$989,000

Rivera gasped at the sudden crash and her face whipped to the side. A man had just been kicked into the room, bloodied and in his forties.

He sat up while coughing heavily. His lips were cut and his face red and swollen as if he had been thoroughly punched and beaten.

His yellow shirt and jean trousers were ripped and stained with blood.

"Dad," Rivera screamed and hurried toward Mr. Sylvester; she trembled, eyes laced with fear. "Dad... how?"

Megan and Mrs. Sylvester shot up and hurried toward Mr. Sylvester, gathering around him. "Honey! Dad!"

They inhaled a sharp breath as they took in Mr. Sylvester's bloody and beaten face.

BANG!

A heavy kick at the door left the door crashing on the floor.

The family flinched at the sudden noise.

Rivera pressed her lips together. She suddenly felt a sense of danger.

A danger that's more serious than the one she had just faced with James and it sent fear through her.

Mr. Sylvester's eyes widened in horror and he began to crawl back as if he had just seen the devil.

Rivera's heart skipped. It seems this danger is extraordinary.

A shadow attracted everyone's attention.

Rivera raised her head and her breath hitched.

The man at the door was a tall, and peerlessly handsome man with deep black eyes that were filled with nothing but rage.

He had impeccable features and he was currently dressed in black suit. There was a harsh, authoritative and aggressive aura exuding from him.

He was so sinfully handsome that she never wanted to take her eyes from his face but the aggressive aura oozing out of him made her subconsciously bow her head to him.

Behind the man were two burly men in suits. Each of them had a pistol in hand and they had a menacing look on their face.

Mrs. Sylvester huddled Megan closer to her chest.

Rivera, who couldn't help but notice her mom's actions, felt her heart drop.

“Arthur Sylvester,” A dark chuckle spilled past one of the man's guards. "How dare you owe the casino debts of $959,000 and try to escape; do you think you're smart? You bastard dared to take a loan without meaning to pay."

Arthur had also run to another casino to continue such acts without paying his previous debts.

Arthur shivered in fear. He didn't dare to look at any of them. He rubbed his hands together, "I'll pay it back, I promise. Once I win millions through gambling, I'll pay the casino. Please."

959,000? Rivera felt her heart plunge deep upon hearing the amount her father owed.

It had been hard trying to feed the whole family; her father would even steal all her money to gamble.

Now he actually owes the casino such huge amount of money?

Does he even care about any of them? Did he even care about their state? Tears pooled in Rivera's eyes.

Upon hearing Arthur's hopeless reply, Rivera shook her head bitterly. If Arthur was going to win through betting then he wouldn't have owed such a big debt without winning a thing!

The other guard scowled in contempt. He strode toward Arthur and lifted him up by the collar before throwing him away heavily.

"Ahhh!" Arthur screamed out in pain upon crashing onto the wall, causing the wall to cave through.

He growled, "Do you expect us to wait for you to realize your pipe dream..."

"Excuse me." Rivera raised her head meekly and cut in, attracting everyone's attention.

"I don't think you have to resort into torture because you wanted your money, Mr."

Rivera didn't know where she got the courage to speak to the man but watching her bruised father being treated in such way made her spark with anger.

The sinfully handsome man stared directly at Rivera with black eyes that held no ripples or emotions.

Rivera flinched with fear. She had a feeling that this man was the devil! The devil himself. Cold to the bone! With no emotions or pity!

His enchanting and kissable lips suddenly raised slightly to form a sneer. "No. What can you do?"

Rivera's face paled and her heart plunged. She could see he had no regard for anybody and what he cared about was his money.

"Fox," the man's low, deep voice was so freezing that it sent shivers down their spine.

"24 hours to pay the whole debt or a daughter of yours will be taken away as payment." Fox, the first guard expressed as if he knew exactly what the master planned to say.

Rivera's eyes widened and her face paled upon hearing the cruel rule. How can they do such wicked acts... "That's impossible! The debt is..."

The other guard suddenly cocked his gun toward Rivera. "Do you believe I will blow your head off if you say one more word?" He growled angrily.

He sounded so serious that Rivera had no choice than to fear him. She suddenly felt a deep fear. How did her father end up stirring the anger of such people?

Rivera felt helplessness wash over her. How could they get such huge amount within 24 hours? The whole family isn't even worth $4,000...

"Mr. Fox. I. I can't find that huge amount within a day." Arthur's shaky voice suddenly sounded as he slowly sat up while stealing gazes at the two burly guards in fear.

"What do you say? To take your daughter?" Fox shot back while the sinfully handsome man stared back watching everything unfold nonchalantly.

"Yes." Arthur nodded firmly.

Rivera gasped and chills spread through her. She must have heard wrong, right? Her father didn't just choose money over daughter, did he?

"Which?" Fox scowled. His expression was calm.

Certainly, it wasn't his first time coming across parents who will choose money over their children. Crazy set of people!

Arthur and Mrs. Sylvester exchanged looks before their eyes fell on Rivera.

Rivera's eyes widened and her heart skipped in fear.

"Take her as my repayment!" Arthur declared determinedly.

"Dad!!!"