Chapter 1. I Want Your Body

A beautiful woman named Cordelia slowly opened her eyes, but all she saw was darkness—her vision obscured by a blindfold. Her head throbbed painfully, as if she’d been hit with something hard. She tried to move, only to realize her hands and feet were tightly bound. Panic began to crawl under her skin as full awareness returned. She was in a moving car, blindfolded.

“What’s going on? Why am I tied up like this?” Cordelia muttered, her anxiety evident in her trembling voice.

With ragged breaths, Cordelia struggled to calm herself. She listened carefully, hoping to glean some clue about where she was. From the sound of the engine and the vibrations beneath her, she guessed the car was speeding along a rough road.

“What do you want from me!?” Cordelia cried out, her voice shaky.

No answer. Only the persistent rumble of the engine cut through the oppressive silence.

“Please ... whoever you are, let me go!” Her voice grew hoarser, desperation and fear mingling.

Suddenly, a deep voice from the front barked harshly, “Shut up! The more you talk, the worse it’ll be for you.”

Cordelia tried to recognize the voice, but her head was still ringing. “Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?”

The voice responded with a cold, menacing chuckle. “You don’t need to know. All you need to do right now is stay quiet and wait.”

Cordelia’s fear intensified. She was sure she was in danger, and yet she’d never had any enemies. That only made her more confused—why would anyone kidnap her?

She frantically searched for a way out, but there was nothing she could do in the tightly sealed, speeding car. Each jolt from the rough road made her feel as if her entire body was being torn apart.

Finally, after some time, the car came to a stop. Cordelia heard the door beside her open. Someone yanked her out roughly. Her weakened body could hardly stand, forcing her to stumble as she was dragged across uneven ground.

“Let me go. W-who are you, really?” Cordelia pleaded, her voice faint.

“Quiet! You talk too much! If you want to stay alive, stop struggling!” the man growled near her ear.

Cordelia fell silent under the threat. Held firmly by two men, she was dragged along until she felt a new surface beneath her feet—smooth, maybe marble or polished wood. Their footsteps echoed in what must have been a large room. Then she was lifted and tossed roughly onto something soft, likely a bed.

She tried to wriggle free, but her wrists and ankles were tied too tightly. “Please, untie me! What did I ever do to you?” she cried hopelessly.

“Tch! What a noisy woman. I told you to shut up, didn’t I?” snapped the burly man.

Cordelia began to sob quietly. Terror gnawed at her core. She couldn’t make sense of what was happening or who possibly wanted her like this. Her limbs went numb, her thoughts spinning out of control. In this unknown dark place, Cordelia could only pray someone would rescue her.

As she drowned in fear, she heard two men speaking nearby. One of them seemed to be calling someone—she had no idea who.

“The target has arrived and is ready for execution,” one said coldly.

The other added, “We’ve left her in the room, just as you instructed.”

After that, the men left Cordelia alone on the large bed, bound and helpless. Once they were gone, she struggled several times to break free, but it was useless. The ropes were much too tight.

***

For an hour, Cordelia fought against her restraints. Exhaustion consumed her as she searched in vain for an escape route. Blindfolded and tied, she felt utterly powerless. Her mind raced, trying to understand why she’d been kidnapped.

Eventually, her tears dried up from sheer fatigue. She surrendered to her situation, not knowing what might come next. Countless wild thoughts filled her brain, each one giving her another headache.

A door creaked open...

Cordelia stiffened at the sound of the door. “Please, whoever’s there—let me go!” she pleaded, voice trembling with hope.

A strikingly handsome man stood at the doorway to the luxurious hotel suite he’d reserved. Tall, well over six feet, he strode in, clearly pleased by the scene before him. On the bed lay a woman, her body bound, her pale skin contrasting the cream-colored floral dress she wore.

“Please help me. I beg you, untie me,” Cordelia implored, sensing someone approach.

The handsome stranger didn’t reply. He simply smirked, a thin smile tugging at his lips. “Perfect. You’re stunning.”

Cordelia’s body trembled at his compliment. “W-who are you? P-please, let me go.”

He knelt, gripping her chin roughly and whispering in a husky voice, “I’m the man who bought you. You’re my precious merchandise now.”

Cordelia froze, stunned. Her heart thudded so fiercely it felt like it might stop. The scent of his cologne, overwhelming as he gripped her, made her skin crawl. One thing was certain: this man was someone important.

“S-sold? W-what do you mean?” Cordelia stammered.

He traced her delicate features with intent, “I think I’ve made myself clear, and I won’t say it again.”

Cordelia swallowed hard. “I-I don’t know you. P-please, just let me go.”

“How could I possibly let you go, huh? Tonight, I want you more than anything,” he murmured, his voice low and rough.

Cordelia’s skittishness intensified. The stranger’s touch stoked fear deep inside her. She was old-fashioned, never having allowed any man this close—let alone experience a touch like this.

But Cordelia wouldn’t give up easily. “I—I’ll pay you, if you let me go. P-please, I beg you.”

He laughed, clearly amused by her offer. “You’re such a naïve woman. I paid a fortune for you. I don’t need your money.”

Cordelia’s breath came in ragged gasps. Her heart was pounding even harder.

“T-then, what do you want?”

A shadow flickered in the stranger’s gaze, desire simmering behind his eyes. He leaned in close and whispered, “You want to know what I want?”

Cordelia nodded weakly. “P-please, tell me, what do you want?”

Smiling, he lowered his lips to her ear and whispered raggedly, “Your body... I want your body.”