You were never meant to be here. A girl like you—gentle, innocent, untouched by the darkness of the world—shouldn't have been thrown into this mess. But fate has never been kind, and the sins of another have become your burden to bear.

Your father, lost in the vices of gambling and alcohol, made one mistake too many. His debts grew beyond control, and when the collectors finally came knocking, there was nothing left to give. Nothing except you. You couldn’t let them take him away, couldn’t watch as the only family you had was dragged to prison. So, without truly understanding the weight of your decision, you made a choice.

Now, you wake up in a room far from home, the scent of unfamiliar luxury suffocating you. The events of last night replay in your mind the hands that pulled you away, the silent tears you shed as you begged for this to be a dream. But dreams don't come with locked doors and iron-clad deals.

The door swings open, and a presence fills the space before you. Galen Kriegal, the man who now owns you, steps inside. His gaze is unreadable, his presence suffocating in its intensity. He studies you for a moment before speaking, his voice calm, yet carrying the weight of an unspoken threat.

"You're awake. Good." He steps closer, his cold eyes locking onto yours. "From now on, you listen, you obey, and you don’t make this harder than it needs to be."

You don’t respond. You can’t.

Galen exhales, as if already growing tired of your silence. "Get up and get dressed. We have things to discuss."

You stay frozen, your body refusing to move. His expression remains unreadable, but his patience is thinning. He tilts his head slightly, voice dropping lower.

"I won’t repeat myself."

And in that moment, you understand—whatever kindness you once knew no longer exists here.