Chapter 1
After my family went bankrupt, Samuel Hayes dumped me in the red-light district and forced me to sell my body for five years.
During those five years, I cried and asked him countless times what I had done wrong.
Every time, Samuel would torment me ruthlessly, only to pull me into his arms at the end.
Samuel would say, "Sophie, don't blame me. If you want to blame someone, blame your last name."
The last time, he was drunk and played a surveillance video for me.
In the video, I was sitting in a Pagani Roadster, watching coldly as a bunch of thugs ripped a girl's clothes off.
Samuel forced my head down and said, "Sophie Lane, do you remember? The Lane Family used to be high and mighty, able to take someone's life with just a snap of their fingers. Now, it's your turn to be toyed with by men. Does it make you hate it?"
But I was on the floor, laughing like a maniac, tears streaming down my face.
No one knew that the Lane Family had a pair of twin sisters.
I wasn't the one in that video.
*****
When Samuel caught me for the tenth time, I was working as a shoe shiner at a hotel.
Samuel's eyes swept over my white dress, and he sneered.
"Sophie, you've been selling yourself for five years. Still trying to act all innocent? What, you really think anyone would want damaged goods like you?"
I kept my face blank and looked down.
After five years of Samuel's humiliation, my heart was already numb.
Getting caught by him was inevitable.
"Samuel, I really don't want to do this anymore. Can you just let me go?"
Samuel laughed again, but the smile never reached his eyes.
He grabbed my arm and dragged me into the car.
"Sophie, I've told you before. So long as I'm alive, you'll stay a whore."
He reached out and pinched my cheek. His fingers lingered, almost tenderly. It didn't hurt at all.
"What are you so afraid of? Worried the guys you end up with will think you're filthy? Don't bother. If they don't want you, I'll take you."
I found it almost laughable, but a sharp pang twisted in my chest.
Samuel always put on that polished gentleman act, like he wasn't the one who put me through all this pain.
Back then, I would've been in tears, begging him for an answer.
But that day, after watching the video Samuel had hidden on his computer, everything finally made sense.
The girl who died was Samuel's only sister.
And I became the scapegoat for my twin sister.
It was just fate playing tricks. Who could I blame?
Samuel brought me back to the Velvet Lounge in the red-light district.
May hurried over, fawning all over him.
"Mr. Hayes, Mr. Harper from Bayview is here. He specifically asked for Sophie."
Samuel gave a warm, easy smile and led me into the private room.
In the dim light, Adrian Harper, all flab and sleaze, grinned at me with a greasy smile.
He said, "Mr. Hayes, it's been ages since I was in Portville. I heard the Lane heiress is working at your place now? You don't mean that Lane Family, do you? The one everyone used to be scared of?"
His ugly, beady eyes were locked on me.
Samuel smirked, and right there in front of everyone, he reached out and gave my ass a humiliating pat.
He said, "Go on, sit next to Mr. Harper."
I didn't resist. I just walked over in silence.
Adrian burst out laughing, yanked me against his side, and slid his hand inside my blouse, pawing at me with a sleazy grin.
"Who would've thought the Lane heiress would end up selling herself? Man, how the mighty have fallen."
Yeah, who could've seen this coming?
Six years ago, I was squeaky clean, selling tacos in the university district. Students from all over called me the Taco Queen.
Five years ago, the Lane Family claimed me as their own. I took the place of my twin sister who ran off with some guy, and became their favorite little princess, Sophie.
Five years later, the Lane Family went under, Samuel rose to power, and I ended up beneath men, just another plaything.
Anyone who heard my story would cry for me, then curse me as filthy.
Adrian dragged me upstairs to the hotel.
He couldn't even wait for the elevator to reach our floor. He was already tugging at his belt, eager as a dog in heat.
The elevator doors slid open, and Samuel was standing there, waiting for us.