Chapter 3

My family was nothing like the Reed, Perry, and Foster families. They were old-money dynasties with tangled roots going back a hundred years, while we were the lucky ones taking advantage of this new era.

My dad had guts and luck. He seized the opportunity and shot up to become a new-money tycoon, squeezing into the top tier of society.

But our foundation was shaky, and we were always labeled as nouveau riche. The whispers and sneers behind our backs never stopped.

When I was little, I couldn't stand it. I always wanted to rush up and argue with those people, but my dad would always stop me.

He told me seriously that if I wanted a place here, I had to let go of my pride and start building connections with the people in this circle.

So I hid my sharp edges and swallowed my pride; I learned to play dumb, act carefree, and feign indifference; I followed those boys, doing everything I could to fit in their world, and Axel, Blake, and Julian were at the center of that world.

From elementary school to college, I'd always been left out and teased. I spent over ten years with them until I eventually got "accepted."

I figured that even if their original purpose was vile, after all those years of sticking around and being genuine, I'd get at least a bit of real care from them. But I was wrong.

When my dad's investments failed and my family was on the verge of collapse, they became distant so fast, like it was only natural.

That was when I finally realized we were never equal.

This time, I didn't cling to them or try desperately to please them like I used to.

I started to go to class and eat by myself; I learned how to live without them around.

I thought my life was about to return to peace, but then I got kidnapped.

When I found myself cornered in an abandoned warehouse by a bunch of familiar faces, I was totally stunned.

The guy in charge was Miles Sutton. We used to be friends.

I honestly thought it was another one of their bad jokes, so I laughed and said if they were short on cash, I could lend them some. But then they hit me with an astronomical number that I could never pay.

That was when I realized that they weren't joking.

They took every valuable thing I had, locked me up in a moldy warehouse for two whole days. I didn't take any food or water.

By the third day, I was starving and dizzy, and I overheard their anxious discussion. They were too scared to blackmail my parents directly, afraid the police would get involved, so their plan was to sell me to someone.

An overwhelming sense of absurdity hit me. It was like watching a bunch of kids, holding sharp knives, seriously discussing how to kill someone.

I wanted to laugh at how ridiculous it all was, but the icy gleam of those "blades" sent a bone-deep terror through me.

That last shred of disbelief disappeared the instant they started tearing at my clothes, pulling out their phones to snap photos, and putting me up for sale to the highest bidder. All I felt was endless panic and chill.

I curled up like a dying animal, screaming, cursing, and threatening them, but my tough act and empty threats only made me look like more of a stimulating spectacle for them.

Miles crouched down and let out a sigh, his lips curling into a twisted smile with desire and guilt.

As he reached out to touch me, he said, "Lottie, don't blame me. Honestly, I've always liked you. I never wanted things to turn out this way."

He didn't get to finish his sentence. His words twisted into a blood-curdling scream.

I used all my strength to bite his finger hard, blood flooding my mouth. Right then, I genuinely wanted to tear his finger clean off.

The warehouse was instantly in chaos as a bunch of guys rushed over, scrambling to drag me off him.

Then, with a loud bang, someone kicked the heavy iron door of the warehouse open from outside.

Blinding light poured in like a blade, slicing through the darkness.

A tall figure stood silhouetted against the light, like a deity descending, appearing before me as I was about to lose all hope. It was Julian.