Property of Philip Edwards

CHAPTER 1

"Please, give me another chance, Mister Edwards. I promise, I'll pay you next month," She pleaded.

"I have given you enough time," The cold-heartened man answered tiredly. "But if you can't pay me back then fine."

"What do you mean?" The lady asked, obviously frightened by the devilish smirk playing on his lips.

"I'll just change your charges; I don't need your money," He said and walked towards the table, where different picture frames were placed. He picked one up and heard the lady sob.

"No please, not my daughter. I'd pay you next month, I swear."

The lady was afraid. Terrified even. She knows how powerful the man standing in front of her is and what he could do to innocent people. He could kill somebody in just one snap.

"Don't worry, I won't harm her. I know that's what you're thinking." His tone still as cold as before. "I want her." The man said, his eyes glued to the picture that he was holding.

"Please," the lady begged. "Anything but her, she's the only thing I got. Don't take her away from me."

His attention was now on the old lady. His stare was deadly, just like him.

"Am I asking for your opinion?" He asked the lady. "Whether you like it or not, she's mine."

The young man gave her a smile but the older lady seemed too frightened to look at it because she knows it’s an evil one.

"Please, take anything but her."

As of this point now, the woman was on her knees, begging for this person to not take her daughter away. Tears streamed down her eyes.

"She's the only thing that could pay for all your charges." He said flatly and placed the frame back on the table. "You still have one day to spend with her, so if I were you, I'll cherish it now rather than begging. Because starting tomorrow, she's my property."

And with that, the lad left without another word. But before he could even get out of their house, she saw a devilish smirk on his lips.

"Such an asshole," She muttered and cried her eyes out as if her daughter had already died.

-

"Mom! I'm home!" Jessica entered their house and plopped her things on the couch as her voice echoed around their small house.

She just finished her late-night shift at a local fast-food chain and now she's back. She has many jobs, well they kind of needed more money for them to pay rent in the small apartment they are currently staying in.

"Ah you're here! How was work? Have you eaten yet? Are you tired?" She was bombarded by questions as her mother stood by the kitchen door.

Jessica furrowed her eyebrows, obviously confused as to why her mother acted this way. Usually, she'll be met with her yelling and scolding. But today was different. Weirdly different. Her mother never treated her this way.

"Mom, are you okay?"

"Of course, dear! Come, let's eat dinner," Her mom said and ushered the girl inside the dining area and into their dining table.

The brunette-haired girl was really confused as to why her mother is acting this way, but she went along with it. After all, this was the first time her mother had treated her like this. She might as well cherish this moment.

"Jessica, darling, leave that there. I'll take care of it," Her mother insisted and took the plates from her daughter’s hands. "Just go head to your room, you're exhausted."

"Are you sure, Mom? Is everything alright?" Her mother only nodded in reply.

'Something's definitely up', she thought before going inside her room.

-

Hours had passed and Jessica grew more curious as to why her mother acted that way tonight. She seemed to show how much she cares for her daughter today, and that's kind of odd for her. Her mother usually blamed her for everything but now? She acted like everything was fine. Jessica couldn't even sleep, her mind keeps guessing the reason behind her mother's sudden change of heart.

Then suddenly, she heard her door open so she acted like she was already asleep.

She felt the other side of the bed dip, then suddenly felt somebody caress her face. She knew that it was her mother.

"Jessica, forgive me," Her mother's voice was soft. "I may not show you how much I love you, but I really do. I'm just so bad at showing it but I really love you, my dear daughter." She heard her sniff. 'Was she crying? Why?' Jessica asked herself.

"I hope someday, you could find it in your heart to forgive me." Jessica heard her bed sheet shuffle before she felt her mother's lips onto her forehead. "I love you, dear,"

"I love you too Mom." She answered in her head and giving into a sweet slumber.

-

It was already noon when Jessica woke up the next day. Usually, she'll wake up earlier than that, but since she had no work today, she decided to sleep longer than usual.

As she went out of her room, she saw an unfamiliar figure in their living room. He was wearing an all-black outfit. Black pants, boots and leather jacket. But the thing that caught her eye most was his perfectly brushed hair.

"Dear, you're awake." Her mother greeted her with a sad smile. Her eyes were puffy, Jessica noticed. It grew her curiousness even more.

"Mom, are you sure you're okay?" She asked, probably for the last time since her mother knew that it was time to let her go. She just replied with a sad smile.

"Who is he, Mom?" The brunette asked her mother. She finally saw the face of their unknown visitor. His skin was pale which compliments his rich-black hair. Jessica also noticed the piercings on his nose and ear. He was breath-taking, Jessica had thought. And he was obviously fit.

"So, you must be Jessica," The lad said and stood up from where he was seating. The tone of his voice was so cold, Jessica could only nod in response. "Come with me."

"What? Where are we going?" She asked and looked at her mother, obviously confused about what was happening. "What is he talking about, Mom?"

"Go with him Jessica," her mother ordered but Jessica shook her head. “Do everything he says.”

"Why would I? I don't even know him. Mom, who on earth is he? Where is he taking me?" Jessica bombarded her mother with questions. Questions that even her mother couldn't answer.

"From now on, you're mine." The lad stated flatly as if it did not just change the brunette's life.

"What?! Are you crazy?” She said out of disbelief. Jessica faced the old lady.

"I have a lot of charges to him, and in exchange for me to pay for those, he wanted you." Wait, what? Did she hear her mother right? She threw her mother a confused look. She couldn't believe what she was hearing right now.

"What? Mom, I thought we agreed that you won't be asking other people for money?! What is this? How much were the charges?!" As to how Jessica was reacting, she could pop a vein right then and there.

"A million dollars," Her mother answered and Jessica's mouth opened wide. "I didn't pay for it right away so I asked him to take you instead." Tears started to form in her eyes as she just heard what her mother said.

She couldn't believe that her mother was giving her to a stranger because of her debt. She knew she always hated her but for her to give her away, just like that?

"So please, be a good girl and go with him."

"No," Jessica said sternly. "I won't go."

"Jessica, don't be like that. Go with him now!"

"I said, no!" She said through gritted teeth. "I won't go with him. I won't leave you." She faced her mother and they both saw each other's faces full of tears.

"Go now, Jessica! I don't need you here. I already got what I wanted."

"I don't want to go! I'm your daughter, why are you doing this to me?" Tears continued to stream down the brunette's face.

"I don't have any child. I'm not your mother. You killed my husband!"

Jessica was a bit taken aback by what her mother had said. Two years ago, they were a perfect family. Her Dad was still here with them and her Mom treated her like a princess. They treated her as if she was their own. But when her Dad died for saving Jessica in a car accident, her Mom blamed her for it. Everything changed. Nothing is like the same anymore. And Jessica knows that up until this day, she still hates her daughter.

"If I go with him, will you be happy?" She said in between sobs.

"Not just happy, very happy. I might even throw a party."

"If that's what you want, then fine. I'll go. But I'm not leaving with him." She pointed at the man in sunglasses.

A devilish smirk played on the lad's lips. "I already bought you from your mother. You have no choice but to come with me because from now on, you're already mine, whether you like it or not." Jessica knew that the lad was staring directly at her through his sunglasses and she bet that it was an evil one. An evil stare.

"And what if I won't come with you?"

"Simple. I'll kill you and your precious mother right here and now." His tone was cold and flat, and Jessica was surely frightened at this point.

"You're already rich, why would you want us to pay you still?"

"Less talk," the lad commanded. "Now choose, would you come with me or I take away your beloved mother's life?" His voice was serious and dark.

Jessica looked at her mother and saw fear in her eyes. She didn't want to leave but she didn't want her mother to die. What's more important? Her freedom or her mother’s life?

"I'll go with you, just don't hurt my mother."

The lad grabbed her wrist and whispered in her ear. "From now on, you're my property." He pulled the brunette outside of the house and inside his car.

"You're mine, Jessica."