Signed to love

Chapter 12

The afternoon sun streamed through the windows of the mansion.

Chloe had just finished arranging fresh flowers in the living room when her phone vibrated in the pocket of her apron, she glanced at the screen.

"Mom" She said in a little voice still upset about the last time but a smile instinctively appeared on her face.

"It's been a while but I'm not coming home"

She answered immediately.

"Mom?"

There was no response. Instead, she heard heavy breathing.

"M-Mom?"

She heard a trembling voice call her name.

"Chloe..."

The sound of her mother's voice instantly erased the smile from her face.

"Mom, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Her mother tried to speak, but sobs kept interrupting her words.

"Your father... your father has completely lost his mind"

Chloe's heart skipped a beat as she heard this.

"What's wrong?"

"We're in danger"

The words hit her like a bolt of lightning.

"What do you mean?"

Her mother's voice shook uncontrollably.

"He owes dangerous people a lot of money... gambling debts"

Chloe slowly leaned against the wall as fear crept into her chest.

"I told him to stop... I begged him to stop... but he wouldn't listen."She stuttered, Chloe could tell tears were rolling down her mother's cheeks as she spoke.

"Yesterday... he signed papers"

"What papers?"

A long silence followed.

When her mother finally spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper.

"He... he sold us" Chloe froze.

"What?"

"He accepted money from people who run an illegal brothel. They said if he couldn't repay his debt, they would take me, your brother... and your younger sisters"

The phone nearly slipped from Chloe's trembling hands.

"No... where's he?" She asked tearing up.

"He disappeared this morning after taking the money. Those men have been coming to the house since dawn. They said they'll return tonight to take us away"

"Mom..."

"We're hiding at aunt Jasmine's old apartment, but I don't think they'll stop looking"

Her mother's cries grew louder.

"I don't know what to do anymore, Chloe"

For several seconds, Chloe couldn't breathe.

Her legs felt weak, every painful memory of her father flooded back at once.

His drinking, his gambling, his infidelity, his insults, his greed, but this was beyond anything she had ever imagined.

"Listen to me" Chloe said, forcing herself to stay calm despite the tears filling her eyes. "Don't go back home. Stay where you are. Lock every door and don't tell anyone you're there"

"But what about your siblings? They're terrified..."

"I'm coming"

"No!" Her mother tried to stop her.

"Those men are dangerous. If they find you..."

"I said I'm coming"Her voice was firm.

For the first time in years, she sounded fearless.

"I won't let anyone take my family"

The call ended.

Chloe stood motionless in the silent mansion, staring at the dark screen of her phone, tears rolled silently down her cheeks.

She had escaped her father's cruelty once, but now it had followed her again.

Just then, a deep voice echoed from behind her.

"What's wrong?" Startled, Chloe quickly wiped her tears and turned around.

Mr Amirion stood at the foot of the staircase, still wearing his tailored suit after returning home earlier than usual.

His sharp eyes landed on her red, swollen eyes.

"You've been crying"

"I'm... I'm fine"

"You don't look fine"

She lowered her gaze, gripping the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white.

"I just need to leave for a little while"

Mr Amirion narrowed his eyes.

"For what reason?"

Chloe hesitated, she lowered her head, convinced that if she told him the truth, he would dismiss it as another excuse.

After all why would a man like Mr. Amirion believe a story as unbelievable as hers?

She took a slow breath before she spoke.

"My family is in trouble"

Mr. Amirion remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"My father..." Her voice trembled. "He owes a lot of money because of gambling"

His expression didn't change, it seemed like he wasn't buying it.

"He accepted money from dangerous people..." She swallowed hard. "...and sold my mother, my brother, and my younger sisters to them"

The servants nearby stopped what they were doing, though none dared to look directly at them.

Mr. Amirion's gaze sharpened.

"What did you just say?" He asked this time with a concerned expression

"My mother called me a few minutes ago" Tears rolled down Chloe's cheeks again. "They're hiding now, but those men are looking for them. They said they'll come back tonight" She quickly wiped away her tears.

"I have to go save them."She took a step toward the entrance.

"I'll explain everything when I come back."

"Stop!"

His cold voice echoed through the hall, Chloe froze, she slowly turned around.

Mr. Amirion walked toward her with calm, measured steps.

"How do you plan to do that?"

"You intend to face dangerous criminals by yourself?"

"I don't have a choice"She replied

"You do"

She looked at him in confusion.

'I'll go with you."

Chloe's eyes widened in shock.

"W-What?"

"You heard me"

"You don't have to do this"

"I wasn't asking for your permission or do you have any means of paying them off?" His tone was as cold as ever, but for some reason it no longer felt heartless.

"Cody" His assistant appeared almost immediately.

"Prepare the car."

"Yes, sir."

Within moments, the mansion became busy.

The security team was alerted, two black SUVs were brought around to the front entrance.

Seeing all of this, Chloe stood frozen.

"You... you're bringing security?"

Mr. Amirion buttoned his suit jacket.

"If those people are desperate enough to traffic innocent women and children, then they're desperate enough to use violence."

He looked at her.

"I'm not taking chances." Fresh tears welled in Chloe's eyes.

No one not even her own father had ever stood in front of her to protect her.

Mr. Amirion noticed her staring.

"What now?Is there a problem?"

"Thank you"

He looked away almost immediately.

"I haven't helped you yet"

Moments later, the convoy pulled out of the mansion, heading toward Chloe's aunt old apartment.

Chloe stared out the window, her hands trembling as she silently prayed.

"Please let them be safe" She prayed quietly

Beside her, Mr Amirion noticed the way she kept twisting her fingers together.

Without saying a word, he reached for his phone.

"Cody"

"Yes, sir?"

"Contact our security team. Have them search every route leading to Chloe's aunt apartment. If anyone suspicious is seen, detain them immediately"

"Understood, sir"

Chloe looked at him, surprised.

For the first time since the call, a small spark of hope appeared in her eyes. Maybe,Just maybe they weren't too late.

The convoy sped through the evening traffic.

Inside the SUV, Chloe's hands remained tightly clasped together as silent prayers escaped her lips.

"Please... let us not be too late" Mr. Amirion sat beside her, his expression unreadable as he watched the streets through the tinted window, his phone suddenly rang.

"Cody"

"Sir, our men have reached Aunt Jasmine's apartment...I mean your aunt"Mr. Amirion straightened.

"What did they find?"

"There are three suspicious vehicles parked outside the building, several men are surrounding the entrance."

Chloe's face turned pale.

"They're there already" She whispered, Mr Amirion's eyes darkened.

"Do not engage until we arrive" He instructed.

"Yes, sir"

The call ended.

"Drive faster" Mr. Amirion ordered.

"Yes, sir"

The driver immediately accelerated.

Minutes later, the black SUVs screeched to a halt outside "Aunt Jasmine's" apartment building.

Chloe didn't wait for the door to be opened, she jumped out and ran toward the building.

"Mom!"

"Miss Chloe!" Cody called after her.

Before she could reach the entrance, two rough-looking men stepped into her path.

"Well, well" One of them sneered.

"Looks like another one came on her own." He reached for her arm, before his hand could touch her.

A firm voice echoed behind them.

"Touch her..."

Mr. Amirion stepped out of the SUV, adjusting the cuff of his suit.

"...and you'll regret it"

The men laughed.

"And who are you supposed to be?"

Mr. Amirion didn't answer, he simply glanced at Cody.

"Handle it"He gestured with his hands, he folded his arms as he watched the scene unfold.

"Yes, sir"

Within seconds, the security team surrounded the men.

Seeing they were outnumbered, the traffickers tried to flee.

"Don't let a single one escape" Mr. Amirion ordered coldly.

His guards quickly restrained them while another group rushed inside the building.

"Sir!" one of the guards shouted from upstairs.

"We found them!"

Chloe's heart pounded, she ran up the stairs two at a time.

Inside a small apartment, she found her mother clutching her younger sisters while her little brother stood protectively in front of them.

"Chloe!" Her siblings said, her mother burst into tears.

Chloe rushed forward and wrapped all of them in a trembling embrace.

"I was so scared, her mother sobbed.

"It's okay" Chloe whispered through her own tears.

"I'm here now"

Her younger sisters cried as they buried their faces against her, her little brother wiped his eyes, trying to act brave.

"I thought they were going to find us"

"They won't, they'll never bother any of us ever again I promise you" Chloe promised.

"No one is taking you anywhere"

Standing quietly by the doorway, Mr. Amirion watched the emotional reunion.

For a brief moment, his usually cold eyes softened.

Cody noticed the subtle change and smiled to himself.

After making sure everyone was unharmed, Mr. Amirion spoke.

"None of them are missing?"

"Yes"Chloe replied as she nodded

"Good"

He turned to Cody.

"Have the police take custody of those men?"

"Already done, sir"

"And arrange medical checkups for Chloe's family"

"Yes sir"

Chloe looked at him in surprise.

"You... you don't have to do all this.

"

Mr. Amirion met her gaze.

"I know"

He looked around the worn apartment before speaking again.

"They can't stay here"

Chloe lowered her eyes, she knew he was right.

Those criminals now knew where they had been hiding.

"They'll come after us again" Her mother said quietly.

Mr. Amirion answered without hesitation.

"Then they won't stay here"

Everyone looked at him.

"They'll come with us"Chloe blinked.

"What?"

"My mansion has more than enough rooms. My security team guards the property twenty-four hours a day"

He looked directly at Chloe's mother.

"No one will touch your family there"

Tears immediately filled the older woman's eyes.

"Sir we possibly can't do that, you've done more than enough for us without even knowing us properly"

"It isn't a request"His voice remained calm but firm.

"It's safer"

For the first time in what felt like years, Chloe saw relief wash over her mother's face.

Half an hour later, the family climbed into the waiting SUVs.

As they drove through the mansion gates, Chloe's younger sisters pressed their faces against the windows in amazement.

"Wow..."

"Is this really where you work, Sis?"

Her little brother stared speechlessly at the grand estate.

Their mother quietly held Chloe's hand.

"You saved us"

Chloe shook her head as tears filled her eyes again.

"No..." She glanced at the man seated across from them.

"He did"

Mr. Amirion looked out the window as though he hadn't heard a word. But when the vehicles came to a stop, he spoke without looking back.

"Cody"

"Yes, sir?"

"Prepare the east wing"

"Immediately, sir"

"Their family will be staying here until this matter is resolved."

Chloe stared at him, unable to find the right words.

For the first time since she had entered his life, the mansion no longer felt like a place where she was bounded by a contract marriage.

It felt like a place where her family was finally safe.