I walked into the bakery, I needed to talk to Ivy, she knew everyone be it dead or alive. I needed to know who Leandro Morgan was and why they wanted me to marry him.

Because Miss Ophelia would never be interested in anything regarding me not to mention my marriage. Something was fishy and I had to find out.

I was puzzled on why my father would let me marry someone like that, does he want to sell me? Is he finally tired of me? Is Leandro one of his creditors? What exactly was going on?

" What is it? " Ivy asked as we got outside.

" Do you know who Leandro Morgan is? "

Ivy was shocked. " What's happening? "

" Nothing,I'm just curious. That's all. "

" Leandro Morgan is a beast,he runs lots of brothels, bars and strip clubs. There's nothing good about him. "

" Is that all? "

" Well, He's known for being a famous gambler, well-known for being too generous with money. And if he gives you a loan and you can't pay back, you'd have to give him something valuable in return. "

" Oh, I heard people talking about him, I didn't know he was this bad. " I said hoping to get more information from her.

" He's a dirty man, he can't resist women at all. Plus I heard he's a drug smuggler. He smuggles them and sells them to his VIP in the club. "

" Where is she?! " We heard a loud ruckus inside the bakery so we ran down to check it out.

" Where's my daughter?? " It was my father,he was making a fuss so he'd see me.

" What is it. I'm at work right now. " I said as I dragged him outside. When I got closer to him I could smell the whiskey on his breath, it smelt disgusting but I forced a smile on my face and dragged him out of the bakery.

" Adrielle my darling, you're not supposed to work anymore. Not when you have someone like Mr Leandro, let's go home. " He spoke softly and I smiled because this was unlike him, he's probably trying to curry favour with me now that he wants to sell me off.

Today was even worse, he reeked strongly of alcohol and cigarettes, this is really embarrassing. He probably had drinks to celebrate their dirty plan.

" I know,I just want to clear things up today so I'd be free tomorrow to rest. "

" Alright then. I'd be waiting for you at home. " He said with a smile as he hugged me and walked away. His steps weren't straight, he kept staggering and I wondered how stupid Ophelia made him to leave a life of fame, money and power to this.

I was utterly disgusted by his change of attitude, he's probably thinks that I won't notice it. I smiled as I watched him walk away, stumbling on his steps hoping he'd fall and hurt himself.

" Enough of that family drama, go and deliver this. It's for Mr Salvatore. " Mr Wilson said as he placed the box beside me. " Ugh... What does he want from me now?? " I grumbled as I walked to my station.

*********************

" Mr Salvatore, your order. " I announced as I walked in and met him looking at some files.

" Ah.. we meet again. " He said joyfully as he placed the papers down and faced me.

" You're making it sound like fate brought us together meanwhile it was you. "

" Miss Adrielle, I believe it's courtesy to greet your customers, don't you think? " He asked as he stood up and walked close to me. " I could leave a bad review for you and I wonder what your manager would have to say about it. "

" Go ahead and write the worst review you can think of. Your threats don't move me. "

" Really? " He asked as his eyes scanned my body from head to toe

" They won't matter to me because I'm getting married. This is the last time you'd see me. "

" You're getting married? " He asked with a mocking smile. " Here's your order. Mr Salvatore. " I said as I walked away, I didn't want to hear the rest. The mocking smile was enough for me.

As I drove thoughts of leaving this state got into my head. I couldn't follow Zack, I can't leave like this. That bitch called Ophelia framed my mother,got her imprisoned and she had her transferred to another state.

I have to find out where in this world my mother is, my father became dumb because of her seduction, he can't tell left from right anymore. What do I do now? I already told Zack, I'd come out.

I got to work and clocked out, got my pay and decided to walk home so I could clear my thoughts.

Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door.

Our house is smaller than before, so the knock echoed everywhere. I heard my stepmother's voice. " Who are you? "

Suddenly, my mind drifted and I started thinking, " What if it was my father's creditors? Where they here to collect their money? We live in fear everyday which is annoying. "

" Where is Adrielle? " I could recognize that voice anywhere. I checked the time and it was nine o'clock.

" She's not here now get out!! " my stepmother replied harshly.

Zack paid no heed to her words and opened the doors furiously till he found me. For a moment, his expression turned soft, and our eyes were locked in each other's.

" Let's go, " he said, as he gripped my arm hard. My stepmother watched us as we walked away without a word.

" What is it? " I yelled, and yanked my arm from his grip, when we were outside.

" You are leaving this place right now! "

" To where? " I asked, with tears clouding my eyes." You think I haven't thought of this, of leaving this place? I have nowhere to go, " I said.

" You can come to my place. There is enough room for you there, " Zack replied.

" Your family doesn't like me, " I said.

" It's not you, it's your stepmother that my family hates. And with time, they will gradually grow to love you, just like the way I do. " Zack said, as he cradled my face in his palm and wiped my tears.

" Zack, I can't go anywhere with you. Staying here is better than roaming the streets. " I said, as I walked back inside leaving Zack speechless.

Immediately as I got inside, a loud slap sounded on my cheek. " You will obey me and do what I say. Where do you think you can run to that the powerful Leandro won't find you? You should be grateful that you are getting married to a prominent man, and we are lifting your status from a low life to a wife of a powerful man. You have no other choice. Zack Wayne is just a toy you used for sexual orgies. " my stepmother said, as she pushed me to the side and walked to the porch.

I gritted my teeth in pain, I wanted to say something, to confront her about how she talked about Zack but I couldn't. This wasn't the right time for that.

Tears fell from my eyes as she left. What is happening to me, I'm losing the one I love deeply for money. I'm being sold as a commodity with no emotions, the person I'm being sold to isn't of good character.

I have no one to run to. There's no one who'd help me. I cleaned my tears as I heard my father's voice.

"Adrielle! " He called as he walked inside. " What happened to your face? " He asked as he saw me on the cushion.

" Miss Ophelia hit me. " My father didn't say anything, he stood up and went to the porch, dragged Ophelia by her hair and threw her on the ground.

" My instructions weren't clear enough to you, was it? It was simple, treat Adrielle like a queen, no scars, no beatings. But you didn't listen, Leandro is coming tomorrow and you want to mess things up for me? " He said as he landed a slap on her and my stepmother curled up on the floor.

So Leandro Morgan is coming tomorrow, it's just a marriage alliance right. Leandro has power and I could use that to find my mother, when I finally find her I can divorce him and be free.

But I need to be sure of one thing. " Father, Leandro owns brothels? " I spoke calmly.

" Yes,he's a business man. When he sees an opportunity, he'd go for it. " He replied as he knelt beside me. It really feels like a snake waiting for it's meal.

" Do you want to sell me into his brothel to become one of his strippers? " If this was it, then I'd leave this house tonight.

" No,not at all. Leandro likes you,he's been watching you for a while now and he's decided to make his move. He's getting married to you, tomorrow the wedding banners would be hung up around town and everyone would know that you're getting married. We've been making plans, plus I picked a special day for it. That's two celebrations. " He said with a loud laughter and I faked a smile.

" This is my birthday gift for you on your twentieth birthday. A prestigious marriage. "

A flash wedding, just like that? No preparations? Nothing special.

But no one would willingly marry a wife and send her to the brothel to work right? He'd disgrace his family's name. So I'd become Mrs Morgan " Eww... " The sound of that is cringe. Mrs Wayne is better.

Andrea

Eduardo, my right hand man walked in " Her information is ready sir. And yes she's getting married in tomorrow to Mr Morgan, she also has a boyfriend Zack Wayne. "

" Talk about the marriage. " I said. " She's been sold to clear off her father's gambling debt and Morgan wants to use her as an shield to his mother's complaint. "

"How much does Julian owe Morgan? "

"Two hundred million. " I smiled. Julian's a big jerk,he couldn't make something useful out of such money, he gambled it and lost it as usual.

" Prepare two hundred million, I want to claim his daughter. "

" But you wanted to ruin them,this is a good opportunity for that to happen,you don't need to do anything. " Eduardo said trying to convince me but my mind was already made up.

" I said I WANT TO RUIN HER, I don't want Leandro to ruin my plans. "

"Understood! " Eduardo said as he walked away.

Now this explains why she wasn't in the mood to banter today, she was absent minded and she made the marriage sound like a happy occasion.

Eduardo walked back in "I just got a call and according to my source he says Leandro Morgan would go to Julian's place to pick up Adrielle tomorrow. You can do the exchange there. Do you want me to go or... "

" No, I'd go. I guess it's time for me to reveal myself to Julian. " He's going to be so surprised, I smiled to myself as I lit a cigarette.

Adrielle

I cried my eyes out last night because I knew that I'd never see Zack again,we didn't even end things on good terms which was really sad.

But I have to make sacrifices for my mother, she toiled so hard but she never got to eat the fruit of her labour rather a witch threw her out, labelled her as a thief and spent her money on jewels and useless things. I want revenge and running away with Zack won't get me anywhere.

Today I was well fed, I can consider that my last meal before being beheaded. My father bought me a new dress and hired an artist to make sure I looked appealing to Leandro.

This was another one of their tricks,they want to sell me to Leandro so I could probably become their ATM, send money to them whenever they wanted.

When the artist finished, I took one last look at myself before I walked out. " You look beautiful. Leandro would be head over heels in love with you. "

Suddenly, a convoy of cars drove in with wedding banners on them. People couldn't believe that sleek black SUV's and luxury sedans pulling up at our driveway. As they drove in heads turned everyone was curious to know what was happening.

Men in black suits got down and opened the door for the Leandro Morgan, I was expecting him to be an old man but he looked younger.

He probably just turned thirty, he wore a red shirt but buttoned only half of it and left his chest to be on full display. I could

He wore a furry coat and a black trouser,his hair slicked back and he had tattoos on the right side of his chest.

"Ah,Mr Morgan welcome to my home. " My father greeted with a smile but he wasn't interested.

"Where's she? " Leandro asked rudely.

"Meet Adrielle Julian,my one and only beloved daughter. "

"Looks good,I hope she's a virgin? " He asked as he scanned my face.

"Yes,she is. " What?? Why is he asking this? He probably wants me to go work at his brothel.

"I'm not working at any brothel. " I said loud enough for him to hear.

"Lady, you're mine now. So it's my choice to do whatever I want with you. You don't get to pick, I'll do the picking. " He replied as he stroke my cheek.

Another convoy appeared,this set was much more classy. What is happening? How many more deals are being made by my jobless father?

"Mr Morgan,my boss would like to talk to you. " A man in his late thirties said as he came to escort Mr Morgan to the new convoy.

People had gathered inside our compound, mouths were whispering, hands were pointing. Miss Ophelia was smiling as my father looked confused.

"I am not going anywhere, if he wants to talk he should meet me here. " Leandro said as he turned to face me.

I was curious on who the boss was in the other convoy. Suddenly the doors of the Rolls Royce were opened and I was shocked. It was Mr Salvatore, what was he doing here?

My father looked pale, like he'd seen a ghost. As Mr Salvatore walked towards us, members of his convoy joined him. There was no emotion on his face nothing. His hands were stuffed in his coat as he walked.

What was going on? Miss Ophelia ran back inside and shut the door behind her. What exactly is happening??

"Leandro I'd like to talk to you about something. "

He said as he walked to the other side with Leandro without sparimg me a glance. My father was shocked, really shocked.

"Adrielle the marriage is over, we've cancelled it. Now let's go. " He said as he held my hand to run away, but he was caught and pinned to the ground. Now things are getting complicated here.

Andrea

The shock on Julian's face was priceless,he looked like all the blood has been drained from his face. He didn't think I'd be out,he thought he won.

"Leandro I'd like to talk to you about something. "

"Salvatore,why have I piqued your interest today? "

"I'm here for her. Not you. Do you really think she's worth a whooping sum of two hundred million. She's not even humble. " I spoke as Leandro lifted his eyes to evaluate her.

"I'm sure you haven't done a proper investigation on her yet. She has a lover already, they've dated for two years now and Mr Julian says she's untouched. That's just a marketing strategy to get her into your hands. "

"Why are you suddenly interested in helping me? " Leandro asked as he stuffed his hands in his pocket.

"I'm not helping you, I want her. You can see the look on Julian's face when I got in, he's no longer all smiles again. We have a score to settle. " Leandro turned to look at Mr Julian who was pinned to the floor and smiled.

"Fine,how do you settle this? " Leandro asked.

"I'll pay you the two hundred million and walk away with her. "

"Deal. " Leandro said as he walked away and Edward handled the rest. "Don't believe him it's all a lie !!! " Mr Julian screamed but Leandro ignored him.

Leandro ordered his men to tear off the wedding banners from the car and Mr Julian screamed "Noooo !! " As they drove off.

"Miss Adrielle we meet again. " I greeted with a smile.

"Don't you dare speak to my daughter, you piece of shit. "

"Ah, she's no longer yours but mine and I have the right to do whatever I please with her. "

"What do you want? "

"What can you offer? " I asked rhetorically.

"Stay away from my daughter or I'll chop off your fingers and feed them to the dogs. "

"Did you miss the memo? She's mine. Leandro doesn't want her anymore. "

"What is going on here? " Adrielle asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"You're mine now. "

"ADRIELLEEE !!! " A voice called out,I turned to look and it was the legendary Zack Wayne who's better than me. He just got off his bicycle and wanted to rush towards Adrielle but Edward stopped him.

"He must be Zack right? The one who's better than me at everything? " I asked sarcastically.

"Stay away from her,you son of a bitch. " He yelled. "Adrielle, don't do this. We promised to be together. We promised to start our family. Adrielle listen to me,I just need time. Adrielle..." I couldn't help but smile at the scene unfolding before my eyes. A family??

"Zack,I'm sorry. " Adrielle said as tears came down her cheeks but she looked the other way to prevent Zack from seeing them.

"Don't tell me you're crying for him? " Adrielle didn't say anything and I smiled. It's time to take my new toy home. "Let's go. " I spoke and she followed quietly.

"Adrielle don't!! " Her father screamed but she didn't answer.

"Let's go. " I said as Adrielle locked her elbow in mine.

Adrielle

"Zack I'm sorryyy !! " I wanted to shout those words out loud but I couldn't. I wanted to hug Zack be in his warm embrace but I couldn't. Would Zack ever forgive me for this?

This is pure betrayal, I betrayed Zack, I destroyed his trust. I'm a monster !!!

I don't even understand what just happened, I was being treated as a commodity. Where I was being sold and bought.

"What just happened out there? " I asked Andrea as he sat beside me.

"You belong to me now. " Andrea spoke coldly.

"Did you just buy me? " I asked out of curiosity.

"For two hundred million. Yes and you're quite cheap. " Andrea said as he let out a mocking laughter.

"I'm not cheap. " I retorted.

"Your biological father put a price tag on you. You're CHEAP. " His words felt like a dagger, it stabbed my chest. What was I expecting from the man I call " FATHER "

If he had the balls to put his wife in prison and bring in his mistress into our house. Then he had the guts to put a price tag on his only daughter. This realization only fueled my hatred for him.

Mr Salvatore's appearance has destroyed my plan. My plan of finding my mother, I need to find an alternative. I can't just give up like that.

As I looked through the window, my mind replayed things that happened in my mind and suddenly it clicked.

Who was the man sitting beside me? Why did my father's countenance change when he saw him? My father was afraid and that was visible. What kind of dirt did he have on my father to make him afraid of him?