My ears buzzed when I heard that voice. What the hell was going on? Had Neal lied to me? Had everything he'd said just been part of his plan to get back at me?I smiled bitterly. I couldn't believe I'd allowed him to play me again, and with just a simple sentence.I grabbed my bag and got up, wanting to leave. However, Neal stopped me. He said, "You didn't give me a chance to explain back then. Are you going to do it again now?"I looked at him and said coolly, "Fine, then. Go ahead and explain.""This is the woman you saw in that photo on Valentine's Day back then," he said.She sat between him and me and smiled at me. "Nice to meet you, my dearest sister-in-law."Sister-in-law? I scrutinized her and found that she and Neal did indeed share similar features.At my silence, Neal said, "We have the same father but different mothers. She came to campus that day to tell me about Dad wanting to send me abroad. Neither of us expected you to misunderstand."I was caught off guard by
I was supposed to be unconscious, but it was more like I was looking at a playback of my life.My family was misogynistic. I'd only been brought into this world because my parents needed me to act as a blood bank for Elijah, who'd been sickly as a child.Later, after he'd become better, my value had diminished. I'd basically become invisible.Mom and Dad didn't love me, let alone Elijah. I had no choice but to do my best in everything to catch their attention. Over time, I surpassed children my age in every skill. It was only after I'd consistently won first-place awards in countless competitions that Mom and Dad started paying attention to me.That was why I'd hated having Neal in my life. His presence had taken the spotlight off me. No matter how hard I worked, I'd still failed to surpass him.My mind ran over everything that had happened to me since childhood. Then, my consciousness returned to my body with a hum.I slowly opened my eyes to find myself in an unfamiliar place
Neal snatched Mom's phone and watched the video with relish. Then, he turned to the paparazzi with a smile. "I'm sorry that you guys had to see my fetish."He slowly got to his knees before me and said, "Please slap me, darling."I hesitated, unable to bring myself to do it. He held my hand and lightly patted his face with it. "Thanks, darling."Everyone was stunned. They thought this was just regular family drama, but it turned out to be a huge scoop. The CEO of Gray Corporation was into sadomasochism—what was that, if not big news?Soon, the paparazzi forgot why they were originally there. They ignored Mom and circled Neal and me. No one cared what she had to say.We only brought Mom to my hospital ward once the paparazzi were gone. I had to admit that Neal's demeanor was much more daunting now that he was back to being rich and powerful—I didn't know what he and Mom talked about, but she looked deflated when she left.She didn't say a word to me, and she no longer looked like
Kenneth Smith, my manager at the cabaret, told me he'd left me an important client. For that, I used the makeup I'd purchased before my family had gone bankrupt to give myself a makeover.Unexpectedly, I saw a familiar man as soon as I entered the room—Neal Gray, my ex-husband.He'd originally been my family's live-in son-in-law and had taken charge of all the household chores. Even our maids had ordered him around.He was a familiar face, but it was odd to see him in an expensive suit and not the hired help's uniform he'd always worn in my house."Sasha is one of our newest escorts, Mr. Gray. I hope you'll forgive her if anything she does isn't to your satisfaction," Kenneth said.Neal glanced at me but didn't say anything. It was as if he didn't even know me.Kenneth hurriedly pulled me forward at that. I pursed my lips before saying awkwardly, "I'm sorry for what happened in the past, Mr. Gray. It's all my fault. Let me drink to you as an apology."I picked up a shot glass of
Verbal humiliation would be better than physical, after all.Neal sneered and gripped my neck. "Don't tell me I can't smell you when others can, Elisa Camden. Reject me today, and I'll tell everyone in the city not to hire you tomorrow. I'd like to see how long you can hold out!"He gnashed his teeth, and I looked at him, finding him unfamiliar.After my family went bankrupt, everyone around me took the opportunity to kick me while I was down. They knew about my relationship with Neal; none of them wanted to risk offending him by helping me. Even my friends kept their distance, and I'd only gotten this escort job after begging many people.I clenched my fists but didn't dare take my anger out on him. I only asked tentatively, "Can't you just let me go?"Neal's face became devoid of emotion again, but there was no masking the disgust in his gaze. "Let you go? This wasn't the way you reacted when I begged you to do the same, Ms. Camden."He stalked toward me, oppressing me with his
My ears buzzed at that, and I ran home like a madwoman. There was chaos when I got back.My brother, Elijah Camden, was covered in blood. Dad wasn't doing much better than him. Mom was cowering in a corner, not daring to move.I suppressed my fear and asked, "What's going on, Dad?"He sighed and said in resignation, "It's all your accursed brother's fault!"Elijah spat on the floor at that. "I wouldn't be like this if not for you, would I? I was sunbathing in Altalia—look at what's happened now! I told you this is an opportunity to make money, didn't I?"Dad was infuriated by that. He snarled, "You call gambling and taking a loan from loan sharks an opportunity? Why do I have an ingrate like you for a son?"Elijah sneered and staggered to his feet. "If not for your failed investment, I wouldn't need to resort to this!"Just then, the loan sharks charged into the apartment. The man in the lead practically drooled when he saw me. "Well, well, well. I didn't expect you to have such
I looked up at Neal's voice. He looked at me and asked sardonically, "Did you ever expect me to treat you like this one day, Ms. Camden?"I didn't answer. I could understand his rage—I would've felt the same in his shoes. I lowered my head to lick the wine on the floor.Just then, he abruptly lifted me into his arms and threw me onto the large bed. He straightened his suit while looking down at me, and I scrambled backward frantically."Are you scared? I thought you already knew why you were brought here. Or do you want your family to disappear from this world?" he growled.His words stabbed me like knives, and he continued with a dark look, "Were you happy when you allowed someone else to smell you down there, Elisa? Do you really think you're a treasure?"Tears filled my eyes. His words cut deep. "I didn't… Please don't…"Neal sneered and ripped my clothes forcefully. I tried to push him away, not wanting to give my first time to someone who was so emotional.Suddenly, he stop
Neal snatched Mom's phone and watched the video with relish. Then, he turned to the paparazzi with a smile. "I'm sorry that you guys had to see my fetish."He slowly got to his knees before me and said, "Please slap me, darling."I hesitated, unable to bring myself to do it. He held my hand and lightly patted his face with it. "Thanks, darling."Everyone was stunned. They thought this was just regular family drama, but it turned out to be a huge scoop. The CEO of Gray Corporation was into sadomasochism—what was that, if not big news?Soon, the paparazzi forgot why they were originally there. They ignored Mom and circled Neal and me. No one cared what she had to say.We only brought Mom to my hospital ward once the paparazzi were gone. I had to admit that Neal's demeanor was much more daunting now that he was back to being rich and powerful—I didn't know what he and Mom talked about, but she looked deflated when she left.She didn't say a word to me, and she no longer looked like
I was supposed to be unconscious, but it was more like I was looking at a playback of my life.My family was misogynistic. I'd only been brought into this world because my parents needed me to act as a blood bank for Elijah, who'd been sickly as a child.Later, after he'd become better, my value had diminished. I'd basically become invisible.Mom and Dad didn't love me, let alone Elijah. I had no choice but to do my best in everything to catch their attention. Over time, I surpassed children my age in every skill. It was only after I'd consistently won first-place awards in countless competitions that Mom and Dad started paying attention to me.That was why I'd hated having Neal in my life. His presence had taken the spotlight off me. No matter how hard I worked, I'd still failed to surpass him.My mind ran over everything that had happened to me since childhood. Then, my consciousness returned to my body with a hum.I slowly opened my eyes to find myself in an unfamiliar place
My ears buzzed when I heard that voice. What the hell was going on? Had Neal lied to me? Had everything he'd said just been part of his plan to get back at me?I smiled bitterly. I couldn't believe I'd allowed him to play me again, and with just a simple sentence.I grabbed my bag and got up, wanting to leave. However, Neal stopped me. He said, "You didn't give me a chance to explain back then. Are you going to do it again now?"I looked at him and said coolly, "Fine, then. Go ahead and explain.""This is the woman you saw in that photo on Valentine's Day back then," he said.She sat between him and me and smiled at me. "Nice to meet you, my dearest sister-in-law."Sister-in-law? I scrutinized her and found that she and Neal did indeed share similar features.At my silence, Neal said, "We have the same father but different mothers. She came to campus that day to tell me about Dad wanting to send me abroad. Neither of us expected you to misunderstand."I was caught off guard by
I was taken aback by Dylan's words. I'd wondered why Neal kept talking about me letting others smell my fragrance—I'd thought he'd cooked something up with his imagination. Now, I knew who was the culprit!"Let me go, or Neal will kill you!" I cried while struggling to break free.Dylan laughed derisively. "Don't tell me you think Neal is still interested in you! Open your eyes, you fool. Twitter crashed this morning with the news of a woman cooking at Neal's place. He's hiding a beauty there, and you're just his used goods!"Before I could respond, he was sent flying by someone's kick. He roared, "Who the hell kicked me?""Who do you think I am?" It was a familiar voice—Neal had arrived.I relaxed. I would never give my first time to someone as wicked as Dylan.Dylan's men released their hold on me at Neal's words. Neal stalked toward Dylan, making the temperature in the room drop with his iciness.He gripped Dylan by the neck and snarled, "Who gave you the nerve to touch my wo
I looked up at Neal's voice. He looked at me and asked sardonically, "Did you ever expect me to treat you like this one day, Ms. Camden?"I didn't answer. I could understand his rage—I would've felt the same in his shoes. I lowered my head to lick the wine on the floor.Just then, he abruptly lifted me into his arms and threw me onto the large bed. He straightened his suit while looking down at me, and I scrambled backward frantically."Are you scared? I thought you already knew why you were brought here. Or do you want your family to disappear from this world?" he growled.His words stabbed me like knives, and he continued with a dark look, "Were you happy when you allowed someone else to smell you down there, Elisa? Do you really think you're a treasure?"Tears filled my eyes. His words cut deep. "I didn't… Please don't…"Neal sneered and ripped my clothes forcefully. I tried to push him away, not wanting to give my first time to someone who was so emotional.Suddenly, he stop
My ears buzzed at that, and I ran home like a madwoman. There was chaos when I got back.My brother, Elijah Camden, was covered in blood. Dad wasn't doing much better than him. Mom was cowering in a corner, not daring to move.I suppressed my fear and asked, "What's going on, Dad?"He sighed and said in resignation, "It's all your accursed brother's fault!"Elijah spat on the floor at that. "I wouldn't be like this if not for you, would I? I was sunbathing in Altalia—look at what's happened now! I told you this is an opportunity to make money, didn't I?"Dad was infuriated by that. He snarled, "You call gambling and taking a loan from loan sharks an opportunity? Why do I have an ingrate like you for a son?"Elijah sneered and staggered to his feet. "If not for your failed investment, I wouldn't need to resort to this!"Just then, the loan sharks charged into the apartment. The man in the lead practically drooled when he saw me. "Well, well, well. I didn't expect you to have such
Verbal humiliation would be better than physical, after all.Neal sneered and gripped my neck. "Don't tell me I can't smell you when others can, Elisa Camden. Reject me today, and I'll tell everyone in the city not to hire you tomorrow. I'd like to see how long you can hold out!"He gnashed his teeth, and I looked at him, finding him unfamiliar.After my family went bankrupt, everyone around me took the opportunity to kick me while I was down. They knew about my relationship with Neal; none of them wanted to risk offending him by helping me. Even my friends kept their distance, and I'd only gotten this escort job after begging many people.I clenched my fists but didn't dare take my anger out on him. I only asked tentatively, "Can't you just let me go?"Neal's face became devoid of emotion again, but there was no masking the disgust in his gaze. "Let you go? This wasn't the way you reacted when I begged you to do the same, Ms. Camden."He stalked toward me, oppressing me with his
Kenneth Smith, my manager at the cabaret, told me he'd left me an important client. For that, I used the makeup I'd purchased before my family had gone bankrupt to give myself a makeover.Unexpectedly, I saw a familiar man as soon as I entered the room—Neal Gray, my ex-husband.He'd originally been my family's live-in son-in-law and had taken charge of all the household chores. Even our maids had ordered him around.He was a familiar face, but it was odd to see him in an expensive suit and not the hired help's uniform he'd always worn in my house."Sasha is one of our newest escorts, Mr. Gray. I hope you'll forgive her if anything she does isn't to your satisfaction," Kenneth said.Neal glanced at me but didn't say anything. It was as if he didn't even know me.Kenneth hurriedly pulled me forward at that. I pursed my lips before saying awkwardly, "I'm sorry for what happened in the past, Mr. Gray. It's all my fault. Let me drink to you as an apology."I picked up a shot glass of