Chapter 1 Helpless

• I once believed the world to be very overwhelming. Since it is so large, I am unable to see the stars or the sky, though I can see them all with my eyes alone. Everything I think seems to be impossibly difficult, it seems as though nothing is within one's power or mind to accomplish.
• I observed the tall skyscrapers as they climbed to the sky. Although the city is well-lit, my heart is still trapped in this abyss.
• ”Ms. Hampton.”
• When my driver called, I put my thoughts on hold. He was staring at me in the rearview mirror as I was looking at him. Is he talking to me? I feel like I temporarily lost myself.
• "Yes?"
• “Mr. Evans called, he’s asking for you, he’s waiting for you for dinner.”
• I took a deep breath and gritted my teeth as I heard that name. It's been months, but I'm still full of rage and disgust. If he wasn't one of his men, I would have said something derogatory about him right now.
• I just said, "Tell him I'm on my way home."
• “Shall I let him know where you went today as well?” the driver inquired.
• I saw him glance at me again, my brows furrowed, my heart thumping in chaos, but I made sure he wouldn't notice that.
• "Sure, you don't need my approval, Sibal.” I muttered in a monotone, "He's your boss.”
• He only gave a slight nod. Of course, I wouldn't just give him the easy ride. He was aware of everything about me, including my day-to-day whereabouts. Therefore, I am certain that he is aware of my meeting with Angelo today.
• That's why when the elevator doors opened, I saw his irritated face right away. I kept my stoned expression while my heels clanked down the hallway of his apartment. As he stopped in front of me, fire almost came out of his nose.
• “What have you been doing?” he asked with restraint.
• “Didn't Sibal tell you? It’s impossible for you to not know.” I smirked.
• ”I’m waiting for you here for this goddamn dinner, which I told you this fucking morning! Only for me to find out that you’re out with that mother f*cker!? ” He had his hands clasped at his sides. While he was doing that, veins protruded in his arms. It’s so fun seeing him this upset.
• He screamed, "Didn't I tell you not to meet that man!?"
• I smiled as I looked up at him with a chuckle in my eyes.
• I said sarcastically, "I'm sorry, mister. You're not the boss of me."
• I moved to walk away from him, but just as I was about to, he grabbed my wrist to stop me. I shrieked. He was about to lose his cool, but I held onto my handbag firmly and maintained my composure.
• “I own you, Alia. You are fucking mine. Only mine,” he said emphatically.
• His whiskey-scented warm breath hits my face and causes it to become colder. I shifted my position and touched his rough jaw with my palm, feeling the spikes in his beard.
• I leaned in and kissed the side of his lips, whispering, "You own my body, not me Aciel.”
• I lost hold of him because he seemed to be weakening, but he recovered quickly.
• I screamed "Ahh!" as soon as I felt the cold, hard concrete on my back. He pushed his body into mine and pinned me there.
• “What about what happened to us last night, huh? This morning? I assumed everything was fine, huh? ” He tightened his hold, and I sighed.
• “Oh! Aciel, stop acting like a p*ssy! We just f*cked! Why are you making a big deal out of this, huh? ”
• He turned and stared at me intently. "Just f*ck!?" he yelled and released me, calling me bullshit.
• I quickly breathed as I stared at his shoulder, which was jerkily rising and falling as he let go of his hold on me. He proceeded to palm his face in bewilderment as he ran his fingers through his hair.
• "After everything that I told you last night!? That is a complete bullsh*t, Alia!”
• I smirked and did not bother to fix my skirt. That smirk soon developed into a chuckle and a trembling laugh. He gave me a puzzle-like look as if he was trying to figure out what’s happening to me.
• I laughed, "You are such a fool, Aciel.”
• He arched his brows. I moved forward to get back in his vicinity.
• I said without mercy, "On the sixteenth day of September, the day that I made my plan... I told you I'll make you pay for this.”
• He blinked in an attempt to comprehend what I said.
• “I'm not sold on you, mister. But you called for a war in exchange for those millions. ” I again explained.
• Unsure of what I said, he questioned, “What?”
• I reached inside my bag for some papers, which I then threw in his direction. All he could do was watch as the papers fell to the cold pad floor as they flew everywhere.
• “You think you brought me? I suppose you have to pay now.” I grinned.
• Men in uniform entered the elevator to retrieve him. He gave me a confused, hurt look as he turned to face me. This game is over now. Fooling the billionaire is a success plan.
• --
• ”Alia!” My father called me.
• His palm pressed against my cheeks, immediately giving me headache. I sat down, completely exhausted. My foster father has been beating me for a few minutes now, so it’s no surprise that I’m feeling this way.
• I collapsed to the floor, depressed, and immediately felt the blood flowing in my nose. I don’t get why I needed to suffer just because I chose to buy a cake for my foster mother who’s ill.
• ”You stole my stash!”
• ”Father, n-no—” I wasn’t able to continue because he slapped me once again. I’m for sure that my lips cracked from the strong impact of his hands..
• Not that I’ve recovered from his last blow, he already grabbed my hair to make me face him. Tears welled up as I looked at his face. He smells like cigarettes as always. His eyes were bulging from taking up some illegal substances, looking so dangerous and evil.
• ”Where is the money?” He asked again.
• “I don’t k-know,” I answered.
• ”Then where the hell did that came from, huh?” He pointed the small cake and the book above the table.
• I gulped and pulled all the energy left in me. “That was my money, I worked hard for it.”
• ”You fvcking c*nt!” he shouted and spitted on my face and released me violently causing me to almost gnaw the floor again.
• ”Worked hard? And where? To that library? Don’t you lie on my face.” He lit up a cigarette and jitter like crazy.
• I am telling the truth. But he seems to just believe what he wants.
• ”You’re nothing but a useless whore! I should have killed you when Linda brought you here.” He’s pertaining about his wife, my mother.
• I held my sobbed and wiped my tears. Blood and tears mixed and I was in rage. I glared at him and he just scoffed at me.
• ”Why? You’re gonna tell the cops? Go on! You will never see your mother again if you do that.
• My eyes went to the floor feeling the anger. Both my hand clenched in fist as I couldn’t do anything but to stay put.
• ”You fvcking whore,” he murmured and reached for the cake and to my horror, he threw it to the floor. My jaw dropped. Without any words, he left.
• My father kept saying that the authorities were looking for us, so he deprived me of leaving the house. He admitted to me that he and my mother had committed a crime in the past and that the police are still looking for them because they are believed to have killed a wealthy man.
• That is also the reason why him and mother separated. He told me that I don’t have a choice but to stick with him because he would be the way for me to see my mother. He also told me that he had to sell me to a certain man so that we could save up and be with my mother.
• I smiled even more in the mirror. Just the thought of us being whole again makes my heart thump. I really should just follow my father’s order because he knows what’s right for us.
• When I felt a sting on my legs, I hissed. Thankfully, my thigh didn't burn much.. In order to at least somewhat lessen the pain, I went to the sink to get some water and wet it. I sighed and turned to the book by my bedside.
• He occasionally buys me books and other supplies, and I notice that those are the times when I have the most clients. He purchases me books, accessories, and clothing because he is in a good mood and is happy.
• But things have changed today. He refused to let me ask his permission, despite my best efforts. Maybe he's angry because I haven't had a customer in a few weeks. He may not even be aware that today is my birthday.
• I had body aches and was tired, so I dozed off in my bed for a while. I was just about to fall back asleep when my thigh was touched. I was startled and on the verge of crying when someone quickly covered my mouth. It was silent and completely dark. My eyes were the first thing to catch sight of a man I didn't know.
• As his hands moved all over my body, I was unable to breathe normally. I had no idea who he was. All I could feel was a rapid throbbing in my chest.
• "Hmmp!"
• The man's hoarse voice rang in my ears, "You're mine for hours little girl."
• My body shivered as a result. Despite my efforts, the man was very powerful.
• "Help!" I uttered with a muffled voice, because his palm is covering my mouth, and I don’t even know this man.
• "Shhh!" he hushed me.
• His other hand tore my dress, revealing my undergarments. I was shocked by what he did. I don’t know what’s happening.
• ”Help! Don’t— ”
• When the door opened, I faintly saw my father standing on the door.
• “What the f*ck? Can you shut that child’s mouth? The neighbors might hear! " he hissed as he took a drag on his cigarette.
• When I realized what was happening, I grew weak.
• Oh, this is one of his clients. I was astounded and made no attempt to defend myself. The man standing above me got up and approached my father. He was robbed of his cigarette.
• "Okay, all right. Alberto, leave now. "The stranger uttered. I could not bear to look at them.
• The man then turned toward me and shut the door once more. He is puffing on the cigarette my father gave him, his eyes gleaming with evil. I was ready to give in, but he choked me and burned the cigarette into my skin just as he was about to. I cried and screamed out in pain.
• He tried to kiss me after I felt the burning pain in my arms. I sobbed uncontrollably in the hopes that my father would hear me. I was incapable of even resisting.
• When the man tore my dress, exposing my chest, I realized I was powerless to stop him.