Chapter One

MIA 

My feet were aching but I swallowed my complaints as I followed my mother. She was unusually quiet today and it bothered me. 

"Are you sure it's with him?" I asked my mom but she remained mute. 

We were currently heading to my stepfather's office to get my letter of admission to the state university that was sent as a mail, my mother informed me that my stepfather was keeping it in his office. 

I felt excited when I heard that I passed the entrance examination. My mom has been acting weird since this morning before I left for work. 

"When you go in, make sure you listen to what your father has to say and I want you to understand this is for the best," Mom said as we stood in front of the door I blinked rapidly in confusion, I don't have a good relationship with her husband and he hates me just as much as I hate him. 

But we tolerate each other because of my mom. He also has a son but we have never met. From what I heard he has a strained relationship with him too. 

"What's for the best? If it's about the fees I will sort it out. I have been working and saving so I don't need his help" I replied before opening the door. 

My eyes met with a strange man's when I entered the office, my stepfather sat on the other side of the desk while two other men sat close to the door and another opposite him staring at me intensely.  

I bowed my head slightly in a silent greeting before turning to my stepdad, "I'm here for the letter that was sent in the mail today" I stated and he exchanged looks with the other man who was staring at me in an irritating manner, I wasn't wearing anything revealing but my gown clung to my body like a second skin showcasing my curves. 

I just came back home from my shift at the bar so I haven't changed into something comfy. 

"Good enough?" He asked the man gesturing at me and I raised an eyebrow in confusion. 

"She is quite the eye candy" The man smirked, licking his lips and that was it for me. 

"Can I get the admission letter now, I have important things to do Edward" I glared and he scowled at me. 

"Don't speak to me like that or I will burn the useless letter" He threatened and I scoffed. 

"You wouldn't dare" I countered and he chuckled, opening his drawer. He threw a red envelope on the desk. I was about to reach for it when he took it and put it back in his drawer. 

"You need to learn to respect me and be grateful I let you stay in my house all these years, I could have thrown you out but I didn't," He said and I fought the urge to roll my eyes, I never wanted mom to marry him not after the rumors of how he was responsible for his ex-wife's death were circulating. 

According to the police, she overdosed and he claimed she was an addict. I have caught him smoking twice and the man claims he is clean and his dead wife was the only one with a drug problem. 

For some reason I never believe his bullshit stories, he has this way of manipulating things to his favor and the fact that his son doesn't visit him at all shows that he is a shitty father, I haven't for once heard him talk about his son. 

Edward Zachary claims to be a philanthropist but he is the most greedy asshole I have ever seen and I have been paying rent since I turned eighteen in this house. It was no surprise that my mom took his side when he started asking for rent saying I was big enough to get my own apartment. 

"What do you want? A hug? Or should I drop down on my knees and praise you?" I asked sarcastically and the man sitting opposite him burst into laughter. 

"She has got some teeth" He laughed and I glared at the idiot who looked like he would be in his late forties with his bald head and grey beard. 

"I won't be giving you this letter anytime soon Mia, if you want it you will have to do as I say or else I will burn it. I'm sure the university will understand if you tell them your admission letter got lost in the mail" He smirked knowing fully well they won't accept me without the letter. 

"What do you want? Money?" I asked folding my arms on my chest and the mute man sitting close to the door suddenly stood up advancing towards me. 

"What are you doing? Get away from me!" I screamed backing away. 

"You will follow Mr Seigei and you will cooperate, you can come back for the letter after they are done with you" Edward stated and I froze as it dawned on me what he was insinuating.

"No! No! Stop! Mom!" I rushed towards the door but my head was yanked back and pain crossed through my veins at the tug on my hair. 

A strong muscled arm encircled my waist and I fought hard kicking and scratching at the man's hand but he didn't let go. 

"Stop! What are you doing Edward?!" I yelled struggling as the other man opened a briefcase, my eyes widened when I saw a syringe. 

"Stop! Wait! Please" I cried out as he pressed my back against him holding me hostage while his partner prepared the syringe, my heart pounded loudly as I realized it was over. I couldn't move. 

"Don't worry you will be in good hands my dear, your father made the right choice giving you to us we take good care of our girls" The old man said. 

"What do you mean? Edward, please stop, my mom will call the police" My voice broke as I tried to move but the man’s tightened his grip. 

"You are foolish for a nineteen-year-old girl, who did you think suggested that we sell you to Mr. Seigei? We owe a lot of money if we don't pay we might lose this house, your mother was the one who suggested we use you as a means of payment, no one is coming to save you, Mia, if I were you I would stop struggling the poison might kill you if you keep fighting they only want to paralyze you for now, they will give you the antidote later" Edward said with no remorse and my heart stopped beating the moment I heard that my mom was in on this. 

No, it's impossible she wouldn't... I'm her only child! 

She wouldn't do such a thing to me. 

"You are a worthless excuse of a man! You won't get away with this my mother-"

"Are you stupid or dense? Who led you here? Have I ever called for you in my office? Did you even know I had one in this house before? Oh now you want to stop talking" He scoffed as I looked away, a million thoughts running through my head. 

Why? 

Why would she even agree to this? 

She suggested I should be sold?

I shook my head, my mother wouldn't have suggested that he was lying. 

But she led me here just like he said so it might be true. 

"Please, I can find a way to get the money just not like this, Please Edward" I begged desperately. 

"It's too late, and how can you find sixteen million in a week? Mr Seigei is paying more than that for you, be grateful I'm giving you to him, he is a good man" Edward remarked and Mr Seigei nodded, grinning at me. 

"She is worth every penny, with a body like that she would earn tons of money for me," He remarked. 

A sharp needle was pierced into my neck and my breath ceased as the man injected me, my vision blurred and sweat coated my skin as a loud ringing in my ears echoed blocking everything else out. 

I couldn't breathe but I was still alive, the man holding me let go of me and I collapsed on the ground. 

"Take her to the car, and call Madeline" Mr Seigei ordered and the man who injected me dragged my stiff body up carrying me on his shoulder. 

As he turned to open the door I could see my stepfather shaking hands with Mr Seigei. Everything was starting to get dark as spots danced on my vision but I was struggling to keep my eyes open. 

Outside the door I saw my mother and opened my mouth but no words came out, my ponytail went loose and my hair cascaded over my face blocking my vision. 

"M...mhmm"  

I tried calling out for her, reaching for her but I couldn't move, I couldn't speak. 

She wasn't coming, she wasn't asking them where they were taking me. 

My heart shattered as he opened the front door. 

Mom wasn't coming. 

I'm all alone in this, she chose her husband over me. 

She gave me to him so he could sell me, my mother... 

Tears blurred my vision and I felt a sharp pain in my chest that instantly escalated through my body. It felt as if my heart was burning and all my insides were on fire. 

The poison was working faster as I cried and I didn't care. Maybe it would be better if I just died. 

Perhaps this is all a lucid dream and by the time I wake up tomorrow I will be on my bed, the sharp pain in my head jolted me back to reality. 

As soon as my back hit a soft surface, darkness enveloped me.