Chapter 2
594words
Brad froze for a second, then lunged for the card like a starving animal.
"Thank you, sir! God bless you! She's all yours! Take her, take her right now!"
He didn't even spare me a glance.
Just like that, I was sold.
Like a used piece of furniture or damaged goods at a yard sale.
Two hulking bodyguards flanked me, each gripping an arm.
I didn't fight back.
I just felt cold—bone-deep cold that made me shiver uncontrollably.
"Look at me."
The dealer stepped in front of me.
That voice...
That damn voice—why did it sound so familiar?
Like the demon who had pushed me into the abyss five years ago.
With trembling resolve, I lifted my gaze.
His long fingers reached for the clasp behind his ear, and with a soft click, the silver mask fell away.
His face emerged into the light.
Handsome. Cold. Imperious.
Dominic Knight.
My ex.
My pupils constricted in shock, my breath catching in my throat.
How could it be him?
Of all the people in the world, why him?
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
Dominic studied my pale face, his smile cruel and calculating.
He reached out, and instead of striking me as I'd expected, he roughly wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth with his thumb.
The gesture seemed almost tender, but the pressure was suffocating.
"Scarlett, you truly disgust me."
He whispered, each word hammering into my heart like a nail.
"Five years ago, you jumped into Brad's bed for money. I thought you'd at least have become some glamorous trophy wife."
His gaze raked over my cheap dress and the fading bruises visible on my arms.
"So this is what you've become? Pathetic."
That's not what happened...
I wanted to scream. To tell him Brad had drugged and raped me, that he'd forged a letter from Dominic!
But my throat felt stuffed with cotton, no words escaping.
Seeing the contempt in his eyes, I suddenly realized—
What was the point of explaining?
In his eyes, I was just a gold-digging slut who'd betrayed him.
And now, I was just damaged goods being pawned off by a gambling addict.
Maybe I was dirty.
Thoroughly, irredeemably filthy.
"Since you enjoy being sold so much..."
Dominic suddenly gripped my jaw, forcing me to look directly into his eyes.
His eyes blazed with a fury I couldn't comprehend.
"Then be sold to me."
"At least I'm paying more than that worthless piece of trash."
"Take her away."
He released me and turned away as if discarding trash.
This time, I refused to be handled like a corpse.
When the bodyguard reached for my arm, I yanked it away and forced myself to stand, though my legs trembled.
Even in the gutter, even before him.
I would walk on my own two feet.
With shaking hands, I clutched my torn dress, gritted my teeth, and followed him out of the casino.
As the car door slammed shut, darkness enveloped us.
Dominic lounged in the shadows.
"Come here," he commanded.
I pressed myself into the corner, my body shaking uncontrollably.
Pure, instinctual fear.
"Scared?"
He sneered, suddenly seizing my wrist and yanking me toward him.
I tumbled against his chest, the familiar scent of cedar and tobacco instantly triggering a flood of nauseating, heartbreaking memories.
"When you sold yourself for money back then, you weren't afraid, were you?"
His hand roughly slid under my dress, devoid of any tenderness.
"Since Brad has handed you over as payment, tonight you'll fulfill your 'merchandise' obligations properly."
