SHE SOLD ME TO THE DEVIL

"You're so useless." My stepmother said it before throwing the plate at me. I jumped back immediately as it smashed against the wall beside my head. Pieces scattered across the floor. My heart was beating fast. "I-I'm sorry…" "Sorry?" she snapped. "Can your sorry bring money into this house?" I quickly knelt down to clean the broken plate before she got angrier. That woman hated me. Honestly, I stopped asking why a long time ago. Maybe because I wasn't her real daughter. Maybe because my father loved me too much before he died. Or maybe… she just enjoyed making my life miserable. "Hurry up!" she shouted. I picked the pieces faster while trying not to cry. But tears still gathered in my eyes when one sharp piece cut my finger. Blood appeared instantly. "See?" she hissed. "Useless girl. You can't even clean properly." I stayed quiet. That was how I survived in that house. Because once I answered back, things became worse. Much worse. "You eat my food, wear clothes inside my house, use my electricity, yet you contribute nothing." She folded her arms angrily. "At least your beauty should finally become useful today." My hand stopped moving. Slowly, I looked up at her. "What does that mean?" A strange smile appeared on her face. The type that immediately makes your stomach uncomfortable. "You ask too many questions." My hand went cold. I didn't even understand what was happening. Then I noticed something. The house was unusually clean. The expensive plates were out. Even the old couch cover had been changed. She only did this when she was expecting visitors. Important visitors. Before I could think more about it, headlights suddenly flashed through the window. Big black cars. My stepmother quickly fixed her hair. Excitement all over her face. "They're here." I stood up slowly. "Who?" Instead of answering me, she grabbed my arm tightly. "Go and wear the red dress." "The short one?" "Yes." My chest tightened instantly. That dress barely covered my thighs. Normally, she called me shameless for wearing things like that. So why was she forcing me now? "Mama, what's going on?" Before I could finish, she grabbed my arm. Hard. Her nails dug into my skin. "Mama, you're hurting me." "Good." I froze. She had never said that before. Good. She loved seeing me in pain. My pain actually pleased her. Tears filled my eyes. Then she shoved me toward the hallway. I lost my balance and hit my shoulder against the wall. Pain shot through my body. "Go!" she screamed. "Or I'll give you a reason to cry." For a second, I just stood there. Staring at her. Wondering how the woman my father trusted had become someone I didn't recognize anymore. Then her eyes dropped to the small necklace around my neck. The one my father gave me before he died. Her face twisted with anger. Without warning, she yanked it. SNAP. The chain broke. I gasped. "Daddy's necklace!" I dropped to my knees trying to find it. But she kicked it beneath the sofa. "You won't need that where you're going." My blood ran cold. "What does that mean?" She smiled. Cold and cruel. "You'll find out soon enough." "Mama—" SLAP! My head turned sharply from the force. Pain burned across my cheek immediately. "I said wear it!" Tears rushed into my eyes. I didn't even argue again. I just ran to my room and changed quickly. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. When I came back into the sitting room, my stepmother was smiling at a man sitting comfortably on our old sofa. A very dangerous-looking man. He was in a black suit and wearing an expensive watch. Cold eyes. The room just… changed. I don't know how to explain. The air felt heavy. Like the whole house was holding its breath. My steps slowed immediately. Then he looked at me. And God… I wished he hadn't. Because the way he stared at me made me feel trapped instantly. I didn't like the way he looked at me. Not at all. My stepmother smiled proudly. "This is Elena." The man kept staring at me for a few seconds before speaking. "She's beautiful." His deep voice sent chills down my spine. I looked at my stepmother nervously. "What's happening?" She ignored me completely. Instead, she turned to him and smiled. "So… do we have a deal?" Deal? My heartbeat quickened. The man slowly stood up. He was tall. The kind of tall that made everyone else look smaller. And handsome? But there was something about him that didn't feel right. He looked dangerous to me. Then he reached into his pocket and dropped a thick envelope on the table. Money. A lot of money. My stepmother's eyes shone immediately. And that was the moment fear truly entered my body. I looked between both of them. I was confused and scared. "What deal?" Nobody answered me. The man walked closer instead. He walked slowly and calmly. He acted as if he had all the time in the world. Then he stopped right in front of me. "Lucien Valentino," he said. The name hit me instantly. Everybody knew Lucien Valentino. The billionaire people feared. The man connected to dangerous rumors. The devil in a designer suit” I took one step back immediately. My stepmother grabbed my wrist before I could move. Then she smiled. Cruelly. "He's the man buying you."