Sold!!

Moore

"Moore," Nicole called, running towards me and engulfing me in a swift hug. "My goodness, Moore, who did this to you?"

"Nicole," I replied, my voice hoarse, as I turned to the gentleman who bid me farewell and went on his way. He had been kind enough to wait until Nicole arrived.

"What happened?" she asked, disentangling from the hug. I stared at her in shock and admiration. Just a few hours with family, and she looked way better.

I couldn't say anything. I just held her hands. "I want to go home," I whispered. I didn't care what they thought of me; I just needed to be home. "I must return home to my family."

Nicole nodded. I believed she knew I was too depressed to speak. She pushed me gently into her arms, and I whimpered silently.

"Let's get you out of here first. Then you can tell me where your family lives," she said softly.

I nodded and followed her silently to a red sports car. She had always told me she missed racing, and I could tell she was a good car racer from her choice of car.

A few minutes later, she drove into a gigantic hotel and excused herself after getting me settled. I was served food, and she returned with plenty of designer clothes.

"You shouldn't look like this if you're going home," she said, pushing the clothes toward me while I smiled, watching her make her way into the beautiful lodge.

It was already three PM.

"Now," she started after I settled in, "where does your family live?"

"Rome," I said. "It's almost a four-hour journey, and I intend to go today. I might change my mind if I don't."

"I know you don't want to talk about your husband and whatever transpired, but I'm ready, and I'll be with you all through," she smiled warmly.

Trusting a friend again was the last thing on my mind, but I knew I would repay her kindness as soon as I returned. I smiled and picked out a less attractive outfit—a pair of jeans and a hoodie. I couldn't go back home looking flashy and expect them to believe I was suffering.

"Why did you pick that?" she asked the moment I returned to the room from the bath. "There are much better clothes."

I smiled. "This is all I need, Nicole. You can either keep the rest or give them away. I can't take them with me. I hope you understand."

She nodded, understanding my plight, while I hugged her. "I need to go now. I'll keep in touch, I promise."

"Allow me to drop you off," she requested, her eyes keenly on me. "Please."

"Nicole, you don't have to..."

"Please, Moore. I somehow feel you won't be coming back. I feel this might be the last time we'll meet. Allow me the honour, please."

She was smart. I wished I had been this smart five years ago. I wished I had known the pit I was falling into when I gave up my freedom for love.

"Fine," I replied, giving her a smile.

She nodded and walked me out. A few minutes into the ride, we reached the train station. Nicole paid for the ticket, and in five minutes, I was already on the train heading back home to Rome, my mind racing as I got closer.

It had been an extremely tense ride as my heart pounded incessantly, knowing I was nearing the place that used to be my home.

The taxi pulled up at the entrance of Quinn's estate, owned by my father—a wealthy businessman with several companies and businesses around the globe.

I hesitated for a moment at the entrance before finally mustering the courage to ring the intercom.

The gate opened, and I walked through the large hallway leading to the main building of the mansion.

"That's Miss Moore, isn't it?" whispers from domestic workers echoed as I walked, my confidence sinking with each step.

I wanted nothing more than to turn back and flee, but I was too weak, too tired to run again.

Pushing the door open, my heart in my throat as the door gave way to the large living room.

"Moore?" Emily called out in astonishment as she quickly approached me. "Moore, is that you?" She screamed, engulfing me in a warm, tight hug. Goodness, I wasn't expecting that from my kid sis.

"Oh my heavens!" the familiar voice of Madam Isabel echoed as she stopped in her tracks, unable to believe her eyes.

I sank down in Emily's embrace, crying profusely. She tapped me repeatedly, trying to pull herself together.

"I'm sorry," I whimpered into her hands, inhaling her familiar scent. "I'm so sorry."

Madam Isabel turned her tearful eyes towards me, calling out to my father before turning back to me, pushing my sister away and enveloping me in her arms. She had been a mother figure to my sister and me after our mother passed away from cancer.

"I'm sorry, Lady Isabel. I know I have disappointed you all. I'm so sorry," I cried, burying myself further in her warm embrace.

"No, my child, my poor child," she consoled, patting me gently on the back. Emily stood by, watching with tears in her eyes.

"Moore?" My father's resounding voice interrupted our embrace, and I immediately knelt, refusing to take my eyes away from the floor, my heart pounding loudly in my chest.

"Father, I'm sorry," I sobbed, clasping my hands together, tears blurring my vision.

"Goodness, I'm surprised you came. If that was the reaction I was expecting, I must be kidding," he said, smiling down at me.

I stopped sobbing and raised my head to meet my father's smiling face. Was he really smiling at me? I glanced at Emily and Madam Isabel, but they all had this knowing look that I couldn't quite fathom.

"Good thing you did. I was just talking about bringing you here with Mr. Giordano, from that boy's house or wherever you were, if necessary. But here you are."

I stared in disbelief as resounding steps ascended the stairs.

"Mr. Giordano?" I was shocked. Why was I going to be forced to come here if I hadn't shown up? What baffled me more was the fact that they knew I was out of jail.

"Hello, Moore," the extremely intimidating yet captivating voice of the man I had rejected six years ago sounded before me. His kingly aura filled the entire house. "It's good that you're back!”