sold to the billionaire;long lost love

chapter one The ₦50M debt notice didn’t care that I was still mourning Mom. they just want me to pay up the money My stepmother Linda folded her arms, watching me shake. “Stop crying, will you, I need you to look presentable I thought maybe I was still dreaming my mom can't be dead and I'm not about to be sold to a ruthless billionaire. Until three black SUVs blocked our compound He stepped out from the car his presence screaming for attention his eyes cold as ice frost. I know there's no saving me but even as I know he's the devil living in human body, I just can't help admire his body damn he's gorgeous I don't think that can even describe him he is sinfully made I can tell but he just keep staring at me looking amuse that's when it hit me I was actually staring at him as if I was looking at my favorite meal Mr Adams he said, that's when I noticed my dad was practically shaking, if he's like this that means I have no way out of this where is my money, I don't think is ready merely by looking at you, but that's not a problem I will just have your daughter Mr Adams pov I know this day will come i regret ever collecting money from this devil using my precious daughter as a deal okay you can just take nickel . what my nickel can't go use Stephanie instead my stupid wife said shut up I shouted at her Mr Adams the devil said, I only acknowledge your biological daughter Stephanie I will take only her I tried protesting but no words roll out of my mouth merely looking at his eyes I know better than to say anything prepare the document I don't have time for this I looked at my daughter feeling guilty, while must it be her after bringing the document and signing the papers my daughter now belongs to him Stephanie pov I know my doom is here as I watch James gold pen slide across the paper, dad's hand shaking as he sighed next to it one stroke, two stroke, three with each one the walls of our parlor seemed to close in " this certifies transfer of debt and marriage rights" the lawyer in the corner which I didn't notice in the beginning read out voice bored like he did his weekly " Stefanie Adams marriage to James is effective as of now My doom had Dad’s signature on it. I watched James Okoro’s gold pen slide across the paper, Dad’s hand shaking as he signed next to it. One stroke. Two strokes. Three. With each one, the walls of our small parlor seemed to close in Officially his. Wait—was that even a thing? Could a piece of paper stamped at the local government really make me belong to a stranger? My brain was screaming at me to run. My feet were glued to the floor. Linda, my stepmother, adjusted her lace and smiled like she’d won the lottery. “See? I told you the problems will be solved once we signed the deal.” My stepsister nickel filmed me with her cracked Tecno phone, whispering, “Bye-bye, " James didn’t look at me either. Not until the lawyer packed his files. Then those gray winter eyes landed on me, and my lungs forgot how to work. He wore a black suit that probably cost more than all the roofs in our neighborhood combined. His voice snapped through the room, low and done with this place. “Let’s get going.” Not a question. Not a request. A command. I flinched. The contract paper crinkled in my fist. Sold. The word tasted like metal on my tongue. Sold to the billionaire. Linda pushed me forward. “Don’t embarrass us, Stephanie. you better start moving I opened my mouth. No sound came out. What do you say to the man who just bought your life? James was already at the door, his back to me. Broad. Untouchable. Three black SUVs waited outside, engines humming. His men stood like statues beside them. This was real. This was happening. I took one step.i slipped as I stumbled He turned. In two strides he was in front of me, catching my elbow. His touch burned through my blouse. Cold fingers, hot anger. He lifted my chin, forcing me to look at him. His thumb stopped, pressing against the tiny crescent scar under my right eye. The scar I got at eight years old. The night of the fire. The night I forgot everything before His gray eyes, so dead seconds ago, suddenly cracked. Shock. Disbelief. Something that looked like... pain? “steph” His voice was barely a whisper, but it cut through the room louder than his shout. “ You’re alive?” The billionaire who bought me just called me by a name I’d buried with my mom ten years ago.l