CHAPTER 1

Kian

“Okay, so today’s shoot is done. Let’s wrap up and go for dinner since our shooting is finished,” the director said.

Everyone seemed happy to hear the director’s words since it was our last day of shooting.

“I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t come today. I have some important work, so I need to go now.”

The director looked confused by my words, but he simply nodded with a gentle smile. Then, I left.

I wanted to stay and eat dinner with the crew and fellow actors like everyone else, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t allowed to. My life wasn’t easy, nor was it the same as other boys’ lives. And this was all because of Cassian Ravencroft.

Cassian Ravencroft was one of the most famous names in New York. He was the sole heir to the Ravencroft business empire, a family that handled almost everything in the E-world, from gaming companies to the development of social media apps.

After his father, Cassian was the one handling the entire empire, despite his young age. With black hair and striking red eyes, he was not only a powerful business tycoon but also one of the most handsome men in the business world. There was probably no one who didn’t know him. But the side of him that I knew I didn’t think anyone else knew about.

I sat down inside the car and started to drive. My heart was beating so fast as I kept glancing at the time. It was already getting close to midnight.

After a while, I reached my building. I got into the elevator and went directly to my apartment.

But the moment I opened the door, I saw someone sitting on the sofa. Even though the lights were off, I knew who he was.

He was Cassian. I walked ahead and switched on the lights. My whole body was trembling, and my heart was beating even faster.

What I was feeling was fear. Cassian was wearing a black suit with a black shirt underneath. He had black leather shoes on, and he was sitting on the sofa with his back pressed against it, one leg crossed over the other.

His eyes were fixed on me. “Come here,” he ordered in a calm tone.

I didn’t want to go to him at all. I gripped my pants tightly in fear.

“DIDN’T YOU HEAR ME? I SAID COME HERE.”

His voice was so loud and cold that my feet moved on their own. I stood near him while looking down at my feet. He stretched out his hand and touched my shoulder. Within a few seconds, he pushed me down onto my knees.

As I knelt there, tears started to drip from my eyes.

After shooting all day, I was already exhausted, and when he pushed me down onto my knees, it hurt. Then, he touched my chin and made me look up.

My teary eyes met his. “Kian, why are you crying? You should cry when you’re under me. That’s the most exciting, isn’t it?”

His grip tightened around my chin as he said those words.

Then, suddenly, he moved forward and pressed his lips against mine.

Slowly, the hand that had been gripping my chin loosened and moved behind my head. He yanked my hair as he kissed me.

His tongue slipped into my mouth and moved against mine. I grabbed his hand because I couldn’t breathe. I tried to break the kiss, but I couldn’t.

Just then, he broke the kiss, and I was finally able to breathe again.

But then he leaned in again and pulled my lower lip between his teeth before kissing me once more.

Suddenly, he pushed me down onto the ground, pressing a hand against my shoulder as he sat on top of me.

He continued kissing my neck, slowly moving downward.

I closed my eyes and turned my head to the side while lying there because I knew I couldn’t overpower him.

He suddenly stopped, which made me open my eyes and look at him.

He was sitting there, staring at me. His eyes looked frightening, as if I had done something wrong.

“Why is there a different scent coming from you when you don’t even use cologne?” he asked.

“Cologne?” I gulped when I heard that.

“Other actors... Other actors’ cologne scent must have rubbed off on me,” I replied.

The moment those words left my mouth, a hard slap struck my face.

I felt dizzy from the impact.

“So you weren’t shooting there. Instead, you were rubbing your body against another actor? Am I not enough for you that you need other men too?”

“No, no! I didn’t do anything like that. I’m telling the truth.” I tried to explain.

But he was never the kind of person who would listen to me. He beat me for nearly half an hour, and afterward, he used my body as if he hadn’t just hurt me.

He tortured me throughout the entire night without any mercy.

In the early morning, he was sleeping on the bed while I was lying naked on the floor without even a blanket. My hands and legs were hurting because he had nearly broken my bones. My jaw was hurting as well.

My life wasn’t always like this. I had been very happy before.

But one year ago...