SOLD

Chapter 1

The room Is suffocating, its walls pressing in on me, trapping me in its claustrophobic embrace. The air is thick with dust and despair, weighing down on me like a heavy mantle. The stairs creak under my feet, each step feeling like an eternity. I descend into the darkness, my vision blurred by the tears that run down my face. I know what awaits me at the bottom of the stairs – a choice between life and death. I must face my fate, whatever way it may end. The thought sends a shiver down my spine.

The choice Before me is as clear as it is horrifying. To marry a ruthless billionaire, to bind myself to a man whose name is spoken with fear and loathing – this is a fate worse than death. But I have no choice, for I have been told that my life depends on it. I must marry this man, or die. As I stand on the brink of this decision, I feel a wave of hopelessness wash over me. I am trapped, with no escape in sight. What will become of me?

I watch my father’s eyes drop to the floor, unwilling to meet my gaze. My fingers tighten around the handle of my bag, my grip so hard that it feels like I could crush the leather in my fist. My eyes flicker to my mother, who stands frozen in the corner, tears streaming down her face. She looks so small, so fragile, and I know that she is as helpless in this situation as I am.

Mr. Arnold's voice was hard and cold. 'We have no time for family moments. She is ours already. You should have known better before selling your daughter to us. My heart was pounding in my chest. I could feel the blood rushing through my veins, making my face flush with heat. Mr. Arnold’s words echoed in my mind, and I felt sick to my stomach. How could he say such a thing.

As he spoke, his eyes narrowed, and I could see a slight curve at the corners. ‘You don’t have to be sad, Olivia,’ he said in a deep, resonant voice that sent a chill down my spine.

My lips were stitched together, and I struggled to utter a single word. My eyes were swollen from the night before, when I had wept inconsolably. It had been the most horrific night of my life.

“Honey!” my mom called, her voice cracking as she tried to form the words.

“You don’t have to be sorry,” I said harshly already knowing what she wants to say. “It’s a done deal.” I glanced at my father, but his face was blank, his eyes avoiding mine. Numbly, I followed the guard out of the room.

 “You sold your only child for money. Fear my return,” I said through gritted teeth, before turning on my heel and walking out the door. I tried to project confidence, but my heart was racing. I was leaving behind everything I had ever known, without any idea of what awaited me.

I climbed into the car, my luggage already stowed in the trunk by the driver. I couldn’t get away from this place fast enough. This house had once been my home, but now it was nothing more than a graveyard for my shattered dream.

“Roselyn, you did this to yourself. You should have never gotten involved in this mess in the first place.” My mother’s voice was rising in anger, but it was the next sentence that really caught my attention. ‘If only you had let me tell her,’ she said, her tone full of regret. I couldn’t help but wonder what they were hiding from me. What was the secret that they were so desperate to keep from me?”

 "Ma? Are you here?” A voice called out, sharp and urgent. It was enough to break me out of my thoughts and bring me back to the present moment.

"I've been calling your name for A while now,” the driver said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. “Should I just leave?” I nodded, my mind racing with unanswered questions. I knew I had to get to the bottom of this, no matter what it took.

In a small voice, I asked, ‘How far is Ryan’s house?’ Just saying his name sent a shiver down my spine. The rumors I’d heard about him were enough to make even the strongest person quake with fear. He was the stuff of nightmares, a symbol of violence and brutality.

The thought of becoming his wife, or rather his puppet, sent a wave of nausea through me. A puppet was the perfect word for it, because from the rumors I'd heard, he treated women as nothing more than toys to be played with and discarded at will. I knew I had to escape, but how?.

The driver’s voice cut through the silence, startling me. ‘It’s just a few kilometers away,’ he said, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Fear was creeping into my bones, making it hard to catch my breath.

The driver’s voice was full of concern. ‘Ma’am, you look uncomfortable. Are you okay?’ he asked, his gaze fixed on me in the rearview mirror. I sat frozen, unable to speak, my mind racing with fear and uncertainty.

The driver’s words were meant to be reassuring, but they only made me more fearful. ‘Don’t worry, ma’am. My boss is nothing to worry about, as long as you’re careful not to offend him. He doesn’t take kindly to anyone who does,’ he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. I shivered, not sure whether I should be more afraid of my mysterious husband or the man who was driving me to him.

The silence in the car was deafening, but my curiosity was burning too strongly to remain quiet. ‘How do they pay?’, I blurted out, my heart racing as I waited for his reply. A long moment passed, and then the driver turned to me, his eyes dark and unreadable.

I heard a shiver in the driver’s voice, and my heart skipped a beat. ‘They get beheaded,’ he whispered, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. ‘His most loyal and trusted staff, people he loved like family. Over the smallest of issues, too.’ His words filled me with terror, and I struggled to catch my breath.

‘Beheaded?’ I asked, my voice shaking with shock. He nodded gravely, his eyes fixed on the road. 'Is it impossible to cope with such a thing?’, I asked, my mind reeling with the horrifying possibilities.

The car slowed to a stop, and I heard the driver’s voice in the silence. ‘We’re here, ma’am,’ he said, his voice barely above a whisper. I sat frozen in my seat, my mind a jumble of thoughts and emotions. I wasn’t sure if I could get out of the car, let alone face whatever awaited me beyond the door.

As I gazed at the gate, my worries began to melt away. I was mesmerized by its grandeur, the intricate carvings unlike anything I had ever seen before. The gate was a work of art, a masterpiece of craftsmanship. It was unlike anything I could have imagined, a portal to a world of luxury and splendor.

The gate opened slowly, and I saw an elderly man standing there, his eyes twinkling with amusement. ‘Welcome back,' he said, his voice warm and gentle. ‘The boss has been awaiting your return. He’s been wondering what kept you so long,’ he added, turning to the driver. I noticed a flicker of fear in the driver’s eyes, a look that seemed out of place in the calm, peaceful scene before me.

I could sense the driver’s unease, and I realized that something was wrong. But the gateman seemed to notice my concern, and he smiled reassuringly. ‘Don’t worry, miss. You’re not in any trouble,’ he said, his voice smooth and gentle. The driver nodded, his expression still tense, and he led me up the driveway to the imposing building that loomed before us.

As we passed through the grand hallway, I noticed a line of servants, their eyes following us as we walked by. The gateman leaned in close, his lips barely moving as he whispered, ‘I’ll leave you now.’ My heart pounded in my chest, and I longed to call out to him, to beg him to stay with me. But the words died on my lips, and I watched helplessly as he disappeared down the hall.

I stood frozen in the middle of the living room, my mind racing with questions. Where should I go? What should I do? I felt completely lost, like a ship adrift in a vast and endless sea. The silence of the room only added to my sense of disorientation. I could hear my own heartbeat, the sound echoing through the vast expanse of the living room.

“Hi!” I heard, I took a deep breath and slowly turned around, my eyes widening as they landed on a familiar face. My heart stopped for a moment, as if frozen in time. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was like a dream, but I knew it was all too real. There, standing before me, was the one person I had never expected to see again.