Mag-log inBefore Rivera could ask if she was okay, Mercedes lifted her head, bursting with energy again."So I'll explain this place to you. This place, the North Africa castle where you were brought to, is like a guest place. We have different classes of guests, and not even I have an idea why you're here."Rivera tilted her neck, wanting to ask the question burning on her tongue. But recalling Mercedes' sad face, Rivera had the idea that Mercedes' memory must be too painful for her to talk about.She blinked, filled with curiosity, and asked, “Why?”"Because all the girls, including me, were sent to the dormitory." Mercedes explained, her attention grabbed by a beautiful sunflower.Mercedes plucked the sunflower and carefully tucked it into her hair. She twirled with a smile."Do I look beautiful?"Rivera tried to push down the thoughts, but she couldn't. Why was she always different? What did he plan to do to her?"Breathtaking," she whispered."Yes!" Mercedes giggled and pumped her fist in
Rivera stretched her hand and opened her eyes. She turned to her side, but it was empty. Candy must have left earlier.She tried to evaluate the pain down there, the pain down there had faded into a dull ache, no longer as unbearable as before.The pain from the whip had become nonexistent too, and the mark had almost disappeared.Knowing how this place seemed to be against her, Rivera knew she might have to fake it for a while.She might have to appear as miserable as possible. But that wasn't enough.Sooner or later, three weeks or a month at most, these people would want her on the stage regardless of her situation.Rivera could do everything but step onto that stage again…Rivera got off the bed. The dull pain that stretched through her didn't elicit a groan from her. She bit her lower lip and limped into the bathroom.Minutes later, Rivera stepped out of the bathroom with a towel clad around her waist.She tilted her neck slightly. Did she wake up early, or was Mercedes late toda
Candy shook her head and mouthed under her breath, “Crazy.” Just where the hell did they find her? Her energy never seemed to deplete.She leaned forward, grabbed Rivera’s hand, and handed the bag to her. “I went to the city and got you this.”Rivera lowered her head and looked at the Belle-tiful restaurant package, inhaling its exquisite aroma that had already begun spreading around the room like it owned the place.It was an expensive restaurant in the city known for its quality menu and special orders—they even served a lot of local French confectioneries.Whenever she passed by the vicinity, its aroma always took over the whole place, and she had heard many people praise it.All her life, Rivera had always craved a taste of the Belle-tiful confectioneries.But the price wasn't something an ordinary poor waiter with draining bills could ever afford.Rivera bit her lower lip and stared at the package hesitantly.Even though it had been a dream of hers to taste this, Rivera was sensi
“So…” Mercedes placed her chin on her palm and blinked her eyes, her eyes gleaming with interest. “Why didn't you pack your clothes? So you can return to normal life?”A flashback rushed through Rivera's mind, and her face turned pale, her heart skipping a couple of beats.Rivera lowered her head and took a deep breath. She whispered in a shaky voice that she tried too hard to keep at bay, “I guess so.”Mercedes swung her leg and grinned, seemingly unaware of Rivera's current mood. “I thought I was the only one. We are so going to be good friends.”Friends.Rivera looked straight at Mercedes. The girl was in a high-waist pleated skirt and black tank top that revealed her stomach, her hair tied with a black ribbon and that sweet smile that perfected her face.Mercedes always had that sweet smile on her face. It was like nothing could ever faze her.The term friendship spilling from Mercedes' lips felt like two people from different worlds coming together.“Friends.” Rivera whispered.M
“Hey girls.” Candy stepped into the room. Her legs came to a pause when she saw the two sitting next to each other while watching videos on Mercedes' phone.Already?A smile slowly lit up on her face, and she glanced at the two with a teasing glint in her eyes. “Oh, what's this about? Something has changed in the air, and I love it.”Mercedes exchanged a glance with Rivera and shrugged.Candy sat on the couch and crossed her legs, completely interested. “Now you girls need to give me all the juicy details because I'm loving this new look on Rivera.”Rivera glanced at Candy and explained, "It's nothing much. We are just watching videos. The internet is pretty fun.”"Yeah.” Mercedes nodded and swiped the video to another one. "Do you wanna join us?"“Gladly."...Candy and Mercedes stepped out of the room and then shut the door behind them.Candy paused and smiled at Mercedes. “I don't know what you do in there, but it works like magic."Her eyes softened. “She has obviously improved
Rivera wasn't the only girl here or the only girl brought here against her own volition. Certainly, she wasn't the only girl going through pain.Every one of the girls here had a story. And pain.And Mercedes… wasn't she just a newbie like Rivera?Yet Mercedes had taken over the space and filled it with her cheerful spirit, trying not to burden anyone with her pain.Rivera stretched her hand and placed it over Mercedes’ hand. She whispered, “Are you okay?”Mercedes burst into a laugh, but it was obvious that she was trying hard because tears trickled down her eyes. She wiped them and chuckled with red eyes while blinking rapidly.She used her hand to fan her eyes. “What’s wrong with me? I’m not usually like this. I just... I just…”Mercedes burst into tears. "Mom. I miss my mom. I miss her so much." She sniffed and kept wiping her uncontrollable tears. “I’m sorry, Rivera. This isn't about me. It should be about you. I'm so sorry.” She sniffed.Rivera wrapped her arms around Mercedes a
Harvey shut the door behind him after a few minutes.Mercedes and Candy rushed to him and looked at him with worry.“How's she?”“She's still in shock.” Harvey put his hands into his pockets. “She'll be fine.”Harvey remembered the glint in her eyes, and she didn't seem like the type that would giv
Rivera opened her eyes. The room was bright. She glanced to the side and the bed was empty; there was no trace of Candy.She must have left at dawn when Rivera finally fell asleep.She hadn't been able to sleep, and even though she tried to pretend in order not to affect Candy, Candy had stayed by
The soft mattress was the first thing that got her attention. This wasn't her bed. The bed was hard and, most importantly, she didn't even sleep on the bed. The bed was preserved for the Sylvester family, so most times, she switched between the couch and the floor. A sweet fragrance drifted into
"Haha. She seems feisty indeed. Give her to me. I want her. $1,000,000.""Don't reach for what you can't have. I major in breaking a feisty girl's spirit. $1,500,000.""Now, you two, don't be rude. $2,000,000.""Give her to me. $3,000,000.""$5,000,000.""A submissive virgin for $5,000,000? $10,000







