Chapter 1

• Elena Romano stood by the window in her father’s office, her gaze lost in the bustling streets below. Miami looked beautiful as always—the skyscrapers tall and gleaming under the hot sun, the cars zooming by, and people moving like ants, busy with their lives. But none of it mattered now.
• Everything she knew was crumbling, piece by piece.
• She turned away from the window and looked at her father, sitting behind his desk, his brow furrowed, papers scattered across the table. He had been pacing nervously for the last few hours, picking up one document only to throw it aside, not even bothering to read it.
• “Dad, please,” Elena spoke softly, but the weight of her voice made it clear she had had enough. “You promised me this wouldn't happen.”
• Marco Romano, her father, looked up from the papers. His face was pale, and for the first time in years, he looked older than his 45 years. His hands trembled as they gripped the edge of his desk.
• “Elena,” he said slowly, his voice shaking. “I… I don’t know what else to do. I’ve tried everything. The debts… they’re too much. We’re out of options.”
• Her chest tightened, and her eyes filled with a mix of confusion and dread. She stepped closer, reaching for his hand, trying to comfort him. “Dad, we can figure something out. We can ask for help. We can—”
• “No.” He shook his head sharply, cutting her off. “It’s too late for that. There’s no way out, Elena. You don’t understand.”
• The words sent a chill down her spine. “What do you mean? What are you talking about?”
• Her father took a deep breath and slowly, almost reluctantly, slid a thick folder across the desk. “I’ve made arrangements. A deal,” he whispered, his voice tight. “To settle everything.”
• A deal? Elena's heart sank. “What kind of deal?”
• Marco didn’t answer at first. He stared at the papers, his eyes avoiding hers. “It’s the only way to pay off the debts,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m… I’m giving you to him.”
• Elena froze, her breath caught in her throat. “What?” Her voice came out as a squeak. “What do you mean, giving me to him?”
• Before her father could respond, the door to the office opened with a soft creak, and a tall man stepped inside. Elena didn’t need to see his face to know who it was. The name alone sent a shiver down her spine.
• Alexander Kingston.
• The moment he walked in, everything in the room seemed to shift. His presence was overwhelming—like a storm that had just rolled in and taken control of everything. He was tall, his broad shoulders filling the doorway. His dark suit seemed custom-made, as though it had been crafted specifically for him. His eyes, cold and blue as ice, locked onto hers, and she felt like he could see through her, like she was nothing but a piece of glass.
• She took a step back without thinking, almost as if his gaze had burned her.
• “Alexander,” Marco said, standing up quickly, his voice shaky. “This is my daughter, Elena.”
• Elena’s breath hitched as Alexander’s eyes never left her. The air seemed to freeze around them, and she could feel the tension tightening in the room like a noose.
• “Elena,” he said, his voice deep and controlled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
• She didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Her throat had gone dry. Her heart pounded in her chest.
• Alexander stepped forward, the sound of his footsteps loud in the otherwise quiet room. “I’ve heard much about you,” he continued, his voice smooth and almost mocking. “But I didn’t expect you to be so... fiery.”
• Her eyes narrowed, but she couldn’t find her voice to retort. What was there to say? Her father had sold her, without even asking. And for what? To pay off his debts?
• “You’ve been informed of the arrangement?” Alexander asked, his gaze now fixed on her father.
• Marco nodded. “Yes… Yes, I have. We... we have no choice.”
• “Good,” Alexander said with a nod, his lips curling into a faint, almost cruel smile. “Because you’re mine now, Elena.”
• The words hit her like a slap to the face. She stared at him, blinking as she tried to make sense of what was happening.
• “You can’t do this!” she finally managed to shout, her voice sharp and defiant. “I’m not some object you can just take because of your money!”
• “I don’t need your permission,” Alexander replied, his voice cold as steel. “Your father already made the agreement. You belong to me now.”
• Elena felt her chest tighten as rage coursed through her veins. She wanted to scream at him, slap him, run away. But all she could do was stand there, frozen, unable to move.
• Her father’s voice cut through the silence. “Elena… It’s the only way. I’ve tried to do everything else, but the debts… they’re too much.”
• “Dad!” Elena choked out, her eyes filling with tears. “How could you do this to me?”
• “I didn’t have a choice, Elena. It’s done,” Marco whispered, his voice filled with regret.
• “No,” Elena whispered, backing away from both of them. “No. I won’t do this. I won’t let him take me.”
• But Alexander didn’t flinch. His gaze remained steady, almost pitying. “You don’t have a choice, Elena,” he said, his tone cold. “I always get what I want.”
• Elena’s heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to run. She wanted to fight. But her father was watching, and the fear in his eyes told her there was nothing she could do.
• “Come with me,” Alexander ordered, his voice firm.
• “I won’t,” she spat, her voice trembling with fury. “I won’t go with you.”
• Alexander’s lips curled into a slight smile. “You don’t get to choose, Elena. You’re mine now.”
• Her father didn’t say another word. He just watched, his face pale, as Alexander stepped forward, his hand reaching out to her.
• “No!” Elena screamed, pulling away from him, but his grip was like iron, unyielding.
• “You can fight all you want,” he murmured, his voice low and dangerous, “but you’ll never win.”
• Tears streamed down her face as she struggled against his hold, but it was no use. He was too strong.
• With a final, crushing grip, Alexander pulled her toward him, guiding her out of the room and down the hall, her heart breaking with every step.
• This was it. She was trapped. And there was no way out.