When Julia's father gambles her away to settle his debts, she's forced to flee for her life. Desperate and alone, she's nearly captured by her pursuers until a mysterious and handsome stranger intervenes. Enter Alexander, A billionaire who is well known to be ruthless, with secrets and motives of his own. He offers Julia protection and safety, but at a steep price: she must agree to become his wife. As Julia navigates the treacherous world of wealth she finds herself drawn to Alex's darkness and intensity. But can she trust him, or is she trading one form of captivity for another? With each passing day, Julia's feelings for Alex deepen, even as she uncovers the shadows of his past. Will their bond be strong enough to overcome the dangers that haunt them, or will Julia's fate be forever sealed?
Chapter 1 The future
"Keep walking," Julia said to Lia when she stopped in her tracks, her eyes filled with her anger.
"I'm sorry, Julia", Lia replied in a low voice, her eyes brimming with tears as she continued walking...
"it doesn't matter anymore; it's either we wait to get taken or get out of here alive, and there is no way I'm dying here after everything," Julia said firmly. She walked past Lia because Lia was slowing her down. She had spent months hiding away from her father's debtors her father had sold her to, just to clear his debts. Her father had not even batted an eye when the mobs came bashing into their house threatening to kill him... He had immediately offered her his daughter for sale to save himself... she had been dragged out forcefully and told she would have to pay for his debts by working for them, and Julia knew exactly what work they were involved in...
She knew she had to find a way out and save herself, there was no way she was going to spend her life like that...
She had escaped just before they could take her to another city with Lia who was in the same predicament as her. But Lia, who was stupid, had answered a phone call while Julia was taking a shower, and now they might have traced where they were. What frightened her was the type of people had been involved in...
They were known to be ruthless and killed anyone who got in their way... the Ten Rings cartel.
They were involved in many illegal dealings including illegal gambling that her father had gotten involved with...
Julia had no idea how they had gotten Lia's phone number, but there was no time to even think long about it. All she could think about was getting away; she knew if they got her, there was no chance for her freedom anymore...
"I warned you numerous times, lia! Never answer an unknown call! How could you do this after everything we have been through!" Julia spat out angrily as they got to the bus station... Lia's head was hung low, and she didn't know what else to say. She knew she had done bad, but she didn't mean to. She had been expecting a phone call from Brad, her coworker, who she had a crush on and eagerly answered the phone without checking the caller ID. She almost passed out when she heard Charlie's voice. The man they had been sold to... The leader of the Ten Rings organisation in their town... one of many! They were being transported to the main organisations when they escaped... Which would have caused Charlie to get an earful, so Julia was sure he was more than furious...
"Hurry up or we are going to miss the bus," Julia turned to look at her friend, who she was mad at but cared for. She wasn't sure she would have made it through the last two months if Lila wasn't by her side. Life had been too cruel to her.
They quickly purchased their tickets, and twenty minutes later, they were on a bus that was going out of the city. They both had no idea what to expect or how they would survive in the new city they were heading to, but all they knew was that they needed to get away from Charlie.
"But Julia, what about work, we worked so hard to get it. How can we leave like this? How will we fend... Are we going to keep running away for the rest of our lives?" The tears brimming in Lia's eyes had finally escaped. Her heart felt heavy. She couldn't understand how Julia could look so calm when they were in such a predicament...
"We will find a way; I always find a way," Julia replied, even though this time she wasn't sure of herself... she was afraid of what would happen to them, but she couldn't let fear lead her. If both of them were afraid, then who would be strong...
The both of them got to the bus stop just in time for before the bus started moving.. Julia was the one who handed the tickets and then led Lia to their seats... she could see tears in Lia's eyes and felt tears well up in her own eyes too, but she blinked back the tears... Weakness wasn't an option...
She turned towards the window of the bus and smiled slightly... Her mind was reeling... what were they going to do, where would they go? Would they keep running for the rest of their lives? She glanced at her friend and saw that Lia had fallen asleep, tears still in her eyes... "I won't be here forever, Lia, you have to learn to be strong on your own," Julia muttered and turned her head back towards the window... she was tired and had worked a night shift at the factory where she and Lia worked... she hadn't even gotten a wink of sleep, and now the tiredness was weighing down on her shoulders...
She sighed deeply and removed her phone from her bag... Julia opened the bus window and threw the phone out... "A fresh start," She muttered under Her breath... She just hoped wherever her father was, he felt guilty for what he had done to her... Did he even try to get her back after selling her off to Charles like that!? He didn't even bat an eye when she was being dragged away... she doubted if he felt any hint of guilt... He probably wished she was dead already...
He was probably somewhere drinking himself to a stupor... Julia reached into her small bag and brought out an old picture from when she was a little girl... the picture was almost destroyed because of her father... He had scratched out her mother's face from every picture that contained her... He never spoke of her and despised her. Julia didn't even know the reason why he did... She stared at the picture in her hand... The woman carried her, and she had a bright smile on her face, her father was smiling too, but the face of the woman was scratched out, so Julia had no idea what she looked like... She was very young and didn't even remember what her mother looked like anymore... They looked like a happy family... "Are you dead or alive... if you are alive, why would you leave me with him? " Julia muttered, her voice filled with anger and sadness as drops of tears escaped her eyes. She dropped on the picture... Her heart was heavy, filled with so much resentment and pain...
She cried silently as the bus drove further and further to their new destination... A place she wasn't sure of...
Julia's mind was filled with so many questions as her eyelids became heavy with tiredness.... she slowly drifted off to sleep... the land of dreams welcoming her...
Her heart filled with worry of what was to come in both their future...
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