PROLOGUE
She was sitting in the living room of the massive mansion, the same mansion that had become her new prison. The room was luxurious, decorated with expensive furniture and glittering chandeliers, yet to her, it felt colder than a cell. She stared out the tall window blankly, watching the stars scattered across the night sky. Once, she used to admire nights like these. She used to make wishes upon these stars and dream of a future that belonged to her.
Now, the same stars she used to admire once look like cruel jokes.
A reminder of a life she could never return to.
The debt her parents had left behind had swallowed everything. Their mistakes, their desperation, and weakness had become her burden to carry. She was no longer a daughter, a friend, or even her own person. She was merely a payment. A living, breathing payment handed over to settle a debt that was never hers to begin with.
A bitter laugh almost escaped her lips, but it died before it could leave her mouth.
Outside, a light drizzle painted the windows with tiny droplets. The rain was gentle, almost comforting. Yet it was nothing compared to the storm raging inside her chest. Every thought felt like lightning. Every memory felt like thunder. The fear, anger, and helplessness were tearing her apart piece by piece until there was almost nothing left.
She felt like a trapped bird.
A bird trapped in a beautiful cage.
A bird that belonged to a monster.
The thought alone made her stomach twist. Even when he wasn’t physically present, she could feel him. His presence lingered in every hallway, every room, every corner of the mansion. It was as if the walls themselves whispered his name. His eyes seemed to follow her everywhere, invisible yet impossible to escape.
She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ignore the chill creeping beneath her skin.
The mansion was silent.
Too silent.
The kind of silence that made a person hear their own heartbeat.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Every wondered what her future looked like now. Would she spend years trapped here? Would she ever see freedom again? Or would she slowly lose herself until she became exactly what he wanted her to be?
The answer terrified her.
A tear slipped down her cheek before she quickly wiped it away. Crying wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t erase the debt. It wouldn’t break the chains wrapped around her life.
The rain continued to fall outside as the darkness swallowed the world beyond the window.
And somewhere in that darkness, she knew he was watching.
Waiting.
Patiently.
Because monsters never rushed.
They knew their prey had nowhere to run.
