Chapter 3

I thought I was going to die in that apartment.

When I came to, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled my nose.

A hospital.

"You're awake."

A deep male voice came from beside me. I turned my head with difficulty and saw a strange man sitting next to my bed, his eyes full of concern.

"My name is Damian Black," he said. "I was passing by your apartment building last night and saw you collapsed by the door. I'm the one who brought you to the hospital."

"Thank you." My voice was weak.

Over the next few days, Damian came to my room every day. He brought hot soup, brought books, and kept me company. He never once asked why I had collapsed outside my door.

"Aren't you curious?" I finally asked one day.

"Everyone has their own story." He looked at me seriously. "When you want to talk, I'll listen. If you don't want to, I won't ask."

At that moment, my eyes started to sting. How long had it been since anyone had looked at me without judgment?

After I went back to school, the bullying never stopped. But every day after school, Damian would be waiting for me at the front gate.

"How was today?" he always asked.

"I'm still alive," I always answered.

He would walk with me and tell me funny stories from his childhood. Little by little, I realized I had started looking forward to the end of every school day.

I fell in love with him. This man who had shown up in the darkest moment of my life and given me warmth.

That afternoon, when Damian came to see me, he looked terrible. There was a dark bruise around his left eye, like someone had punched him.

"I need your help." His eyes were full of despair. "My mom had a heart attack and needs emergency surgery. But I don't have the money. My dad lost everything gambling and owes money to loan sharks. They've been coming to the house every day, threatening us."

He covered his face with his hand. "I really don't know how much longer I can hold on."

"How much?" I asked.

"Twenty thousand dollars." His voice was so quiet I could barely hear it.

That was all the money I had saved from working part-time. It was supposed to be for my college tuition.

But looking at the despair in his eyes, I made my decision.

"I have it. You can take it."

He pulled me into a tight hug. "I'll pay you back. I swear."

The next day, I withdrew all the money and gave it to him.

"You're the most important person in my life." He whispered in my ear. "I love you."

It was the first time anyone had ever told me they loved me.

And it was the last time I ever saw that gentle Damian.

After he took the money, he disappeared. His phone stopped working, and I couldn't find him anywhere. For an entire week, there was nothing.

Until the eighth day.

Two men in suits stopped me. "Miss Gray? Our boss wants to see you."

They shoved me into a car and took me to a run-down warehouse by the docks.

"I hear you're close with Damian Black." A bald man walked over with a cigar in his mouth. "That little punk owes us five hundred thousand dollars. But he ran, so now we need someone else to pay his debt."

"I don't have that kind of money."

"Who said anything about money?" His smile turned sleazy. "A pretty girl like you has other ways to pay. We've got a club down by the harbor. You go there and keep the customers company, and the debt's wiped clean."

"No. I won't—"

"You don't have a choice. Either you go on your own, or we drag you there."

I closed my eyes. "I need to make a phone call."

I dialed Damian's number. This time, he answered.

"They said you owe them five hundred thousand. Is that true?"

"...Yeah. I'm sorry."

"They want to send me to that club. To pay off your debt."

"No! Give me three days! I'll fix this!"

Three days later, the door was suddenly thrown open. Damian rushed in, covered in even more fresh injuries. He dropped to his knees in front of me.

"This is all my fault! I begged Victor to let you go, but he refused. He said he's sending you to Blue Moon club. The girls who go there... none of them ever come back whole."

I looked at him, saw the despair on his face, and said, "It's okay. I'll go."

"No!" He grabbed me tightly. "I can't let you sacrifice yourself!"

"Just this once." I pushed him away. "I'll go one time, help you clear the debt, and then it'll all be over."

The next night, I was taken to the club.

Three men came toward me.

"Come on, pretty thing. Have a drink with us."

Their hands started roaming over my body. I wanted to scream, but I felt frozen in place.

When it was over, I was lying on the floor, curled up into myself.

After I got back to my dorm, my phone started ringing. Social media was flooded with nude photos of me.

The comments were exploding.

"So that's what she is."

"Slut."

Voices came from outside the door.

Vivian, Ethan, and Damian were standing in the hallway.

"Have fun tonight?" Vivian tilted her head.

I looked at Damian, my eyes full of disbelief.

He avoided my gaze, but there was a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"What a shame," Ethan said. "I can't believe my sister turned out to be a whore."

"Why are you doing this..."

"Because you had it coming." Vivian smiled. "The game's only just started."

Damian finally looked at me, his eyes cold.

"Thanks for the twenty grand. Pretty good acting, huh?"