Chapter 2

"Are you out of your mind, Jason?" Elena shouted, her voice cracking. "End this prank right now. I'm not in the mood for games."

Jason reached for her hands, gently caressing them. "Do me this last favor, Elena. For the sake of the love we once shared," he pleaded desperately.

Elena tore her hands away. "Take me out of here this instant, or I'll call the police." She yanked her purse open, frantically searching for her phone.

It was gone. Only her credit card, lip gloss, and a few bills remained. She emptied the contents of the purse onto the floor, disbelief washing over her. She was certain she'd brought her phone along.

"Don't bother searching," Jason sighed. "I slipped it out of your purse while you weren't looking."

Elena's fingers froze. Tears pricked her eyes. "What have I done to deserve this, Jason? I was the perfect wife to you, putting up with all your shortcomings."

Jason crouched beside her, rubbing her back as if to console her. "Forgive me this last time. I'll be back for you. I promise."

She pushed him away, walking briskly to the sofa where Lucien sat, legs crossed, blowing puffs of smoke in the air while watching them with a faint smile, seemingly entertained.

The guard stretched his arm to block her path.

"Let her," Lucien's unbothered voice stopped him. He took another drag of smoke. "Seems like she has something to say."

The guard gave her a scrutinizing look before letting her pass.

"Thank you, Mr. Black." Elena exhaled sharply. "I do have something to say."

"Elena, stop it. Don't ruin things," Jason pleaded, gripping her hand hard.

"Let go of me, you scum," Elena cursed, wriggling her hand free. "Don't ever lay your filthy hand on me again. Once I'm out of here, I'm reporting you to the police for attempted human trafficking."

"Human trafficking?" Jason's eyes widened. "Elena, you're taking this too far. This is just a simple favor." He tried to reason with her.

She scoffed. "You call this a simple favor? Selling me off to your loan shark?"

Jason raked a hand through his hair, frustrated. "I'm not selling you off. Just stay with him for three months, I'll work hard to get the money and come back for you."

Elena's hand swung before she could stop herself, striking Jason hard across the face. The sound echoed across the room. "I'm not your property. You have no right to tell me where to stay."

"Cursed bitch," he muttered under his breath, massaging his burning cheek as his expression hardened. "I've always known you were ungrateful. The life of luxury you enjoyed, how do you think I provided it, huh?" He grabbed her neck, choking her.

Elena's face reddened as she struggled for air. Her fingers fidgeted, frantically trying to pry his hands off, but he was too strong.

"That's enough, Mr. Dalton." Lucien's voice bellowed. "Release the lady."

Jason's grip around her neck slowly loosened, and he let go. Elena coughed violently, drawing in ragged breaths to feed her oxygen-starved lungs. Her hand trembled as she touched her throat, the skin still burning where his fingers had been.

"Bastard," she cursed under her breath, her voice hoarse.

"Seems like you haven't learned your lesson yet." Jason raised his hand to slap her.

Elena flinched, bracing for the blow. Seconds passed, yet she felt nothing. When she opened her eyes, Jason's arm was held mid-air by Lucien, both men towering over her.

"That's no proper way to treat your wife, Mr. Dalton," Lucien growled.

Up close, he was even more striking-sharp jawline, dark eyes that gleamed with something dangerous, and the faint stubble on his chin that added to his raw allure. Elena's breath caught. She shouldn't be noticing that. Not now. Not when her hands were still shaking and her throat ached from Jason's grip.

"Pardon me, Mr. Black," Jason said quickly, retracting his hand. He cleared his throat. "Women need to be disciplined-"

"Enough with the explanation," Lucien cut him off. He gave Elena a searching look. "What do you wish to say?" he asked.

"Jason and I are divorced," she declared boldly. "I'm not related to him in any way."

"And?"

"Holding me hostage against my will is a crime."

"When did I ever do that?" Lucien asked, a hint of amusement touching his lips.

Elena's eyes widened slightly in realization. He was right, no one had stopped her from leaving.

"Am I free to go?" she asked cautiously.

"Of course," he answered calmly. "The door's wide open."

"Mr. Black, the loan contract clearly states that a family member could be brought as collateral to extend my repayment deadline," Jason protested.

"Yes, it does," Lucien agreed, casually walking back to his seat.

He slipped a cigarette from the pack on the table, placing it between his lips. The guard lit it with a lighter, the smoke curling upward, clouding the room.

"I don't hold people against their wishes. You're free to go, Mrs. Dalton."

Elena exhaled, her shoulders sagging with relief. "Thank you."

"Elena, please don't go. My life's on the line," Jason pleaded desperately as she walked away.

She ignored his pleas, picking up her purse from the floor before storming toward the door. As it shut behind her, she overheard the guard asking:

"What should we do about him, Boss?"

Elena paused, pressing her ear close to the door.

"Mr. Black, please give me more time to raise the money," Jason's voice drifted through.

Lucien let out a dark, low chuckle. "Sorry, Mr. Dalton. You know my rule."

Jason's panicked cries filled the room.

Elena's pulse quickened. Jason's life was truly on the line. She should've walked away, turned a blind eye because of his betrayal, but she couldn't bring herself to. Without much thought, she pushed the door open.

A gun was pointed at Jason's head by Lucien's man, while he cried for mercy.

"Elena, please save me!" Jason pleaded, tears streaming down his face the moment he saw her.

Elena's fists clenched by her sides, her knuckles turning white.

"You're back, Mrs. Dalton. Did you forget something, or do you wish to watch the brains of your abusive ex-husband fly?" Lucien asked coolly.

"I would like to pay off his debt."

Lucien stared at her in silence, an unreadable expression on his face.

"I'm allowed to, right? Tell me how much he owes."

She had savings, enough to cover whatever Jason had gotten himself into. Three hundred thousand? Maybe half a million at worst? She would pay it and be done with him forever.

"Elena, you can't-"

"Shut up, Jason. You'll repay me in full, with interest." She snapped at him, silencing him.

"Are you sure of this, Mrs. Dalton?" Lucien asked, mockery lacing his voice.

Elena's jaw tightened. She forced her voice to remain steady. "I'm sure of my decision."

Lucien's expression hardened. "James," he called to the man holding the gun against Jason's head. "Bring me Mr. Dalton's file."

The man lowered the gun and opened a briefcase on the table, handing over a black folder to him.

Lucien flipped through the pages silently, then looked up.

"Two billion," he said calmly. "Including interest and capital."

Elena's breath caught. She had expected a large number. But two billion? That was far more than she had imagined.

Her savings wouldn't even cover a fraction of the interest. She staggered backward, her world collapsing in slow motion.

Two billion... The number echoed faintly in her head. That was the price of their freedom.