? What took you so long? We're getting bored here!" a familiar voice emanated from inside the box Lara was in.

Recognizing the voice as that of the man who had paid Nati a substantial sum, Lara's eyes welled with tears. It was hard to believe she was in this situation.

In truth, she didn't even recognize herself anymore. She felt numb, as if in a state of shock, unable to speak or protest.

"Alright, hurry up! I'm sure you'll love my gift to you!" the man added, his voice filled with excitement.

Moments later, Lara was taken aback as the top of the box suddenly lifted. Instinctively, she flinched and clutched her own arms.

"Miss, are you serious with that outfit? Don't you have something sexier to wear?" he asked, his tone suggesting he was wealthy and educated. Yet, despite his apparent refinement, anger surged within Lara.

He was referring to the modern professional attire she was dressed in – a coat and tie.

Nati had actually suggested she wear something sexier, the typical attire women in her position wore. However, Lara's stomach couldn't handle it, leading Nati to say, "I think that's better, to make it easier to convince him that you're still a virgin. From the look of it, I know he's going to get rid of all that one by one."

Lara shook her head, disapproval evident on her face.

"P-Please, just listen to me. This isn't really what I do. Allow me to go home," she pleaded, her voice wavering.

Observing the man's lips curl at the corners, Lara felt a sense of desperation. "Miss," he addressed her, "Venus, right? You know what? That line is quite common. Besides, I paid a substantial amount to your manager, so you simply need to do your job," he asserted, placing the lid back on the box.

His words pierced through Lara, prompting tears to flow freely. She hadn't anticipated any of this, nor did she imagine her first time would be under such circumstances.

The man's gaze grew intense as he spoke to her. "How are you planning to reimburse me? Will you pay me back---" He was cut off by another man, who had just entered the scene.

"That's enough. Can't you see she's terrified?" the newcomer scolded his friend.

"She's getting on my nerves!" the friend retorted. "So, are you still a virgin?" he suddenly turned his attention to Lara.

Lara's patience snapped, a mix of resentment and anger driving her to slap him across the cheek with her free hand.

"How dare you! Pig! You don't know me, so don't speak to me like that! What do you know about what I've been through, huh? You're an animal!" she unleashed her fury.

As the man raised his hand to strike her, the newcomer intervened. "That's enough. I'll talk to her," he said, protecting her from harm. "Let's go inside, okay? Don't worry, as long as I'm here, you're safe."

Lara's feet moved instinctively as she followed the man's lead, entering a room where he seated her at the edge of a bed and handed her a glass of water.

He nodded, a silent acknowledgment of her gratitude. "Hungry? Do you want to eat?" he asked gently.

Butterflies fluttered in Lara's stomach as she considered his offer. Was it okay to accept anything from him?

"Don't worry, I won't tamper with the food or drink. They're safe," he assured, sensing her hesitation.

Lara remained quiet, her gaze fixed on the man. She watched as he left the room, only to return with food and a beverage placed on a small table.

"Go ahead, eat. I'll leave you alone for now. Remember, you're safe as long as I'm around," he assured her with a reassuring tone.

Once he left, Lara stared at the meal before her, her stomach growling in response. She hadn't eaten since earlier, and her hunger was undeniable. Maybe she could eat this without falling into a deep sleep. She couldn't help but hope that this man might be her savior, her knight in shining armor sent to rescue her.

Other than her father, he might be the kindest man she'd ever met.