Every Woman Had a Price의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 10

I stopped keeping tabs on Susie after that.Unfortunately, she wasn't quite done with me."Cruz, do you know any jobs that pay really well? Something where I can make money fast?"I didn't even look up from my phone as I drawled, "What? Is the money I gave you not enough to cover your tuition fees?"Susie shook her head, biting her lower lip. "Please, Cruz. Just help me one more time. I promise I'll make it up to you someday."I finally put down my phone and looked at her. "How far are you willing to go?"Her expression changed immediately as she understood what I meant."I'm not doing anything like that," she said firmly.I let out a cold laugh and tossed three photographs onto the desk. "Private parties, yacht entertainment, or working as a personal hostess. Take your pick."Susie barely hesitated before choosing the yacht job.I made a few calls and found her a client that very afternoon. I talked her up as if she were the greatest thing ever to walk into Averon. Meanwhile

When I woke up in the hospital, I had no idea how long I'd been unconscious.Still, I was certain of one thing: Vincent kept his word. If he'd promised to let Susie go, she'd be safe—or so I thought.I'd barely reached for the pitcher of water beside my bed when someone hurried over."Here, let me help you."I froze when I recognized the voice.It was Susie.She'd apparently fallen asleep in the chair beside my bed. Now, she was pouring me a glass of water, concern in her eyes. "Cruz, does it still hurt? Are you feeling any better?"The moment I saw her, all the anger I'd been holding back surged out.I snatched the glass from her hand and hurled it across the room. "Who the hell told you to come back?"Susie flinched, but I was too furious to care."I took those goddamn stab wounds to get you out of here, and you just came crawling back?" I pointed toward the door. "Are you trying to get me killed? Is that what you want?"Susie's eyes filled with tears. "I've changed my min

"I... I recorded everything that night," I blurted.My words stopped Damien in his tracks.I struggled to my feet, blood streaming down my face and drying around my eyes. However, I kept my gaze locked on him. As I stared at that familiar face, I could think only of how this monster had destroyed my life.I reached into my pocket and pulled out a flash drive. His expression darkened as he slowly approached me.That drive held the evidence I'd spent two years protecting. It contained proof of what he'd done to my little sister, including the torture that had eventually killed her.I'd sworn I'd kill the bastard with my own hands, and I'd waited for my chance for two whole years. I'd watch that recording night after night, listening as my sister screamed for help and begged me to come save her.She'd believed I would come even in her final moments. To her, I was her hero, the one person she could always count on to protect her.Unfortunately, I never showed up, and she died waitin

I searched everywhere for Susie. I called in every favor, contacted everyone I knew, and followed every lead I could find. Unfortunately, nothing came of it. It was as if she'd vanished from the face of the earth.Eventually, I dragged myself home, exhausted and defeated. Her letter still lay on the table. It'd been days, but I couldn't bring myself to open it. Now that I'd used up every avenue I had, I finally found the courage to open it.It was short, but it was written in her familiar handwriting. There were several words scrawled on it, but they were blurred as if by tears.'Cruz, I'm leaving. Please don't look for me. Being together will only remind us of the worst things we've been through. I'm going back home, and I hope you can finally live the life you've always wanted.'Find someone who truly loves you, someone good, someone who can give you a fresh start. You deserve to be happy.'I stared at the letter for a long time, reading it over and over until the words blurred.

Damien threw his head back and burst out laughing. He spread his arms wide and looked at me with contempt."Look around, Cruz. It's just you and me here. Nobody else. See that machine over there?" He pointed to the industrial meat grinder. "That's where you'll end up. Trust me, you're gonna die a whole lot sooner than I will. And it's gonna hurt like hell!"He practically screamed those last words.The bastard had completely lost his mind after one setback. It was amazing.Now that he had nothing left to lose, he figured that there was no point in trying to hide the monster he really was. Every cruel impulse he'd kept beneath the surface was now on full display.So, he seized my collar and pulled me toward the machine.As we got closer, I shut my eyes. I didn't do it out of fear, but because I couldn't stop thinking about Susie.I wondered whether she'd thought of me in the final moments of her life, when she'd been suffering more than anyone should ever have to. I wanted to bel