chapter five

The voice on the phone belonged to the woman I had called Mother for twenty years.

Funny enough, she had never truly acted like one.

Her family adopted me when I was four years old. Back then, while my adoptive father was alive, I never once suspected I wasn’t their biological child. He treated me gently. Fairly. Like I belonged.

But the moment he died…

Everything changed.

The truth came out like poison spilling from a wound.

I was adopted.

And the woman I called Mother made sure I never forgot it again.

From that day onward, my life became a living hell.

The only time she ever called me was when she needed money.

Money for bills.

Money for her son.

Money for her daughter.

Money for herself.

I became less of a daughter and more of a walking ATM.

At one point, I even dropped out of college and worked four different jobs just to support them. I barely slept. Barely ate. I ruined my health trying to make sure they lived comfortably.

I paid monthly allowances to the woman who constantly reminded me I was unwanted.

I paid for the house my adoptive brother got married in.

I even contributed to his wedding expenses while surviving on instant noodles and exhaustion.

And still…

It was never enough.

When Edward wanted to marry me, she initially refused.

Not because she cared about me.

Because she wanted money.

Edward paid her five hundred thousand dollars before she finally “allowed” the marriage.

Five hundred thousand.

That was the price placed on my life after years of sacrifice.

I had been sold.

Like property.

Like an object.

Even after marriage, I still couldn’t fully cut ties with them. Every month, I continued sending most of my salary to her.

Maybe because a small stupid part of me still hoped she would someday love me.

Pathetic.

The worst part?

Her daughter—my adoptive sister Claudia—once tried to sell me to her boss in exchange for a higher position in the entertainment industry.

I still remembered that night vividly.

The expensive dress she forced me to wear.

The way she smiled while introducing me to old disgusting men.

The fear crawling under my skin when I realized what she planned to do.

Luckily, I escaped before anything happened.

But from that day onward, I understood something clearly.

That family would destroy me if it benefited them.

And now…

The woman who raised me was calling again.

Demanding money.

Threatening me.

“If you don’t send me money immediately, I’ll go public,” she snapped angrily over the phone. “I’ll go straight to Edward’s company and expose you!”

My grip tightened around the phone.

Edward probably didn’t even know I had left the Miller mansion yet.

Maybe he still thought I was quietly waiting at home like always.

And honestly?

I wanted it to stay that way for now.

So I had no choice.

I needed to stop her before she created chaos.

“Meet me at Lux Pub tonight,” she ordered before hanging up.

The moment the call ended, unease settled heavily inside me.

Lux Pub.

One of the biggest clubs in the city.

The kind of place filled with alcohol, smoke, powerful men, and dangerous intentions.

I knew immediately she was planning something.

And yet…

That evening, after asking my mother for permission, I still went alone.

Places like clubs had always made me uncomfortable.

Even during the years I worked multiple jobs before returning to college, I rejected every offer involving bars or clubs.

Nothing about alcohol or loud music appealed to me.

I hated how easily intoxication destroyed people’s judgment.

How one mistake could ruin an entire life.

By the time I arrived at Lux Pub, regret already sat heavily in my chest.

The flashing lights.

The smell of alcohol.

The heavy music vibrating through the walls.

Everything felt suffocating.

I followed the room number my adoptive mother sent and pushed open the private box door.

The moment I entered, my heart sank.

She wasn’t alone.

A fat middle-aged man sat beside her, his expensive suit barely hiding his swollen stomach. The way his greasy eyes moved over my body made my skin crawl instantly.

My adoptive mother smiled brightly.

“Rose, you’re here.” She pointed toward the man. “This is Mr. Bernard. Claudia’s boss.”

The moment she said Claudia’s name, alarm bells rang loudly in my head.

Danger.

This was danger.

“I just wanted to introduce the two of you,” she continued sweetly.

Liar.

I knew exactly what she was trying to do.

The same thing Claudia failed to do years ago.

Sell me.

Again.

Drinks were quickly placed in front of me.

I refused the alcohol immediately and only accepted a sealed canned drink instead.

At least that couldn’t be drugged.

Or so I thought.

A few minutes later, dizziness suddenly hit me hard.

My vision blurred slightly.

My heartbeat sped up.

Panic instantly rose inside me.

No.

No no no.

I pushed myself to my feet immediately.

“I need to use the restroom,” I said quickly.

My adoptive mother grabbed my wrist tightly.

“Why are you in such a hurry? Sit down.”

Fear shot through me.

“I’ll be right back,” I forced out before pulling away.

I grabbed my bag and hurried out of the room.

The moment I entered the restroom, I splashed cold water on my face repeatedly.

For a few seconds, my mind cleared slightly.

But my body still felt weak.

Heavy.

Wrong.

I needed to leave.

Immediately.

Stumbling slightly, I rushed toward the elevator.

But before I could enter—

“Catch her!”

My adoptive mother’s furious voice echoed behind me.

Strong hands suddenly grabbed my arm roughly.

I panicked instantly.

“No! Let me go!”

They dragged me backward toward the private rooms.

Terror swallowed me whole.

I knew if they succeeded in taking me back there…

No one would save me.

Desperately, my blurry eyes searched around for help.

Anyone.

Please.

That was when I saw him.

A tall man with a terrifying cold aura was walking toward one of the VIP boxes surrounded by bodyguards.

Without thinking, I gathered the last bit of strength left inside me and broke free long enough to stumble toward him.

I collapsed at his feet.

My trembling fingers grabbed the fabric of his trousers tightly.

“Please…” I cried weakly. “Help me…”

Everything around me started spinning violently.

Then—

The man stopped walking.

And when I heard his deep cold voice above me…

I froze.