Chapter 1

The half-open front door slammed hard as Aurora rushed inside, her breath coming fast. Her college bag fell carelessly to the floor the moment her eyes caught the state of the living room. A flower vase lay shattered beside the sofa, the drawers of the table were left open in a mess, and even the family photo frame was lying cracked on the floor.

“What are you doing?!” Aurora’s voice broke the moment she saw a large man gripping the neck of Jonas—her five-year-old little brother.

“Rory!” her mother cried hysterically from the floor while clutching the hand of one of the men who had shoved her roughly just seconds earlier. “Run away now!”

“Shut up!” the man barked.

Aurora immediately ran toward her little brother, but her steps stopped when another man blocked her way. The tall, broad figure stood right in front of her while staring down at her.

“Don’t interfere unless you want to get hurt too,” he said coldly.

Aurora held her breath. Her heart pounded so hard that her ears rang. She turned to look for her father and found the man sitting weakly at the dining table with a pale face and split lips.

“Dad...” Aurora’s voice weakened. “What’s going on?”

Her father lowered his head in silence for a few seconds before rubbing his face with trembling hands. “Dad... is in debt, sweetheart.”

Those words felt like a hammer crashing into Aurora’s head.

“Debt?” Aurora repeated softly, almost unable to believe it. “What debt?”

Her father stayed silent, unable to tell the truth.

But her mother cried even harder.

Aurora slowly looked around their destroyed house. She knew her family’s financial condition had been bad for the past few months. Her father often came home late at night, became easily angered, and had asked her for money several times. But Aurora had never imagined things would go this far.

The man choking her little brother finally released his grip. Her brother immediately coughed harshly while sobbing in fear.

“Where’s the money?” one of the tattooed men near the table asked. “Our boss has already given you too much time.”

“We just need a little more time,” her father said quickly while standing up in a hurry. “I promise I’ll pay everything.”

The man laughed mockingly. “Promises can’t pay the interest.”

Aurora stepped forward. “How much is it?”

Her father closed his eyes as if ashamed to say the number. “Three million dollars.”

Aurora froze.

Their small house suddenly felt even smaller. Even the air became difficult to breathe into her lungs.

“That’s impossible...” she muttered softly. “Dad, you’re joking, right?”

“Dad just made a bad investment,” he said quickly. “At first, Dad thought I could recover the losses—”

“Investment?” Aurora stared at him in disbelief. “Our house was almost seized last month!”

Her mother cried again.

“You were gambling too, weren’t you?” Aurora whispered quietly.

Her father’s face immediately changed.

And at that moment, Aurora knew the answer.

A cold sensation spread throughout her body.

Before she could speak again, the sound of footsteps entering the house made the entire room suddenly fall silent. Even the large men immediately stood straighter.

Aurora slowly turned around.

A tall man walked into the house wearing a long black coat and a calm expression that somehow felt far more terrifying than the shouting of the debt collectors earlier. His hair was neatly combed with slight streaks of gray at the temples, while his sharp eyes looked cold, like someone who was used to getting whatever he wanted.

“Mr. Richard Calloway.” Bertan—Aurora’s father—spoke with trembling lips.

Aurora immediately recognized the name even though she had never met him before. Everyone in New York knew who Richard Calloway was. A famous property businessman, a billionaire, and a man far too dangerous to be touched.

Aurora swallowed hard when the man’s eyes stopped directly on her.

That stare made her skin crawl.

Richard slowly walked around the wrecked living room before finally stopping in front of Aurora’s father. “I believe I’ve been patient enough, Bennett.”

Bertan immediately stood up with a pale face. “Mr. Richard, please... I’m begging you. Give me a little more time.”

Richard did not answer immediately. His gaze shifted back to Aurora, who was still standing stiffly near the stairs.

Aurora felt uncomfortable with the way the man looked at her. As if he were evaluating something.

“I’ll work harder,” Bertan said quickly. “I can sell this house—”

“This house isn’t even enough to cover the interest.” Richard’s voice was low and flat, yet enough to silence everyone.

Aurora took a deep breath before finally gathering the courage to step forward. “Please give us time.”

Richard looked at her expressionlessly.

Aurora tried to ignore the uneasy feeling in her chest. “We’ll find a way to pay it.”

“With what?” he asked calmly.

Aurora opened her mouth, but no answer came out.

Richard slipped one hand into the pocket of his coat while continuing to look at her. “Your family has failed to pay for almost a year.”

“I can work,” Aurora said quickly. “I’ll pay it little by little.”

One of the men behind Richard chuckled softly upon hearing that.

Aurora turned her face away, holding back her embarrassment.

Richard continued looking at her calmly. “Your name is Aurora, right?”

Aurora gave a small nod.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-one.”

Richard smiled faintly. A small smile that somehow made Aurora feel even more uneasy.

Aneta—Aurora’s mother—suddenly stood up and gently pulled Aurora’s hand. “She has nothing to do with this.”

Richard looked at the woman for a few seconds before turning back to Aurora.

“There is one way to settle your family’s entire debt.”

The room instantly fell silent.

Bertan immediately lifted his head hopefully. “What way?”

Richard did not answer right away. His gaze remained fixed on Aurora until the girl felt suffocated under it.

Then finally he spoke softly, “Aurora comes with me.”

Aurora frowned in confusion. “What?”

“All of the Bennett family’s debt will be cleared.” Richard’s voice remained calm. “In exchange, she will live with me.”

Aneta immediately froze. “What do you mean?” she asked quietly.

Richard looked at Aurora without looking away even for a second. “I’m interested in your daughter.” Richard paused briefly. “I want her to come with me.”

Those words hit the room harder than the sound of shattered glass earlier.

Aurora even thought for a moment that she had heard him wrong. “What?” Her breath caught.

Aneta immediately pulled Aurora behind her body. “No.”

Richard remained calm. “Think carefully before refusing.”

“She’s still young!” Aneta shouted angrily while crying. “You can’t buy my daughter!”

Bertan, however, looked calm. “Just be quiet. Aurora should just go with Mr. Richard.”

Aneta turned to him in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

“We don’t have a choice!” Bertan shouted back.

Aurora slowly stepped backward. Her mind felt empty.

“No...” she whispered softly. “Dad, don’t joke around.”

“Aurora—”

“Dad wants to sell me?”

“This is to save our family!”

Bertan’s voice echoed throughout the small house.

Aurora stared at the man she had trusted all this time with tear-filled eyes. “I’m your daughter, Dad.”

“Dad doesn’t want this either!” he shouted in frustration while running his fingers through his hair. “But if we don’t pay now, they’ll destroy our family!”

Aurora immediately turned to her little brother, who was still crying fearfully in the corner of the room.

Aneta started begging while holding Aurora’s hand tightly. “Don’t agree... Mom is begging you.”

But Bertan instead approached and gripped her shoulders tightly. “Rory, listen to Dad. This is the only way.”

Aurora stared at her father for a long time. Then slowly her eyes shifted toward Richard, who was still standing calmly a few steps away from them.

Aurora swallowed the bitterness in her throat. “If I agree... will my family really be safe?”

Richard answered without hesitation. “Yes.”

Aurora closed her eyes for a moment. Her chest hurt. Her life was truly destroyed, and she did not even have the chance to refuse it.

When she finally opened her eyes again, Aurora looked at Richard with an empty gaze.

“Alright, I’ll go with you.”