Chapter 2

Richard's POV:

In the dark realm auction house, I sat with my father when my gaze fell on the beautiful young woman set up on the stage. However, I recognized those blue eyes—the same as the pretty young woman Isabella had brought to my 24th birthday party at my clubhouse. How was this possible?

I had only arrived at the auction because my father wanted me to join in watching and bidding that night. But once I saw those pretty blue eyes, I couldn't look away.

I could perceive her innocence and felt the urge to protect her.

"Richard, do you desire to buy any of the women tonight? You can use her as your 24th birthday present," my father, Mr. Wesley Henshaw, said.

"Dad..." I grumbled, looking at the six women set up on the stage to be sold. None of them caught my eye except for Angela. I was waiting for her to be sold.

I knew she was mine the moment I set my eyes on her. She was so beautiful, with long blonde hair and a pretty oval face.

"Richard," my father called, snapping me out of my trance.

"Dad, I will choose when I see one of the women that catches my attention," I mumbled. I was dressed in a black suit and seated beside my father in the auction room.

After I left my birthday party at the club, I had arrived here to witness the auction.

It wasn't like I was unaware of the things my father did for money and pleasure, but none of them captivated me.

I wanted something different to define my style, uniqueness, and taste.

Once the auctioneer mentioned Angela, my heartbeat increased as I saw many bidders wanting to purchase her.

She wore the same blue dress she had worn to my 24th birthday party, and it made me wonder—how did Angela get here? Did Isabella put her younger sister up for sale? Was Angela kidnapped? There was no way she would come here willingly to be sold.

There were many mafia lords, both young and old, all desiring to possess Angela. Her skin glowed more than the rest of the women on the stage. Her innocence was compelling, and so many of those men wanted to taste her.

I kept my cool as her bidding started from a million dollars. She was worth more than gold.

"One million dollars!" The bidding rose until 20 million dollars. I looked at Angela and raised my bid to 50 million dollars.

The hall fell into silence. My father, Mr. Wesley Henshaw, was the most powerful mafia lord in Top Hills City.

"50 million dollars going? 50 million dollars, anyone else?" the auctioneer asked, looking around the dark room as only the stage was lit.

"Sold!" the auctioneer announced, and my father looked at me proudly.

"Congratulations, Richard. You won the deal. Welcome to the dark realm. You will have to brand her as your property so that other men will keep off from touching her," my father said as he sat next to me and puffed a cloud of cigarette.

"Alright, Dad," I replied.

After leaving the auction room to complete Angela's payment, I was certain that she didn't know who had purchased her. She had passed out from the shock, as her hands and legs were tied, and her lips were taped.

"Take her to my car. She is going home with me," I said, instructing my assistant.

"Richard, are you sure about this? She would have been taken to the harem for the women to train her. She is inexperienced," my father said as he stood next to me in the car park.

"Dad, I will personally train her. You don't have to worry about that," I said, my voice cold as I didn't bother to look back at my father's face.

"Richard, remember the rule. You are not to fall in love with this woman or to develop any feelings for her. She is your property—an item to be used and discarded at any time that you want. And once you are done with her, you should discard her if you don't want her again," my father reminded me of the cold truth. He and my mother were divorced because she couldn't withstand his lifestyle or obey his rules. Dad used women and saw them as objects to purchase, own, break, and discard at any moment.

I nodded. "Don't worry yourself, Father. I will have her branded and follow the rules."

"Good. Enjoy your birthday night, and see you tomorrow at the meeting." My father walked away to his black car, flanked by masculine bodyguards.

I got into mine as the pretty blonde woman was still asleep. She hadn't woken up yet from the horror she had been thrown into, and I knew she would be shocked once she awoke and saw me as her new master. I anticipated her reaction.

"Boss, where are you going?" my assistant, Derek Tyler, asked as he stood next to my car and acted as my driver.

"I am going home. You start the car; let me stay in the rear with her—in case she awakes at the security checkpoint," I said, tossing my car keys into Derek's hands. He was 25, a year older than me.

"Alright, boss," Derek answered. He got into the car, and I took a seat at the back next to the pretty blonde woman, who was fast asleep.

I allowed her feminine scent of citrus to envelop me.

As I sat next to her, she moaned and shifted, making my muscles tense.

I gently raised her head and placed her sleeping head on my lap as she was still in shock from the ordeal.

Her wavy blonde hair felt so soft and warm in my hands as I ran my fingers through it.

"Get going," I ordered Derek as I saw him glancing at the back of the car through the rearview mirror.

Derek averted his gaze and asked, "Forgive me, boss, but isn't she Isabella's sister? How did she get sold tonight?"

"I don't know, but she is mine now, and keep your eyes away from her," I warned coldly, and Derek nodded.

"Understood, boss." Once Derek started my car, he drove off to my new house.

Coming of age and becoming my own boss at 24 felt good. As the only son of my father, he had given me money, power, and influence throughout all of Top Hills. I was respected like a prince, and I knew Isabella's parents were part of the mafia but of lower ranks.

Two years ago, I met Isabella at an event, and we got along because she was beautiful. We dated, but surprisingly, I hadn't had sex with her even though we had kissed. I limited my activities and made the women beg and yearn for my touch.

However, during my 24th birthday party, Isabella had brought her younger sister. I knew she had a sister because Isabella talked a lot, even when I didn't ask her anything. It's why I didn't want to keep her. I didn't want to marry her.

But, when my gaze fell on Angela, I could see her innocence as she looked out of place, like she didn't belong at my party. I wanted her; I wanted to taste her body, and I couldn't get my eyes off her.

She whimpered in my lap as I continued to run my fingers through her long hair.

Just then, her blue eyes swung open and locked with my intense black orbs. She hastily raised her head away from my lap, shivering.

"You... Richard... What are you doing in this car with me? How come? Was it a dream?" she asked me, trembling like a leaf.