Lia Tan’s quiet, peaceful life is shattered when she is kidnapped by the powerful, twisted Vincent Casella, thrusting her into a world of wealth, luxury, and terror. Just as Vincent plans to auction her off, mysterious billionaire Rafe Laurent steps in, saving Lia for reasons rooted in his own dark past.
View MoreThe crackling fire in the hearth cast flickering shadows across the grand sitting room. Lia sat on the edge of the couch, her knees tucked to her chest, warily watching Rafe as he paced the room. The tension between them was palpable, thickening the air like a storm about to break.Rafe had summoned her here without explanation, and she had come reluctantly, unsure of his intentions. His silence as he moved back and forth, hands shoved deep into his pockets, was unnerving.“Why am I here?” Lia finally asked, her voice strained but steady.Rafe stopped abruptly, his broad shoulders stiffening. He turned to face her, his expression carved from stone, yet his eyes betrayed a turmoil she couldn’t decipher.“You deserve an explanation,” he said, his tone low and measured.Lia blinked in surprise. It was the last thing she expected to hear from him. “An explanation for what?”“For why you’re here,” he said, his voice softening just slightly. He exhaled deeply, rubbing a hand across his face
The next morning arrived with a haze of gray clouds that seemed to press down on the sprawling estate, reflecting the weight in Lia’s chest. She’d barely slept, her mind restless with memories of Vincent’s cruelty and the auction, where her fate had been reduced to a bidding war. The uncertainty of her new life with Rafe twisted her insides into a knot.The sound of the door unlocking jolted her from her thoughts. She sat up abruptly, her heart pounding. Rafe stepped inside, his expression as impassive as ever, though his sharp gaze took in every detail of her appearance—her pale face, the dark circles under her eyes, and the tension in her posture.“You’ve been in here long enough,” he said flatly, closing the door behind him. “Come with me.”Lia hesitated, her body instinctively recoiling at his commanding tone. “Why? Where are we going?”“I don’t owe you an explanation,” he replied, his voice calm but firm. “But you need to eat something more substantial than what’s brought to your
The mansion loomed around Lia like a gilded cage, every corner dripping with opulence that only emphasized her isolation.Crystal chandeliers reflected light onto marble floors, casting intricate patterns that danced with her every step. The walls were adorned with artwork she couldn’t place, the kind of pieces meant to intimidate as much as impress.It felt less like a home and more like a fortress, built to keep secrets locked inside.Lia wandered cautiously through the hallways, her bare feet soundless against the cool tiles. Every turn revealed something new—an elaborate sitting room with furniture too pristine to be used, a library with shelves stretching so high that ladders were needed to reach the top, a sunroom filled with exotic plants that seemed out of place in such a cold environment.And yet, no matter where she went, she felt the eyes of the house on her. Cameras, maybe. Or just her own paranoia.Her thoughts were interrupted by a low murmur of voices coming from a near
“Rafe, you’re pacing again.”Cally’s voice was soft but firm as she stepped into the dimly lit study. Her sharp features were softened by concern, her eyes tracking her son’s restless movements. Rafe stood by the large bay window, staring out into the sprawling gardens below.“How can I not, Mom?” he replied, his voice tight with frustration. “This whole situation is a disaster waiting to explode.”Cally approached slowly, her silk robe trailing behind her like a ghostly whisper. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, but he didn’t turn to face her.“You’re taking on too much,” she said softly. “You always do.”Rafe scoffed, finally spinning around. “How can I not when everything I’ve built, everything I’ve worked for, is threatened by his games?”Cally tilted her head, studying him. “This isn’t just about him, is it?”Rafe hesitated, his jaw clenching. He moved toward the desk, running a hand through his dark hair. “It’s about her,” he admitted reluctantly. “Lia.”“Ah,” Cally said
The hum of the car engine was the only sound breaking the tension in the air. Lia sat stiffly in the back seat of the sleek black car, her hands folded tightly in her lap. The ropes around her wrists had been removed, but the phantom sensation of them remained. Her gaze darted to the man sitting beside her—Rafe Laurent.He was a striking figure, his sharp features carved in stone-like precision, and his piercing gray eyes fixed ahead as though he were lost in thought. The dim glow of the car’s interior lights cast shadows across his face, accentuating the hardened lines of his jaw and the faint scar running along his left temple. He exuded an aura of control and power, the kind that left no room for argument or defiance.“Where are you taking me?” Lia finally mustered the courage to ask, her voice trembling but firm enough to demand an answer.Rafe didn’t so much as glance at her, his gaze still locked on the road ahead. “Somewhere safe,” he replied curtly, his tone as cold as the win
As the door to the auction room opened once again, the crowd’s murmurs filled the air—low, eager, and full of anticipation. Lia’s heart raced in her chest, each beat like a drum signaling the end of any hope she’d had left. She was nothing but a piece of merchandise, her worth determined by the bids that would soon come. The ropes that bound her wrists felt heavier with every passing second, and the sharp, biting cold of the room seemed to seep into her bones.The crowd fell into a hushed anticipation, their eyes flicking toward the stage, where Lia stood, trembling but defiant, her wrists bound by cruel ropes. The chains that held her captive, both physical and emotional, were no match for the fire in her eyes.“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his tone dripping with indulgence, “Allow me to present the prize of the evening. A woman whose beauty surpasses all that you could imagine. Her porcelain skin is untouched, flawless. Her long, dark hair cascades like silk, framing a face tha
Lia’s heart pounded in her chest as Vincent stood in front of her, his cold eyes watching her every movement. She could barely breathe, her hands trembling as she clasped them together in front of her, desperation taking hold.“Please, Vincent,” she pleaded, her voice trembling with fear. “I just want to go home. Please, I’ll do anything. Don’t sell me.”Vincent leaned against the doorframe, his lips curling into a cruel smirk as he watched her. “Go home?” he repeated, his voice dripping with mockery. “You think you have a home, Lia? You think you have a place in this world? No one is coming to save you. You’re mine now. You always were.”Her stomach twisted, but she refused to give up. She straightened up, fighting the overwhelming urge to break down. “You don’t have to do this,” she whispered, each word feeling like it was being ripped from her throat. “I’ll be good, I’ll do whatever you want. Just… don’t sell me. Please.”Vincent chuckled darkly, stepping closer to her, his shadow
Lia’s hands were trembling as she carefully finished the small, makeshift key she had crafted from the pieces she had scavenged over the last few days. The tools were rudimentary—just a chipped nail file and some metal scraps—but she had worked in secret, her eyes constantly darting toward the door, making sure Vincent wouldn’t find out. It wasn’t perfect, but it would be enough. She knew it.A faint hope sparked in her chest as she held the key in her hand. The lock to her room was simple, nothing like the fortified ones around the mansion. She had been careful, patient. And now, this tiny piece of metal was her way out.With a final glance toward the door, she inserted the key into the lock and twisted, her heart pounding with anticipation. It clicked open with a soft sound that felt deafening in the silence of the room. Her breath caught in her throat as she slowly opened the door, holding it just enough for her to slip out.The house was quiet, and her mind raced with plans. She
The tall, imposing figure of President Alejandro Montoya stood at the center of the room, his sharp eyes scanning the group of advisors gathered before him. The tension was thick in the air, each person aware that this was not a routine meeting. There was a political storm brewing, one that threatened to shake the very foundations of his carefully constructed empire. Yet, Alejandro’s expression remained stoic, his gaze cold and calculating.“Enough speculation,” he said, his voice firm, commanding the room’s full attention. “We act decisively, or we lose control. I don’t need a team of hand-wringers. I need a plan that works—no matter the cost.”His words were sharp, calculated, delivered without a hint of emotion. He had been in this game too long to allow himself to be swayed by sentiment. The crisis at hand—a public scandal that could expose ties between his administration and controversial figures—was a threat, but only a minor one in his eyes. His political career had always thri
“You’re mine,” Rafe’s voice was low, dangerously so, as he stepped closer, his eyes dark with something unspoken.Lia’s pulse quickened, the air thick with the tension between them. She stood frozen, her body betraying the fear and the strange, magnetic pull that connected them. His words lingered in the air, a command, a promise, but the way he said it—like he owned her, like she belonged to him—made her blood run cold.“No,” she whispered, voice trembling, even as her body rebelled against the protest. “I’m not—”But before she could finish, his hand gripped her jaw, forcing her eyes to meet his. There was no softness, no room for argument. “You don’t get to decide, Lia.”His lips crashed into hers, a forceful, desperate kiss that left no room for hesitation. His mouth was hot, demanding, as if he was trying to devour her whole, pulling her deeper into his world. Her hands found his chest instinctively, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt, feeling the hardness of his muscle...
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