The door swung open, and Zac, Andrew's most trusted bodyguard, came in. He was breathing heavily as if he had run miles without stopping. He dropped to one knee before Andrew, who lazily pulled away from the woman draped over him, her lipstick all over his face in the shape of their recent kiss. "Speak," Andrew ordered, eyes narrowing. Zac gulped. "Sir, we've found her." Andrew pushed the woman away, sitting up straight. "Where, Zac?" "At the bridge. She's... she's in her wedding gown," Zac hesitated, looking to the floor as if the words would burn him. Andrew's eyes flashed, and he clenched his jaw. "Gather everyone, We're bringing her back. Now." "Yes, sir," Zac replied and left to gather others. Andrew stood abruptly, reaching for his keys when a voice stopped him. "So, you're just going to leave?" It was Emily, her voice trembling with disbelief. Andrew looked back, "Emily, don't start" "Don't start?" She stepped in front of him, blocking his way. "You don't even care! You kissed me, you whispered promises, and now, you're rushing out the door the second she's found. Is she more important than I am?" Tears welled in her eyes. Andrew sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Of course, you are important, and I love you. But Emily, you know this isn't about love. It's about money. My money and I won't allow that bitch to go scout free." "You caused it. You brought another woman into our lives, we were happy together, and we loved each other. Now she is gone, how do you get your money back?" Emily said. Andrew pulled away, his voice hard. "I don't have time for this." And without glancing at her, he stormed out, leaving Emily. ... SUMMER I had just passed the bridge, I took a deep breath, wiping the sweat from my brow, trying to savor this small moment of freedom. "Water," I said, approaching a vendor who looked at me like he just saw a ghost. I gulped the bottle down and paid. As I tossed the bottle aside, I heard a loud horn behind me. Turning, my heart sank. It was Andrew. He wasn't alone; my parents were there too, in a separate car, their faces twisted with shame and fury. "It's over," I muttered to myself, a bitter smile creeping onto my lips. They approached one by one, Andrew first, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. "You thought you could escape?" His voice was dangerously low. "Why, darling?" my mother whimpered, reaching for me. "Why would you embarrass us like this?" I drew in a shaky breath. "I'm not marrying him. I won't do it." "Don't be ridiculous, he is our lifesaver!" my mother snapped. "No!" I yelled, slowly pulling the hem of my wedding gown up, ready to flee. "Get her," Andrew ordered, and his guards walked towards me. Barefoot, I bolted, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. I raced through the crowded street, weaving between bystanders who stared at the runaway bride with wide eyes. My lungs burned, and my legs screamed, but I couldn't stop, not now, not ever. Suddenly, a black limousine screeched to a halt in front of me. The doors flew open, and two men in white suits stepped out. Then, he stepped out, a man in a tailored black suit, his face partially hidden behind a mask, his aura demanding attention. The way his guards bowed made my skin prickle. He seems important. Powerful. Without thinking twice, I ran to him but his guards stopped me. "Please just a moment with your boss." I pleaded, struggling with his guards. The man raised his hands, and his guards stopped. I ran to him and fell to my knees. "Please save me." I pleaded. His bodyguards gasped, they were shocked and alerted. "Boss, she could be dangerous; she is on the run by the look of her dress; what if she is a spy?" One of his bodyguards said. "I'm not a spy; please, I need your boss's help." I pleaded, dropping to my knees before him. "What do I look like? A philanthropist? Little girl, I'm not interested in your problems." He said and turned to leave. "Wait." I held him but he pushed my hands away. "Marry me." I blurted out. The man's bodyguards gasped at my boldness and audacity. "She is crazy boss." One of them said. The masked man lifted me with his hand. *Jeez! I'm so tiny to him* I thought. The masked man remained silent, studying me. His eyes, though hidden behind the mask, felt like they saw everything. Finally, he spoke, "Why?" He asked in a low, husky, and dangerous voice. "I will pay you." I swallowed hard, I felt stupid for saying that, but I tried not to show how intimidated I was by his presence. This man was huge, tall, muscular built... He laughed so hard and dropped me. "What money can you offer me that I don't have? Looks like little Cinderella was left alone by her prince." He added. I smiled nervously. "The opposite happened. Please, I desperately need your help," I said. "They're trying to force me into a life I don't want, My parents signed me off in a contract marriage, and my groom cheated on me an hour before our wedding. When I confronted him, he hit me." I cried, trying to move them by my story. The man stared at me like I was a joke. "Like I said earlier, I am not interested in your problems." "please I will do anything." I grabbed his legs and held them tightly. "Let go." He said barely above a whisper. {The masked man, Lorenzo, had no intention to involve himself in the affairs of strangers. Yet something about her struck him. She has a striking resemblance to the girl he had long been searching for. Curious, he pulled out his phone and compared her face to the photo he carried. The nose, eyes. It was her!} "I will do anything. Anything you want." I insisted, holding onto his leg." "You don't have anything to offer me." He said. {Seizing the opportunity to keep her close, Lorenzo decided to help her.} "Anything?" He asked, The corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk. "Yes." I nodded, tears streaming down my face. "Anything." He thought about something for a while and then he spoke again, softer this time, but somehow more terrifying. "Then be My slave." I froze, the word hitting me like a punch to the gut. "Wh-what?" My heart dropped. I frown my face not expecting that. "What? Can't do it?" He scoffed. I said nothing, thinking about it. Should I just go back to Andrew or be this man's slave? What did he mean by slave?, Servant? "I see you are not interested in the deal, adios" The masked man turned to leave. Before I could say anything, Andrew's voice cut through the air. "Get away from her!" He and his guards were closing in. The masked man snapped his fingers, and his guards drew out their guns, pointing them at Andrew and his entourage. "You have five seconds," he warned me. The air thickened, the seconds ticking by, as Andrew's furious gaze met mine, and the masked man's shadow loomed over me. "One." I took a shaky breath. "Two." My heart pounded. "Three." And then I made my choice. "Take me," I shouted, my voice trembling. He smiled, but there was no kindness in it. "Welcome to your new life," he said, reaching down to pull me up. "Welcome to HELl!" Andrew came towards us, and that's when the gunshot rang out, echoing through the street.

SUMMER POV Everything freezed, I screamed hearing the gunshot. My heart pounding in my chest. Andrew staggered back, clutching his arm, blood dripping between his fingers. His once-confident look crumbled as he stared at the wound disbelief. I, myself didn't expect him to fire. "Hold your fire!" the masked man commanded, His bodyguards immediately lowered their weapons. Andrew's men could not do anything as they don't have any weapon on them. "You've made a grave mistake," Andrew growled, his eyes flashing dangerously despite the pain. "You don't know who you're messing with." The masked man stepped forward with a calmness that only made the situation more terrifying. "You overestimate yourself," he said coldly. "She's no longer yours." "You can't just take her!" Andrew's voice rose with desperation. "She's my wife!" Before he could finish, one of the masked man's bodyguards opened the limo door and produced a sleek black envelope, tossing it at my feet. I stared at it, confused. "Sign it," the masked man commanded, his voice sharp and final. I froze, glancing between the envelope and his unreadable expression. My hands trembled, unsure whether this was the right path or another trap. He stepped closer, "I won't be able to help you unless you sign that contract." I looked at the masked man, pleading silently. I had no idea who he really was or what this contract contain. "How much are we talking about here?" the masked man asked, his voice steady as his piercing gaze locked onto mine. I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Three billion," I whispered, feeling the weight of every word. The masked man's eyes flickered with mild interest. "Three billion?" He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Now I see why he's chasing you down." "The money was for my parents' business," I confessed, my voice cracking. "In exchange for me. It's all part of the marriage contract. Can you... can you buy me out of it?" The masked man laughed darkly, stepping even closer. His presence was suffocating. "Should that even be a question?" He tilted his head, studying me. "Do you have any idea who I am?" I shook my head, fear twisting in my stomach. "I'm called the Devil." He leaned in, his breath hot against my skin. "Ask around, and they'll tell you all you need to know." I swallowed hard, my heart thudding against my ribcage. This man was dangerous-possibly worse than Andrew. But in this moment, anything seemed better than marrying the man who'd tried to buy my life. With trembling fingers, I crouched down and picked up the envelope. I had no time to read it before I signed my name at the bottom of the contract. The moment the ink dried, the masked man grinned, a slow, sinister grin that made my skin crawl. "You are officially mine. My slave, my property." His laugh rang out, chilling and triumphant, his head thrown back as if the sky itself was amused by my fate. "Welcome to hell." A cold shiver ran down my spine. Had I just traded one nightmare for another? I couldn't tell anymore. But as I stood there, holding the signed papers, I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. Did I make the right choice? I wasn't sure anymore. Suddenly, Andrew stormed over, his face twisted in fury. He grabbed my arm aggressively, pulling me toward him. "Let's go, now," he growled through clenched teeth. "We're going home." The masked man's eyes flashed with amusement, stepping forward as his bodyguards loomed behind him. "That won't be happening," he said coldly, his voice low and dangerous. "She's mine now." "That's impossible!" Andrew roared, his face red with fury. "She's my bride!" The masked man shrugged, unimpressed by the display. "Meet me with your lawyer and her parents," he said, his voice dripping with authority. "Tomorrow at 8 a.m. We'll settle this then." He turned his back, and walked into the gigantic five-star hotel before us. I glanced at my parents standing a few feet away, their expressions unreadable, caught between shame and helplessness. They had traded me away, and now I was caught between two devils. The masked man walked into the hotel's grand entrance, and my feet moved instinctively, following him. Andrew's voice, sharp with desperation, echoed behind me. "This isn't over! You hear me? This isn't over!" But as I stepped through the gilded doors, my mind whirled with the chaos I'd just signed myself into. The masked man led me through the lobby, but just as we reached the elevator, he stopped and turned, his gaze hardening. "You should prepare yourself." "For what?" I asked, my voice faint, barely a whisper. "For tomorrow. Things will get... messy." His lips curled into a smirk that sent a chill through me. "And you'll need to decide what you're willing to sacrifice next."

SUMMER My eyes traced the beauty of this penthouse, a world of glass, steel, and luxury. The kind of place you could only dream of. How had I ended up here again? Right... the masked man. But wait--what was his name? I never asked. A knight in shining armor? or designer suits? I sat up in the bed, my mind racing. "Who is this guy?" I whispered to myself. A soldier, maybe? No, he carried a gun, but that didn't feel right. He had that air about him, like a man who commands more than armies, maybe a businessman? Or something darker? The door opened interrupting my thoughts. Three maids stepped in, all dressed in black and white uniforms. "Master says you should bathe and wear this," one of them said softly, placing a breathtaking dress on the bed. Another set down a tray of food, fruits and a bottle of wine. The third disappeared into the bathroom, preparing a bath that soon filled the air with the scent of lavender. I was still trying to process everything when she returned, offering me a massage like I was royalty. "This place... it's like heaven," I murmured as they work on my body. It felt wrong to enjoy it, but it was a far cry from the life I almost had. Marrying a cheating, abusive scumbag? Not anymore. Not after he hit me and acted like my parents had handed him my life on a silver platter. And to think, my own mother told me to endure for the sake of her business. Can you believe that? The thought made my blood boil. *** Author pov On the rooftop, Lorenzo, yes, that was his name. Stood alone staring at the horizon with wine glass in hand. His assistant, Conti, approached cautiously, eyeing his boss with uneasiness. "Why did you do that?" Conti asked, his voice in a low murmur. "Don't question me," Lorenzo replied, his gaze never wavering from the city skyline. "Are you sure you made the right decision?, she look like someone that will bring lot of trouble." Conti pressed on. Lorenzo finally turned, a smirk playing on his lips. "Trouble? I love trouble." He took a long sip of his wine. "Besides, I like the game, she looks like an exact prey." Conti frowned. "But she's someone else's bride." "Not anymore," Lorenzo said with finality. His eyes glittered behind the mask. "She's mine now." "I don't know but something pulls me to her." "What could that be boss?" Conti asked. Lorenzo sipped from his wine. "We will found out soon." *** SUMMER POV The next morning was a blur of voices and tension. I could hear the murmur of heated conversations even from the bedroom. Lorenzo, dressed head to toe in crisp white, sat at the head of the table like a king. Across from him were my parents, alongside Andrew, my so-called groom, fuming with silent rage. "You want to buy her out of the marriage contract?" Andrew's mother asked, her tone cold and calculating. Lorenzo didn't answer right away, just signed the papers with a flick of his pen. Andrew mum cleared her throat, she brought her Lawyer who brought out some papers. "That'll be 3.5 billion," she added, pushing forward the legal documents with a smirk. "That's ridiculous, it supposed to be 3 billion, where did the five come from?" Lorenzo asked. "That's for the embarrassment she caused us..." "what embarrassment?" "Defamation, she ran away leaving my son on the altar, imagine what press will say." Lorenzo's mask tilted as if in amusement. "Fine." He gestured to Conti, who brought in two briefcases and dropped them on the floor with a thud. Andrew's mother flinched but quickly composed herself as she opened one. Her eyes gleamed as she counted the cash inside. Andrew, still glaring, finally spoke up. "Who are you? What kind of man throws billions away on a woman?" Lorenzo didn't even look his way. "Trust me, you don't want to know." Andrew left with his mum, remaining my parents. "Please we want to see our daughter." Dad said with a shaken voice. Lorenzo snapped his fingers, and within three minutes two maids escorted me from the room I was to the sitting room. The room I was, was close to the sitting room, infact only a curtain separated us. "Mum, Dad!" I excitedly ran to hug my parents. "My baby, how are you?" Dad asked, checking me out. "Are you okay, I'm so sorry." Mum said, almost with tears. "I'm good, as you can see." I said, and turned around, flexing the gown given to me. "Thank you sir for your kindness." My dad said, grabbed my hands and lead me to the door but the masked man bodyguard stopped us. "Wait, isn't that considered stealing?" Lorenzo's voice cut through the air like a blade. "Wh-what stealing?" My parents were confused same as I. "Leaving with my property." "We didn't take anything, here you can check my purse." My mum said, bringing stuffs from her purse. "Not that." Lorenzo rolled his eyes. "Her." Lorenzo's gloved hand pointed to me. My heart skip a beat. "Huh." "What?" "Excuse me?" "What do you mean!" I shot back, stepping forward "I am no one property." " you are," "Do you mean my life is yours?" I demanded, voice trembling, though I tried to keep it steady. I took a step toward him, fists clenched. "Hey, thanks for helping, I need to go with my parents. As for the 3.5 billion, I and my parents will work our ass out and pay you back." I pleaded. "Ha ha." He laughed to my surprise. "There is no such thing." "What?, why?" I asked. Lorenzo chuckled, dark and cold. "You think I care about the money? This isn't a loan Summer. This is a contract. And you signed it willingly." "Also you are not allowed to see your parents unless I grant you permission." He added. "Says by who?" "Me." Is this man high or drunk? what the heck is he saying! "It was stated in the contract." He said. "What contract, I thought my marriage contract had been demolished..." It was then I remembered yesterday. I signed a contract with this man. "Oh." My face dropped. "You tricked me," I screamed at him. My parents looked at me "Is it true?" "Bring it." Lorenzo ordered, then a man on black suit, blonde hair opened the drawer and brought out the black envelope. He gave it to me, which I opened and read. My eyes widened as I read what I had gotten myself into. "I can't see my parents, or friends unless you permit it, and it's twice in a year! That's ridiculous!" "Yeah." He shrugged with no emotion. "Wait, is this what being your slave means?, how many months is this contract?" I charged at him visibly angry. "Check it yourself, it's in there." He sat down on the sofa and picked up a newspaper which he started reading. I scrolled through the contract, then my eyes fell on the duration of the contract. "731 days!"