Lilian clutched the straps of her handbag, trying hard not to break eye contact.

She wouldn't look weak.

She would show them all she wasn't that scared and helpless girl anymore. Now she had something worth fighting for.

"Good to see you came," she managed to say.

"Why wouldn't I?" An evil glint flashed in his eyes.

She shuddered.

She wanted to step away, even if it meant enduring the cold, chilling rain, but he acted before she could.

He handed her the umbrella, and with furrowed brows, she watched him step into the rain, unbothered about the heavy downpour , drenching him.

He simply walked, with hands in his pockets. His whole demeanor, the charisma in every stride, gave her the feeling that he had never failed in anything he set his mind to do. The rumors about him weren't just myth.

He was indeed shrewd, calculative, and there was something about him that made cold brush down her spine whenever he looked at her with those icy gray orbs.

Now she began to doubt if she would succeed in this.

No, she shook those thoughts away. Everything would go as planned.

But whose plan? Hers or his?

She stepped into the courthouse. Xavier was already seated, his face unreadable as always.

His eyes landed on her, never tearing his gaze away.

And for a moment, she couldn't tear her eyes away from him either.

There he was, sitting like a god. He looked the part also, and every part of him screamed perfection.

She clutched the divorce paper in her hands and then tore her gaze away from him.

She handed the paper to her lawyer and then carefully took a seat next to him.

She noticed that he didn't even bring a lawyer. Why?

The family court judge arrived, and her eyes widened when he bowed to Xavier with utmost respect.

She gulped. With his affluence, this man could get whatever he wanted without moving a finger.

The proceedings began. Her heart raced, and then the final question came.

"Are you certain you want this divorce, Mrs. Rune?" the judge asked her.

Lilian nodded instantly. "Yes," came her definite response.

He turned to Xavier. "Do you want this divorce, Mr. Rune?"

The silence thickened with every second.

She couldn't breathe, and then his curt response came:

"Yes."

Her eyes flew wide. She stared at him in shock. He... agreed? The more she tried to decipher his thoughts, the more unreadable he became.

Why would he agree just like that? Did he have an alternate plan?

She had expected relief when this moment came, but instead, worry bathed her.

Did it matter? She was moving far away anyway. Whatever he planned would not work.

This is the last time he would ever lay his eyes on her. After this, she would disappear for good.

"Alright then, that wraps up this case," the judge finalized.

She stood up immediately, staring at Xavier briefly, but he wasn't even looking at her. Instead, he walked over to the judge to discuss matters she knew nothing about.

There was no use staying. She turned, leaving.

She took a cab back to the hotel, and then she packed her things immediately.

Thankfully, she had booked a flight back to Russia, to her home country, just in case everything went according to the way she planned.

All these felt surreal to her. Finally, she would be going home, and then she would be reunited with her mother.

Tears welled in her eyes, remembering the picture her father had sent her, the condition her mother had been in for twenty-two years now, for as long as she lived.

She sniffed in her tears, and then she sent a text to her father, telling him she had divorced Xavier and now she was going home.

Meanwhile, back in the courthouse...

Xavier stood outside, a grin expression on his face, and then his right-hand man, Marco, hurried to him, bowing deeply.

"We must return right away, boss. They are planning an attack. Your grandfather demands your presence this instant."

Xavier pulled a stick of weed from his coat pocket, and then he flicked the golden lighter in his hand, lighting the tip , and then took a long drag, his cheeks turning hollow as he did.

And then he puffed it out. He remained calm, as if unaffected by the words Marco had just spoken.

There were other important things in his mind.

He checked his watch. Her flight was scheduled a few minutes from now.

"Boss," Marco carefully called him, trying to get his attention to the pressing matters.

"There's somewhere we have to go first. If my grandfather dies in my absence, then that's good news for me."

His words had Marco's eyes widening, even if he doubted that he meant that.

He loved his grandfather; he was sure of that. But what could be more important than him? What could be more important than his people right now?

Without questioning, he opened the car door for him, and once he got in, he got into the driver's seat and drove them out of the court.

When they arrived back at Xavier's mansion, it was past midnight. Marco retired to bed, but Xavier remained wide awake.

He stood at the balcony, a glass of vodka in his hand, which he leisurely drank from.

The cold breeze brushed against him occasionally, but he didn't flinch.

He held on to the railing, his mind working fast.

And then he felt a presence behind him. He didn't turn, knowing who it was.

Marco poured himself a glass of vodka, and then he stood beside him, maintaining a careful distance. He knew very well how much he hated anyone getting into his personal space.

Moments of silence passed between them.

"Boss," Marco called, breaking the silence.

He said nothing, but he knew he was listening, and so he proceeded to ask, "I know how dedicated you are to the empire, yet you came all the way here and stayed for nearly a week the moment you got her text. So then... why did you let her go?"

Marco watched him place the rim of the glass on his lips, and then he pulled it back, savoring the bitter taste of the alcohol on his lips.

His lips tilted up into a smirk.

Marco became wary instantly, knowing he never smiled for a good reason.

His next words ran low, frighteningly calm:

"I enjoy the chase."

The flight from Hong Kong to Russia took a few more hours. Her heart raced in her chest as she alighted the plane.

The cold breeze welcomed her, brushing against her relentlessly, as if warning her to get away from here.

She shivered.

She would do just that, but she wouldn't be leaving alone; she would go with her mother.

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she imagined holding her, hugging her, feeling her warmth.

She would make up for all the times they had lost. She would take care of her with the money she had saved up over the years. It would be enough for them to relocate to a faraway country. She would get a job; everything was finally going to be okay. For once in her life, she would be happy.

She smiled, but it immediately faded upon her father's text:

'There's a white jeep waiting for you right outside the airport. Get in now.'

The happiness she once felt was soon replaced with anxiety and dread. She would meet her family again after three long years of being free from the clutches.

Her father-he was no short of a monster-and she would have to face him to get her mother.

Fear settled in her chest, but she reminded herself she had won a huge battle. She had divorced her husband.

She wasn't as helpless as she used to be. She refused to be. Everything would go according to her plan, just like it did before.

She stepped out of the airport, a brand new confidence growing within her with every step she took, and then she found him-the supposed driver her father had hired.

"Lilian Hart?" he called gruffly.

The last name hit her. She was no longer a Rune and now back to being a Hart. She despised the thought of going back to taking her father's last name, not when he never thought of her as a daughter, not when he tormented her mother for twenty-two long years.

She watched the driver stare at his phone for a moment, and then he looked back at her. "Get in," he ordered.

She was suddenly skeptical, but nevertheless she got in, and then he ignited the car and drove her out of the airport.

She squeezed the fabric of her dress, her heart thumping loudly as she neared the Hart residence.

Minutes later, they arrived. She suddenly felt her body turn cold, her eyes falling on the house that hadn't changed a bit. It was nothing extravagant, nor was it anything near Xavier's mansion, but it was a comfortable home.

She got down from the car; her body swayed as the memory of the hell she went through here flooded her mind.

She could hear her own painful screams in her head as her father whipped her back with all his might, not minding the fact she was already bleeding.

She tried hard to snap out of it. Now wasn't the time to cry or show weakness, and if she kept thinking of it, she would.

She dragged her trolley to the house, and immediately she stepped in. She saw everyone already waiting for her.

She stiffened, her eyes falling on her father, Yhuan, first, who stared at her with a strong hint of displeasure, his face grim.

And then her stepmother, Liah, who threw her a scornful look, eying the expensive dress she wore-a huge contrast to the rags she used to wear when she lived here.

"Looks like Cinderella has finally returned," her eldest sister, Amara, snorted.

And then she felt the harsh glare from her immediate elder sister, Nelly. "Looks like Mr. Rune has been taking good care of you, fattening you up and adorning you with the most expensive items."

She stalked towards her. Lilian stood her ground, and then Nelly walked past her, only to snatch her trolley.

"All these belong to me and Mara now. You won't be needing them anyways."

Lilian dug her nails into her flesh. She understood their hatred stemmed from jealousy. She looked much better than she used to; her skin no longer clung to her bones. But they were idiots to think she was coming here to resume the life of a maid.

Walking past her sisters, she stood right in front of her father, her body shook-not from fear but from anger.

Seeing him now, knowing what he had done, knowing how heartless he truly was...

"Where is my mother?" she seethed, digging her nails deeper into her palms.

"Have you no manners? Seems like being away for so long has made you forget who you are talking to, filthy bastard," her stepmother spat, but she wasn't even listening.

All Lilian wanted was for him to take her mother right this instant.

His hand suddenly shot to her shoulder, squeezing it in a bone-crushing grip.

Lilian winced at the immense pain, and then she let out a loud cry once he added more pressure.

"Want to know where your mother is, huh? Rotting somewhere in the ocean bed after I killed and discarded her body twenty-two years ago."

The pain on her shoulder suddenly turned non-existent, replaced by a sharp prick in her chest.

A tear fell without her control. Another followed, her vision blurring instantly.

"You're lying," Lilian shook her head in denial. "Tell me, where is my mother?!"

A painful slap suddenly met her cheek. She instantly fell hard on the ground.

"You dare speak with such disrespect?" her stepmother kicked her with all her might, but she held back her cry. In fact, her whole senses numbed.

He had... lied to her. Her mother wasn't alive? Her chest squeezed. Her heart combusted to pieces.

And before she could say one more word, she felt something extremely heavy hit her head.

She felt warm blood dripping down her neck. She struggled to keep her eyes open, but everything went blank instantly.

Her eyelids felt heavy as she forced them open. She could barely make out her surroundings.

She felt the cold ground beneath her frame, biting through her skin. She pushed herself up, her brows rumpling at the rusty iron bars in front of her.

Where was she? How did she get here? Was this a prison?

Her nose crinkled from the pungent smell of rusting iron and something rotten.

The last thing she remembered was speaking to her father, and then her memory restored all at once, and the sharp pain she felt in her chest returned double-fold.

Her mother wasn't alive? He had lied to make her divorce Xavier and then to lure her to this place.

Where was this place?

The sound of clicking shoes against the cemented ground cut through the silence, and then a figure came to stand in front of the iron bars.

Her father, Yhuan.

She forced herself to stand on her feet. He stared at her, his lips pulling up.

"Why did you have me locked here?" she demanded. Was this some hidden place in the house? Was this some sort of punishment?

Yhuan slowly nodded, his eyes taking in her surroundings. "For once, you are of great use to me."

Lilian failed to understand what he was saying, but she just let him continue.

"Mr. Rune needs a bride from my household. With the divorce which you issued, he'll have no choice but to take Nelly as his bride once I introduce her to him."

Her blood boiled from so much anger, and she could see herself ripping this human to pieces.

"Cut the long story short and tell me why you have me locked up in here," she gritted, her hands holding on to the iron bars, trying to pull them open, but they never budged.

"You won't get out of here that easily, Lilian," he chuckled, pleased by her misery.

Where was here? Her body shook from both pain and anger.

"I sold you to the Russian mafia slave establishment. Only death would grant you escape from this place."

The news hit her harder than waves.

She staggered backwards; the news hit like a flash.

Russian mafia?

Slave establishment?

"No, no, this couldn't be," she shook her head in denial. Her father wouldn't do this to her.

Why would he? She hadn't asked to be born into this world. Why treat her with such cruelty?

By the time her eyes flew back to the iron bars, he was gone, the sound of clicking shoes fading in the background.

"Yhuan!!!!!!!" she yelled with all her might, but all she got back was the silent echo of her own voice.

She slumped to the floor, her tears rushing endlessly. She hugged her knees to herself, her back resting on the cold wall.

"Shut up!"

The voice had her jolting, and that was when she realized she wasn't the only one in the cell.

She rushed to the iron bars, leaning her back on it. Her eyes darted to the dark space of the cell where a figure had begun to emerge from.

And then a frail lady stepped out of it, her skin clinging to bones, her hair in a tattered mess, her eyes sunken.

Lilian's heart accelerated. This woman looked nothing less than a walking corpse.

"Seems like you want your death to come quickly," the lady eyed her. "One more display of foolishness and you'll have your tongue cut out and fed to you."

Lilian trembled, reality sinking faster than ever. She sat on the bare floor, hugging her knees.

She could no longer cry. Her eyes felt too heavy and swollen.

"How long have you been here, ma'am?" she managed to ask, her voice barely audible.

She felt so weak now. Her head hurt-no, everything hurt so damn much.

The lady didn't reply immediately. Instead, she sat on the bare floor, picking her nails.

"Seven years," she answered.

Lilian's eyes widened, dread filling her fast. She imagined being locked up in here for seven whole years.

"This is wrong," Lilian croaked. "We are humans too. Why should we be sold for money? This is a violation of human rights, and we must confront whoever is in charge about it."

The woman burst into a loud fit of laughter. "Oh dear, I haven't heard something this hilarious in years," she said between laughs.

Lilian stared at her puzzled. What was funny?

"Everyone comes here as strong-spirited as you at first. I'll give you a week; you'll blend in just fine."

She didn't want to blend in; she wanted to get out of here. They had no right to lock her in here to begin with.

"Is there a way to escape from here?" Lilian asked the lady.

The lady eyed her once more, her eyes falling on the necklace she wore. "Give me your necklace and maybe I'll give you the information you need."

Lilian didn't hesitate. She took off her necklace and then handed it to her.

The woman smiled crookedly. "No, there's no escape from here."

Lilian's face fell.

"Change your clothes to the slave attire first. If a guard comes here and sees you like this, it would put you in a situation you wouldn't like."

The older lady stared at the younger woman, her eyes taking note of her rich honey-brown hair and big brown eyes. The woman was beautiful, and if she wasn't careful, she might attract attention that would put her in serious danger.

Lilian hesitated, but then she picked up the slave attire from the floor, which was an old worn-out brown gown with dull fabric.

She got into the darker side of the cell and then wore it, leaving her own clothes behind.

"The only escape from here is getting sold out."

That wasn't the news Lilian wanted to hear. Her getting sold? To a human like herself? She would rather die first.

Her mind raced to her father, a devil in human form. She bit down on her lips to stop the tears, knowing the headache it would cost.

As the day passed, the guards came in to inspect, and each time, Lilian would yell and demand her release, but it all resulted in her getting beaten up.

The last time she attempted it again, she was locked up in a small room, alone in the darkness with no food or water. She was left there for two days and saw death face to face.

It was then she realized that it was truly over for her. She was done for.

There was no way out of here.

She sat still in the darker part of the cell, afraid of getting beaten or manhandled again.

If that happened, she would die, and she knew it.

Every day she regretted pushing through with the divorce. She had craved freedom and ironically landed here. She's sure Xavier must've forgotten her existence. By now he must be pushing through the marriage plans with her sister.

She didn't speak for days. She prayed for death, and as if her prayers had been answered.

A guard stepped into her cell, roughly pulling her out. She stared at the older lady, who wasn't even looking at her, and then she was led out there and into a brighter part of the slave establishment.

It was a bathhouse, and other girls around her age or older were present. Why were they suddenly giving her the privilege of a bath? Or else...

No. Her body became rigid as her mind settled on the only possible answer.

Her eyes widened as she watched the other girls strip right in front of the male guards while they watched.

Her body swayed, and she wanted to faint on the spot.

"Join them," a guard pushed her forward.

Her hands clutched the dress she wore. How would she strip right in front of these men?

Her mind and body remembered the torture and beatings she had been subjected to for disobedience.

Her eyes burned with tears. Her hands trembled as she took off the pieces of cloth she wore, stripping her dignity together with it.

She hurried to bathe, but only ended up bathing herself with more tears than water.

By the time she finished her bath, it felt like a part of her had died.

They were all given fresh clothes, different from the usual slave attire-skimpy and revealing.

And then they bound their hands with cuffs.

They were taken outside.

Lilian winced at the bright lights. It had been days since she last felt the sun on her skin.

They were harshly pushed into a bus and then, they drove them away.

She stared at the window, thinking of escape, but she stared down at her legs. They were all bound together by the chains that harshly bit through her flesh, wounding it.

Her eyes appeared lifeless as she stared at the road ahead.

This was it. She would get sold off to someone-a mafia. The image of an old man touching her body made her nauseous instantly.

She prayed for time to stop. She prayed for something to happen to stop this-anything.

The bus stopped in front of a large building made of gray walls.

Her hopes fell and were destroyed to bits as they were dragged inside like animals and then made to kneel on a wooden platform.

She looked up, her eyes taking in the large crowd filled with men, staring at them with hungry eyes.

"Ready to satisfy your deepest desires with our new finest products?" a man who held a microphone said, rising approval sounds from the crowd.

Her guts twisted, and then one of the guards dragged out a girl.

"Look at her," the conductor said, his eyes gleaming. "Skin so pale, her flesh tender."

And then the sound of tearing fabric echoed through the hall, making Lilian's stomach twist violently.

"Just look at how good she looks. She'll definitely have you craving for more."

The girl burst into tears instantly, which had the crowd cheering and laughing.

Lilian felt sick instantly. This was madness.

"One thousand dollars."

"Ten thousand dollars."

Just like that, the crowd bid for the girl, and the conductor shouted, "Sold," once it went up to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

Just like that, the girl was taken back where she would be handed to her new owner.

Lilian turned cold with fear when the same process was repeated with the other girls, and now it was her turn.

She was harshly pulled up and led to the center of the platform.

Her feet turned cold, her heart in her throat.

"Beautiful honey-brown hair, and look at those succulent lips."

The man's gaze swept over her slowly, his smile widening as the crowd reacted eagerly.

The bidding started from a million dollars. Her eyes stretched; her heart raced even faster.

"Ten million dollars," a man shouted.

Her head swayed. Everything seemed like a terrifying nightmare she prayed to wake up from, but it was all dreadfully real.

The guard tore the front of her shirt, ready to rip it off to excite the crowd further, when a voice halted him.

"One billion dollars."

Her eyes widened, and then she heard the sound of clicking shoes, ripping through the silence.

Her heart drummed in her ears, trailing her gaze up to stare at the person who had bought her for such an enormous amount.

The gray orbs stared hard at her.

Her breath seized.

Xavier.

"Sold!!"