Chapter 5: His Property

ANGELA

I sat tensely in the chair, watching as Agnes brought her tattoo equipment to brand my chest with Richard Henshaw's name.

I hadn't thought this day would come. How did I end up like this?

In just one day, one night, I was sold off to my elder sister's boyfriend.

Tears welled up in my blue eyes, but Agnes didn't say a word to me.

She was focused on her job, careful to avoid any mistake, as if she would be killed for doing it wrongly.

"You don't have to cry. Master Richard has never let anyone wear his brand before," Agnes said, keeping her gaze fixed on my chest.

I winced as the cold needle pierced my skin, drawing Richard Henshaw's name onto it.

Once Agnes was done, she smiled and stepped back.

"Take a look," she said, as bright white light filled the room.

Gazing at my reflection in the mirror, I felt stunned to see Richard's name written in bold italic font on my chest.

"Do you love it? Do you wish to add anything?" Agnes asked, grinning ear to ear.

"No, I'm fine," I replied coldly, though my voice was filled with pain.

"You don't have to pretend. Master Richard wants you—no woman in this city has worn her master's name so boldly like you. You should consider yourself lucky," Agnes said, cleaning her tools and packing her bag to leave.

I didn't reply. I had no words for her, and I didn't feel like thanking her either.

I'd never had a tattoo on my body before, and now I had to wear a brand—on my chest, at the top of my middle chest, just above my cleavage.

A knock sounded at the door, and it unlocked as Richard walked in with a cold expression on his face.

He wore a white top and black trousers, having taken off his black coat.

"I'm done, Master Richard," Agnes said with a smile, and Richard glanced at me with his cold expression to confirm she'd branded me properly.

Stepping closer, Richard said, "You did a great job, Agnes. Good to see you've branded her well. Meet with Derek. He'll settle you and escort you back safely."

"Thank you, Master Richard." Agnes bowed and left the room.

I lowered my face, not having expected to be in this deep a mess.

"What are you thinking about, Princess?" Richard asked, strolling away from the door to meet me.

"Thinking about your parents?" he asked, but I didn't bother to look at him.

"Speak, when I talk to you," he ordered, standing in front of me.

He wa the mafia boss's son—how dare I disobey him, knowing he felt nothing for me.

"Why did you purchase me? What do you want from me? Please, let me go. I promise to pay you back once I graduate and start working," I begged Richard, looking at his handsome, dark face.

“Hahaha,” he laughed coldly and studied me.

"What kind of job do you plan to work to pay me back? Do you plan to sell this beautiful body of yours to any man to raise the money?" Richard asked, trailing a finger along my right arm.

The coldness of his touch made my skin crawl.

"No. Not now, but maybe in the coming years I'll be able to pay you back. Or let me speak with my father—please, let me call him," I begged Richard, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Fine. Go ahead and call your father. Let's see what he can do for you," Richard said, pulling out his phone and handing it to me.

My fingers trembled as I took his iPhone from him.

"I should go ahead and call my father?" I asked, in disbelief.

Richard smiled, leaning against the dressing table, and replied, "Yes. Let's see how he plan to pay me back—since you don't seem to understand that your duty is to serve me now."

Richard wore a bored look, and I immediately clicked into the call log to reach my father.

My hands trembled as I heard the phone ring.

"Hello, Father," I said, as soon as he answered.

"Angela, what's wrong? What happened to you? Your mother has been trying to reach you with no luck. Where are you, and who told you to leave home?" my father demanded, his voice loud and filled with anger.

"Dad, Isabella took me to Richard's party, and she sold me off tonight—"

"What?" My father gasped. "How dare Isabella do this. Are you sure? Where are you? Whose phone are you calling from? Who bought you tonight?" He demanded, and Richard stepped forward and took the phone from my ear.

"Please, let me speak with my father," I begged Richard, and he smiled.

"Hello, Mr. Moraga," Richard said, his icy voice addressing my father.

"Yes. Who is this?" my father asked, and Richard replied, "Richard Henshaw. Your daughter belongs to me now."

"What? No, Richard. You cannot do this. Angela is not for sale. She's innocent. She didn't willingly offer herself to be sold at the Dark Realm. Please, let go of my second daughter. I'll pay you off. Don't touch her," my father pleaded.

Meanwhile, I was shocked that my father knew about the auction.

"You know the rules, Mr. Moraga. I've already bought your second daughter, and I don't do refunds. If I hadn't purchased her tonight, another mafia lord would have, and you wouldn't be asking for a negotiation right now. You should blame your eldest daughter, Isabella," Richard said, and I sat in the chair, staring at him in disbelief.

Did Richard know that Isabella was taking me to the Dark Realm to be sold?

Had he planned with my sister to have me kidnapped and taken there to be sold to him?

"Dad, don't listen to Richard! He planned it with Isabella! Richard was staring at me at his birthday party, and Isabella took me there against my will. Call the police, Dad. I can't be locked up here!" I screamed, hoping my father could hear me, even with Richard holding his phone.

Richard laughed and said, "Hahaha! Mr. Moraga, I'd appreciate it if you called the police. But you know the rules—even the Dark Realm has the government at bay. I'll only return your second daughter to you once I'm tired of having her around, once I'm done with her."

"No, Master Richard. Please… Angela is innocent. She's not like Isabella. Let's make an exchange. Isabella loves you—I know that much. Isn't she your girlfriend?" my father asked Richard nervously.

I wondered why my father was so afraid of Richard. Was it because Richard's father was the number one mafia boss in this city?

"I have nothing to explain to you. What I choose to do with your second daughter is my business. As for Isabella," Richard hesitated on the call, looking at my face.

"I never wanted her. I only used her to keep other young women from clinging to me, and to stop my father from arranging a marriage for me. So I'll stay in that relationship with your second daughter, until I find a wife."

"What?" I stared at Richard in disbelief.