SOLD BY MY FAMILY BOUGHT BY THE ARROGANT BILLIONAIRE

Chapter Five: A Life In Chain

I quickly hid the phone the moment I saw the door open, my hands trembling as I pushed it beneath the pillow. My heart was still racing, but the fear of being caught was not the only thing troubling me. My mind was still stuck on the conversation I had just ended, replaying every word my father had said until it felt impossible to breathe.

You are no longer my daughter.

Those words felt like a wound that had been opened again and again. I couldn't understand how the person who raised me, the person I trusted more than anyone else in this world, could say something so painful without hesitation.

What had I done?

Why would he turn his back on me when I needed him the most?

I searched through every memory I had of my father, trying to find the moment when everything changed. He had always been the person I believed would stand beside me. Even when things were difficult, I never imagined a day would come when he would look at me like I was a stranger.

But that day had arrived.

The pain was overwhelming, but I forced myself to remain calm. I couldn't afford to fall apart in front of these people. I was surrounded by strangers who had already taken away my freedom, and I didn't know what they were capable of doing if they saw how broken I truly was.

I quickly wiped the tears from my face and looked at the maid standing in front of me.

"Madam wants to see you," she said quietly.

I didn't respond. I simply nodded and followed her.

As we walked through the mansion, I kept my eyes open and paid attention to everything around me. The building was enormous, with shining marble floors, expensive decorations, and walls covered with paintings that looked like they belonged in a museum. Everything about the place screamed wealth and power.

But despite its beauty, I couldn't feel comfortable.

There was something cold about this mansion.

The maids moved silently as they worked, keeping their heads lowered and avoiding unnecessary attention. I noticed the way they became tense whenever a guard walked past them. They tried to hide it, but their fear was obvious.

I wondered what kind of place could make people living in luxury look like prisoners.

I carefully memorized the hallways, the stairs, the doors, and the positions of the guards. I didn't know when I would need that information, but I knew I couldn't survive by simply waiting for someone to save me.

I had to depend on myself.

The maid eventually led me outside into a large garden. The view was beautiful, almost peaceful. Flowers surrounded the area, the fountain in the center reflected the sunlight, and the fresh air made it feel like a completely different world from the mansion.

But I refused to let myself be distracted.

A beautiful place could still hide something terrible.

My eyes moved toward the two women sitting beneath the shade. The older woman looked elegant and powerful as she calmly drank her tea, while the younger woman beside her carried the same confidence and pride. Their resemblance was impossible to ignore. They had similar features and the same kind of presence that made people naturally lower their voices around them.

I lowered my gaze and stood quietly before them.

The older woman didn't speak immediately. She simply watched me while holding her cup, studying me as if she was trying to discover something hidden beneath my silence.

I remained still.

I had learned that in a place like this, every reaction mattered.

"Raise your face."

Her voice was gentle, but it was still an order.

Slowly, I lifted my eyes and met hers.

A small smile appeared on her lips, but there was nothing warm about it. It looked more like satisfaction, as if she had found the answer to something she had been searching for.

"Interesting," she said.

I stayed silent.

"Do you know why you are here?"

My fingers tightened slightly.

The truth was that I didn't know. I had been taken without explanation, brought into a world I knew nothing about, and placed among people who held all the power.

I simply shook my head.

The woman watched me for a moment before looking away.

"Good."

I didn't understand why my ignorance seemed to please her.

She turned toward the maid beside her.

"She will work in the mansion."

My expression remained calm, even though my heart sank.

The maid handed me a list of duties. My eyes moved over the words written on the paper. Cleaning rooms. Assisting the other maids. Serving the household.

I had never lived this kind of life before. I had responsibilities at home, but I had never been someone who followed orders from strangers who could decide every part of my day.

I wanted to refuse.

I wanted to remind them that I had a life before this place.

But I knew that fighting without a plan would only make things harder.

For now, I needed to survive.

I accepted the paper silently and followed the maid back inside.

That night, I barely slept. My father's rejection continued hurting me, but I refused to allow the pain to destroy me. I needed answers, and I needed to understand why I had been brought into this mansion.

The next morning, I woke early and dressed in the maid uniform that had been given to me. Looking at my reflection made my chest tighten. Everything about my appearance reminded me that my life had changed overnight.

I picked up the tray of tea and walked through the quiet hallway, carefully observing my surroundings as I moved. The security cameras, the guards, and the different exits were details I stored in my mind.

I needed to remember everything.

When I reached the office door, I knocked softly.

"Come in."

I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

A tall man stood near the window with his back facing me. The morning light entered through the glass behind him, making his figure appear even more intimidating. I couldn't see his face, but there was something about his presence that made the room feel heavier.

I didn't stop to study him.

I lowered my eyes and walked toward the desk.

My only task was to deliver the tea and leave.

I carefully placed the tray down, but as I turned around, my hand accidentally brushed against the cup.

The movement was sudden.

Before I could catch it, the hot tea spilled across the man's shirt.

Silence filled the room.

My entire body froze.

Slowly, the man turned around.

For the first time, I saw his face clearly.

The same cold eyes from the auction stared back at me.

His expression hardened as he looked at the stain spreading across his expensive clothes.

I swallowed nervously, realizing what I had done.

The man who had taken me from that terrifying place was standing in front of me.

And I had just given him a reason to remember me.