Chapter 4

I could barely feel my feet touching the ground as I walked out of the Mendoza Corporation building. My head was still spinning, replaying every word that had come out of Julian's mouth.

"You're not ugly, Lorena. I'm one of the men who likes curvy women."

What did he mean by that?

Impossible.

He was Diego's uncle, and he was rich, handsome, powerful. There was no way a man like him could be interested in an ugly, fat woman like me.

But the money had really been transferred into my account.

I checked my phone inside the taxi. The notification from the bank nearly made me faint. The balance that had previously been close to zero now showed an amount I had never even imagined having in my life.

One million dollars.

My hands trembled as I put my phone back away.

"To the hospital, sir," I told the taxi driver.

The trip felt incredibly fast, or maybe my thoughts were too chaotic for me to notice the passing time. When the taxi stopped in front of the hospital, I immediately hurried toward the ICU.

Mom was still there. She had fallen asleep on that plastic chair, her head lowered, one hand still clutching her small bag. Her face looked older than I remembered. I woke her gently.

"Mom," I called softly.

Mom woke up in surprise, her eyes instantly searching mine.

"Lorena? What is it? Did you get the money?" she asked.

I nodded. "I got the loan. Dad can have the surgery now."

Mom stared at me in disbelief. "Really? From where?"

"From an acquaintance," I answered.

I could not tell her it was from Julian Mendoza. She would ask too many questions.

"The important thing is that we have the money. Let's go talk to the doctor," I said.

I immediately met with the doctor handling Dad's case. He was a middle-aged man with thick glasses, and he looked surprised when I said I wanted to proceed with the heart transplant immediately.

"It's very expensive," he said.

"I know. I can pay right now. Please schedule the surgery as soon as possible."

After all the administrative matters were completed, I paid the full cost of the surgery.

Then I went to the bank. I paid off all of Dad's debts, including the interest and penalties.

I stood outside the bank feeling empty. That much money had disappeared from my account within minutes, but Dad was going to survive.

That was what mattered.

I still had money left, and I was not going to let Diego win this divorce so easily.

I opened my phone and searched for the most expensive lawyer in the city.

"Robert & Partners Law Firm. How may we help you?"

"I want to meet your best divorce lawyer. I can pay no matter how much it costs," I said.

My phone vibrated.

A message from an unknown number.

I opened it, and it contained a video.

I didn't even need to turn on the sound to know what it was.

I could see it clearly.

Diego and Isabella in bed, inside a room I recognized immediately. The master bedroom in our house.

My fingers trembled violently as I pressed the pause button. I could not keep watching. It felt like someone was stabbing my chest with a burning knife.

Then another message appeared.

"Proof of the affair. Save it for court. I'll help you win the marital assets. At least half of everything Diego owns will become yours."

I stared at my phone screen.

Who sent this?

How could they possibly get a video like that?

But I knew.

I knew without even asking.

The number, the way the message was written, and the fact that someone had just lent me one million dollars.

Julian.

He was the one who sent this. He was the one who would help me in court, but not for free.

He wanted my body.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I did not know whether I was crying from shame, fear, or something else entirely. All I knew was that I was trapped. I had already taken his money, already spent it, and there was no turning back.

"I have to repay him with my body," I whispered softly.

But what choice did I have?

Dad would survive. Mom would no longer have to worry about the debt. I could even fight Diego in court. All of that was because of Julian, and now I had to pay the price.

I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand.

I had cried too much already.

I was tired of being the victim.

If this was the price I had to pay, then I would pay it.

When I lifted my head, someone was already standing in front of me.

I nearly jumped in shock.

Julian stood beside a taxi that had just stopped. How did he know I was here? How could he appear so suddenly?

Behind him, two large men dressed in black stood alert. His bodyguards.

He opened the taxi door for me.

"Get out, Lorena."

I obeyed. I stepped out of the taxi on weak legs. The driver could only stare in confusion, but Julian had already tossed a large bill toward him.

"How did you know I was here?" I asked.

Julian gave a faint smile. "I always know where you are after you left my building today."

I bit my lip.

He was monitoring me.

Of course he was monitoring me because now I was his investment.

"How's your father?" he asked.

"The surgery will happen soon. Thank you for the money," I said.

Julian nodded. "You've already used the rest for a lawyer?"

I was shocked again. "You know that too?"

He smiled once more. That dangerous, mischievous smile.

"I told you. I always know."

He extended his hand toward me.

"Come on. There's something we need to do."

"Where?" I asked suspiciously.

"To Diego's house. You're going to collect all your belongings. Starting today, you're moving into my house."

I froze. "What?"

"You think I'd lend you one million dollars without collateral, Lorena?" Julian stepped closer. Now only a few centimeters separated us. The woody scent of his cologne overwhelmed my senses. "You are the collateral. I'm not taking the risk of you running away with my money. So starting today, you'll live in my house, under my supervision."

"But I..."

"No buts. This was already the agreement. You agreed the moment you accepted the money."

I wanted to argue, but he was right.

I accepted the money.

I used the money.

And now I was bound to him.

"Okay," I whispered at last.

Julian extended his hand again. This time, I took it. His hand was large and warm, gripping mine firmly. Not painfully tight, but enough to make it clear who was in control.

He led me to the black car parked in front. His bodyguard opened the door for us. I climbed into the luxurious passenger seat. Julian sat beside me.

The car drove away from the hospital.

I looked out the window toward the white building. Dad was in there. I had done my part.

Now I had to do the other part.

"Are you afraid?" Julian asked suddenly.

I turned toward him. His face was so close. Those blue eyes stared at me with an expression I could not read.

"Don't worry," he said softly. His hand touched my hair, gently brushing the strands away from my face. "I won't hurt you, but you need to learn one thing."

"What?" I asked.

He leaned closer. His lips nearly touched my ear. I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin.

"You'll find out later."

A few moments later.

The car stopped in front of Diego's house.

The house I had called home for five years.

Now it felt like a stranger's building.

"Come on," Julian said as he opened the door. "Take all your belongings. Don't leave behind a single valuable thing because starting today, you're never coming back here again."