Chapter 1

For Asher, I sold myself to Damon Sterling.

In the pouring rain, inside his RV, my hair was yanked, and my thin white dress was torn to shreds.

My body became the currency for this treacherous dance with my enemies. But I never imagined that this degrading spectacle, this feast where I was just a kept woman, didn't go unnoticed by another pair of eyes.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Marcus Sterling, Damon Sterling's uncle."

The last final exam of my sophomore year had just ended. The moment my phone buzzed with the message, I rushed out into the pouring rain towards the hospital.

"The patient's heart stopped briefly, but thankfully, after resuscitation, he's out of danger. We couldn't reach you, so we contacted Mr. Sterling."

The doctor was still rambling on, but I pressed my head against the glass, letting out a long, shaky breath. The cold sweat of a near-disaster drenched my back.

Damon Sterling had helped me again. Knowing him, he'd undoubtedly make me pay, in his own twisted way.

Sure enough, no sooner had I settled Asher than my phone rang.

Damon Sterling's driver, Victor, subtly urged me downstairs. The car was already waiting.

Stepping out of the hospital, the biting evening wind felt like a harsh slap across my face. But what chilled me more was Damon Sterling's gaze.

He turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting mine across the torrential rain. The stark, cold white light reflected off his face, his thin, chiseled lips pressed tightly together.

My gut told me my sugar daddy was pissed.

Without another thought, I pulled up my collar and ran towards the RV, battling the storm. Victor was already standing by the door.

"The young master isn't in a good mood," Victor whispered, pulling open the door.

I gave a barely perceptible nod of thanks as I ducked my head and plunged into the car.

The door closed, sealing off all sound from the outside.

"With this kind of rain, why did you come?" I tried to steady my voice, shaking off the raindrops.

Damon Sterling said nothing, only hooked his finger under my chin, his rough thumb tracing the line of my lips.

I avoided his intense gaze, dropping my eyes. "It's about Asher. Thank you for your help again today."

Damon Sterling hummed faintly, his voice devoid of warmth. "Your classmate even followed you here."

I followed his gaze and looked back. Noah Jensen was still standing at the hospital entrance. I didn't know how long he'd been watching, but the two men stared at each other through the rain.

My right eyelid twitched. That possessive jerk's jealousy was flaring up again.

I got out of the car, and Victor, holding an umbrella, walked me back to the hospital entrance.

"Noah, you should head back to campus. Asher's fine, and thank you for your help today."

Noah looked at the car behind me, wanting to say something, but he didn't push me. He nodded and disappeared into the rain.

When I got back into the car, Damon Sterling had just hung up his phone. I felt compelled to explain.

"I forgot my bag after the exam. Noah happened to see it and chased me to bring it, then offered to come to the hospital to see if he could help."

"That kid likes you." It wasn't a question, but a statement.

"Noah's just a warm-hearted person. He's friendly to all his classmates."

Damon Sterling leaned closer, rubbing his nose against mine intimately. One hand slipped under my dress.

"A toad wanting to mate with a swan! He's completely out of his league! Doesn't matter if he likes you, you're mine."

His fingers were cold, and I instinctively flinched.

Damon Sterling paused, raising an eyebrow. "What, are you cold?"

He curved his lips into a smile, and my heart lurched.

Having been with him for a year, I knew that expression all too well.

Sure enough, the next second Damon Sterling loosened his tie. "Since you're cold, let's play a grown-up game and warm ourselves up."

"No!" I pressed hard against his chest, stopping him from coming closer.

Victor was still outside the car. Damon Sterling might be shameless, but I still had some dignity to lose.

Damon Sterling, with his entitled young master's temper, couldn't stand even a hint of resistance. His face immediately hardened, and he narrowed his eyes. "In front of me, do you have the right to say no?"

"No, it's not that. I mean, can we not do it in the car? Victor is right outside, he'll hear us."

"Ha! You're really concerned about his feelings. First a classmate, now the driver. You sure have a lot of men on your mind."

"No, they're just my friends."

"You're mine. Your thoughts should only be on me, understood?" He pinched my cheek.

"But you did remind me. Victor is still standing outside. It wouldn't be good if he caught a cold in this weather."

I should have known, Damon Sterling was a total psychopath!

When he was in a good mood, he'd practically give me the world for a smile. But when he was in a bad mood, he'd stoop to the most despicable acts.

Rich and utterly unhinged!

He tapped on the window, deliberately calling Victor inside.

The atmosphere in the car became incredibly bizarre.

Victor sat in the driver's seat, staring straight ahead, his hands gripping the steering wheel. I couldn't tell if the drops on his face were rain or sweat. "Young Master, are we heading back to the mansion?"

Damon Sterling chuckled, his gaze flitting between Victor and me. After a long moment, he slowly replied, "To Brock Miller's birthday party. I have a 'big gift' for him."

The Miller family and the Sterling family were old family friends, their relationship complex and tangled. Damon Sterling's temper was merely unpredictable, but Brock Miller, the other heir to the Miller fortune, was a pure, unadulterated madman, a loose cannon.

The car started moving, but Damon Sterling hadn't forgotten what had just happened, and he wasn't about to let me off easily.

"Didn't you say thank you earlier?" He stroked my long hair. "Show me some sincerity now."

His gaze fell on my lips. I steeled myself and leaned in, kissing the corner of his mouth.

"That's it? Are you playing with me?" He sneered, pulling me close by the waist, not letting me move.

I bit my lower lip, shaking his arm. "Just a little interest payment for now. When we go back tonight, I'll take off my makeup and shower, then you can do whatever you want, okay?"

"Not okay! Begging won't work."

"I've been working like a dog all these days on my business trip, and I just landed only to rush here for your brother. Meanwhile, you've been living it up, and I'm practically bursting at the seams..."

My face flushed, and I clapped a hand over his mouth, afraid of what other vulgar words he might utter.

Damon Sterling chuckled, kissing my palm and then pulling my hand into his, playing with it. He whispered a hot breath into my ear,

"I've changed my mind. Your cries for mercy sound so sweet, I don't want any other man to hear them. Let's try a different game."

He pressed me against him, my vision completely consumed by him.

I shook my head frantically.

Without his command, Victor wouldn't dare lower the privacy screen or turn on the music. In the confined space, all that could be heard was my soft, desperate resistance.

"Don't cry, baby. The more you cry, the more I want to torment you."

His breathing grew heavier, his eyes fixed on my face.

He licked away my tears, coaxing softly, "Now, you have two choices..."

Between Damon Sterling and me, there was no 'if I wanted to,' only 'if he wanted to.'

"If you're a good girl and listen, I've found a special medication from abroad to ease your brother's pain. It can be air-shipped next week."

Asher was my weakness; Damon Sterling knew that perfectly.

There was no choice. All my dignity and pride were trampled under Damon Sterling's heel.

With my hair falling around me, I reluctantly lowered my head.

"Hiss..."

Damon Sterling's arm muscles flexed, his throat working.

I had never done this before.

Outside the window, traffic flowed, but who could imagine such a scene unfolding in the opaque car?

I looked up, tears blurring my vision as I gazed at Damon Sterling.

What normal man could resist such a look?

"Lower the privacy screen!!!" Damon Sterling roared.