The glass slipped from her trembling fingers.
It shattered against the marble floor.
The sharp sound echoed through the silent mansion like a gunshot.
But Rina didn't move.
She couldn't.
Her breath caught somewhere in her throat, her entire body frozen as the words replayed in her head.
"Sign the papers. She's yours now."
Her heart stopped.
No…
That wasn't real.
It couldn't be.
She took a slow step forward, her bare feet silent against the cold floor as she approached the slightly open study door.
Light spilled into the hallway.
Voices followed.
"…there won't be any complications," a deep male voice said calmly.
Rina's fingers curled tightly into her dress.
That voice—
She knew it.
"…she's obedient," the man continued. "And she doesn't know anything."
Her chest tightened painfully.
No.
No, no, no…
This was a mistake.
It had to be.
She leaned closer, her heart pounding so loudly she was afraid they might hear it.
Another voice spoke this time.
Lower.
Colder.
"And the debt?" the stranger asked.
A pause.
Then—
"It will be cleared."
Rina's world tilted.
Debt?
What debt?
Her mind raced, trying to make sense of the words, but nothing fit.
Nothing made sense.
"You understand," the stranger continued, his tone calm but dangerous, "once this is done, there's no going back."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
"I know."
That voice.
Her heart shattered.
It was him.
The man who raised her.
The only person she had ever trusted.
Her guardian.
Rina's lips parted, but no sound came out.
"…good," the stranger said. "Then we're in agreement."
A soft sound followed.
Paper sliding across a table.
Her pulse roared in her ears.
No…
No, this wasn't happening.
It couldn't be.
"Sign."
Rina's vision blurred.
Her hands shook violently as she took another step closer to the door.
Please…
Please don't—
A pen scratched against paper.
And just like that—
Something inside her broke.
Signed.
Just like that.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
As if she meant nothing.
Her knees nearly gave out.
She grabbed the wall to steady herself, her fingers digging into the surface as her breathing turned uneven.
This wasn't real.
It couldn't be real.
"Done," her guardian said.
Guardian.
The word felt wrong now.
Empty.
"…she's all yours."
Rina's heart stopped completely.
Sold.
The word hit her like a slap.
Sold.
She had been—
Sold.
A sharp pain spread through her chest as her fingers tightened into fists.
No…
He wouldn't do that.
Not to her.
Not after everything.
She took a shaky step back, her mind spinning, her body refusing to accept what she had just heard.
This had to be a misunderstanding.
It had to be.
But then—
Footsteps.
Coming closer.
Her breath hitched.
Panic surged through her veins.
She turned quickly and ran.
Down the hallway.
Away from the door.
Away from the truth.
Her heart pounded wildly as she rushed back toward her room, her thoughts a chaotic mess.
No.
No.
No.
This wasn't happening.
She reached her door just as it opened.
And froze.
A man stood there.
Tall.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.
His presence alone filled the space—cold, heavy, suffocating.
Rina's breath caught.
His eyes met hers.
Dark.
Unreadable.
Dangerous.
For a moment—
Time stopped.
Her heart raced violently against her chest.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely steady.
The man didn't answer immediately.
Instead, his gaze moved slowly over her.
Assessing.
Calculating.
As if she were something to be evaluated.
Something to be owned.
A chill ran down her spine.
"I was about to ask you the same thing," she said, forcing strength into her voice.
Still—
No answer.
Then—
Footsteps behind him.
Her guardian stepped into view.
Relief flooded her chest instantly.
"Sir—" she started.
But the words died in her throat.
His expression.
It was calm.
Too calm.
As if nothing had happened.
As if he hadn't just—
Her stomach twisted painfully.
"What's going on?" she asked, her voice trembling now.
He didn't look at her.
Didn't even meet her eyes.
Instead—
He looked at the man beside him.
"It's done," he said.
Her heart dropped.
Done?
"What's done?" she demanded.
Still—
He didn't answer her.
Fear crept into her chest.
"Answer me!" she snapped, desperation breaking through her voice.
Silence.
Then finally—
He spoke.
"You're going with him."
The world went still.
Rina blinked.
"…what?"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"You heard me."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"No… I didn't," she said, shaking her head slowly. "Because what you just said doesn't make any sense."
He sighed.
As if she were the problem.
As if this were nothing.
"I've made a decision," he said.
Her heart pounded harder.
"A decision?" she repeated.
Her voice rose.
"About me?!"
Finally—
He looked at her.
But there was no warmth in his eyes.
No care.
Nothing.
"I don't have a choice," he said.
Something inside her shattered.
"You always have a choice!" she cried.
Silence.
Then—
"Not this time."
Tears burned her eyes.
"No…" she whispered. "No, you can't do this… you can't just give me away like I'm nothing—"
"She's mine now."
The stranger's voice cut through her words.
Cold.
Final.
Rina turned to him slowly.
Her heart pounded violently.
"What… did you say?" she asked.
His gaze locked onto hers.
"You belong to me now."
Her breath caught.
Belong.
The word made her stomach twist.
"I'm not an object," she snapped.
He stepped closer.
Too close.
His presence wrapped around her like a shadow.
"From this moment on," he said quietly, "you are."
Her heart raced wildly.
"No," she said, stepping back. "No, I'm not going anywhere with you."
She turned to her guardian.
"Tell him," she demanded. "Tell him this is a mistake."
But he said nothing.
Did nothing.
He just stood there.
Silent.
And that silence—
That silence said everything.
Tears slid down her cheeks.
"You really did it…" she whispered.
Her voice broke.
"You sold me…"
He looked away.
And that—
That was the final confirmation.
Something inside her died.
The man stepped forward again.
"Let's go," he said.
Rina didn't move.
"I'm not going anywhere," she said.
His eyes darkened.
"Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
Her fists clenched.
"I said no."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
He reached for her.
And everything changed.