Prologue

PROLOGUE

Adrianne arrived home to find her parents arguing once again.

She rolled her eyes. This wasn't anything new. They were always fighting, and there was nothing she could do about it.

She had long convinced herself that they were adults who should know what they were doing.

They fought constantly, though she had never known the reason.

She didn't care.

She casually flicked her fingers through her hair, undoing her ponytail. She had just come from a party.

It was her friend Nicky's birthday celebration, and a smile tugged at her lips as she remembered what had happened earlier by the pool.

Adrianne sat quietly, sipping her mojito while watching the crowd around her.

The place was packed with people their age, all acting as though they had been set free from their cages.

She shook her head when she spotted Nicky standing in a dim corner of the pool area.

She was with her boyfriend, Tristan.

Adrianne watched as Tristan slowly slid his hands up Nicky's thighs. Nicky was wearing a blood-red two-piece swimsuit, and Adrianne had to admit her friend looked absolutely stunning.

Feeling a strange warmth spread through her body, she quickly looked away.

Everyone around them was busy enjoying themselves.

Some were drinking, others were making out, while a few had disappeared beneath the water for some private moments.

She remained seated, quietly observing, when someone suddenly sat beside her.

Turning her head, she saw Justin.

"Hey," he greeted, leaning close enough for his breath to brush against her ear before gently nibbling on it.

She bit her lower lip as his hand rested on her knee, slowly gliding upward along her thigh before stopping between her legs.

Justin smirked at the expression on her face.

His fingers slipped beneath the hem of her short skirt, teasing her through her underwear.

He cupped her face and kissed her—hard and demanding.

His tongue slipped into her mouth.

She let out a soft moan and returned his kiss—

Her memories were abruptly interrupted by her mother's voice.

"She's already eighteen. He's been waiting long enough. We don't have a choice anymore. We made an agreement, and we have to honor it."

Her mother sat heavily on the sofa, rubbing her temples.

Her father leaned back, closed his eyes, and let out a weary sigh.

Neither of them noticed Adrianne standing nearby, hidden at the side of the staircase.

What are they talking about?

Curiosity got the better of her, so she leaned against the railing and listened.

"Have you lost your mind?" her father shouted. "She's our daughter! And you're actually willing to hand her over as payment for our debt?"

Debt?

Her heart skipped a beat.

They have debts?

Weren't they one of the wealthiest and most respected families in the city? They had everything money could buy.

Then why...

"I don't want this either," her mother answered, standing up. "But we made a deal. That's why he lent us the money in the first place. Everything we have now came from him."

She lowered her head.

"We have to repay what we owe."

"No!" her father roared. "I will never give Adrianne to him!"

What the hell...?

She...

She was going to be used as payment for her parents' debt.

Her head slowly shook in disbelief.

"No... No... No!" she screamed as tears streamed down her face.

Her legs gave out beneath her.

Everything she had ever believed in...

Everything she had ever owned...

It was all built on borrowed money.

"Addie..." her father whispered as he hurried toward her.

Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor.

The tears wouldn't stop.

"Oh, Addie... Please, let me explain."

He gently cupped her face, trying to make her look at him.

She violently pulled his hand away.

Without another word, she jumped to her feet and ran upstairs.

She heard her father shouting her name, begging her to stop, but she never looked back.

She slammed her bedroom door shut and slid down against it, sobbing uncontrollably.

Why?

What will happen to me now?

She wiped away her tears.

No.

She refused to become payment for someone else's debt.

Determination filled her eyes as she stood and walked to her closet.

She pulled out a suitcase and hurriedly stuffed her clothes inside.

She was leaving.

She would never allow herself to be handed over to settle her parents' debt.