Chapter 1 Forced to Become a Servant

 

“Let me go!” a woman screamed as she struggled desperately in the grip of two burly men, who forced her into a car.

The black car sped through the streets of New York before stopping in front of a gloomy-looking house far from the city center. The woman was forced out of the vehicle. She stopped for a moment, but the two men grabbed her again and forcibly dragged her inside.

“Let go of me!” Elsa snapped.

The two men released her, and Elsa found herself facing a man who roughly placed several documents on the table.

“This place has been sold,” the man said coldly.

Elsa froze as she reached for the documents that had just been thrown in front of her. As her eyes scanned the numbers written on the papers, her lips trembled, her throat tightened, and shock spread across her face.

“What the hell is this?!” she exclaimed.

“Sign those papers, and we’ll take you to your new place of residence,” the man ordered impatiently.

Elsa could barely contain her shock. Just moments ago, she had been kidnapped from her workplace and brought to a place she had not visited in two years. Now, she was being confronted with the bitter truth that her family was drowning in an enormous amount of debt.

“I’ll pay all of it, but give me some time,” Elsa said, trying to negotiate, but the man in front of her firmly shook his head.

“You’d better accept the offer written in those documents. Work under the Dawson family’s authority. In addition to getting a new place to live and a new job, all your debts will be paid off if you serve them.”

Elsa angrily threw the documents back onto the table.

“Take care of an exiled prince? Do I really have to do all that?!” she snapped, her emotions boiling over.

“Yes, you have to do it. The boss isn’t giving you much time to repay the debt. Even selling this house won’t be enough to pay it off.”

Elsa clenched her fists. “This is happening too suddenly. You kidnapped me and then offered me a contract to become a servant to an exiled prince? Are you kidding me?”

“That is what you have to do, Miss. Your parents are both gone. Whether you like it or not, you’re the one who has to take responsibility now.”

Elsa pressed her lips tightly together. She had heard rumors about the exiled prince. If possible, she wanted to stay as far away from that man as she could. Now, she had to find another way.

“What can I do to pay off all that debt without becoming a servant to the exiled prince of the Dawson family?”

“There is no other choice. Otherwise...” The man gave a signal, ordering his men to bring someone inside. “We’ll employ this little girl in your place,” he threatened.

Elsa’s eyes widened in shock. She immediately rushed toward her nine-year-old niece, her older sister’s daughter.

“Brisa, wake up. Why are you here?” But the girl did not respond. “What did you do to her?!” Elsa screamed.

“She’s only sleeping. The choice is yours now, Miss. Do you want to hand over the little girl, or will you come with us willingly?”

“You people have no heart. This is coercion!” she protested.

But the man in front of her merely stared at her sharply, completely indifferent.

“Give us your answer now. I don’t have time to wait around. Once you sign the contract, someone will come to pick you up tonight,” the man said.

Elsa pressed her lips together. She could not bear to imagine what would happen to the little girl if she had to take Elsa’s place. Her heart felt shattered by the enormous debt left behind by her parents, something she had only discovered today.

“Sign it!” the man barked impatiently.

With trembling hands, Elsa signed the contract after reading its contents. Her heart felt heavy knowing that she would become a servant to the exiled prince of the Dawson family.

“You have to promise me that you won’t hurt her, and that you’ll return this child to her home,” Elsa pleaded as she looked at her niece.

The man nodded.

“But remember, this contract is strictly confidential. If you reveal it to anyone, I cannot guarantee your safety,” the man added. “Be ready. Someone will come to pick you up at eight tonight.”

With that, he left.

Elsa could no longer find the words to speak. She could not run or hide from the Dawson family. They would surely come looking for her, and she would face severe consequences if she resisted. In the end, Elsa could only surrender because she did not have two million dollars to pay the debt.

At exactly eight that evening, someone came to pick Elsa up. The car took her to a helicopter landing pad. Elsa had no idea where she was being taken, but that night, she flew in a helicopter for two and a half hours before landing somewhere completely unfamiliar.

A middle-aged woman greeted Elsa and escorted her to a room that looked surprisingly comfortable, far different from what she had imagined. However, the place had absolutely no internet signal, rendering the phone Elsa had brought with her completely useless.

“You’ll be staying here now. Tomorrow, I’ll explain your duties,” the woman said before turning away.

But Elsa quickly stopped her with a question.

“If you don’t mind me asking, where are we right now?”

The middle-aged woman turned back to Elsa and gave her a faint smile.

“A place that will make it difficult for you to leave,” she replied before walking away.

Elsa looked around the room before opening the window, but all she could see was the thick darkness outside. She had no idea that hidden within that darkness was a great secret, one that would draw her into even deeper trouble.