Audrey Zachary's life has been shaped by loss and survival. After her father's death and her mother's coma, Audrey's world spirals further when she's kidnapped and forced into a brothel. Escaping with her friends, she assumes a new identity and spends her days constantly on the move, trying to stay one step ahead of her past. While managing a hotel in a new town, Audrey meets Lucas Hamilton , a wealthy man with a cold reputation and a deep mistrust of women. Despite her guarded heart, she's drawn to him and against her better judgment, their connection deepens and she falls madly in love with him. But Lucas has his own demons. Driven by a personal vendetta, he's hunting someone from his past. As secrets unfold and old wounds resurface, their bond is tested by betrayal, heartbreak, and revelations that threaten to destroy them both. Will Audrey's love for Lucas be enough to overcome her past?
Chapter 1 Her tears
Audrey Zachary adjusted the strap of her bag as she stepped onto the train platform, the chilly breeze brushing against her skin. The station was nearly empty, save for a few strangers waiting for the last train of the night. She checked her phone but there were no new messages. Her aunt, Ivy Jenkins had asked her to wait for her here.
Ivy had been her guardian since she was twelve, after her father's death from a brain tumor and her mother's descent into a coma. Audrey had never questioned her aunt's decisions before, but standing alone in a dimly lit train station for over an hour made her uneasy.
Her phone suddenly buzzed. She checked and it was a message from her aunt.
Aunt Ivy: Buy me some groceries before coming home.
Audrey sighed. At least it gave her something to do instead of standing around in the cold. She turned toward the nearest supermarket, her boots clicking against the pavement.
Halfway there, she heard footsteps behind her.
They were steady. Close.
Too close.
Her pulse quickened. She turned, heart hammering against her chest.
A sharp pain exploded at the back of her head. The world tilted, her vision blurred and darkness swallowed her whole.
"She's a beauty."
A voice slithered into her fading consciousness.
"She'll be good for business. Look at that ass-she'll fill out nicely when she grows up. Her boobs are still tender."
The words made her stomach turn. But before she could fight it, everything went black.
Audrey woke to the sound of arguing.
A sharp female voice sneered, "I saw him first .You seduced him!"
Another scoffed, "Shut your mouth. He said he's tired of you."
She blinked, trying to adjust to the dim light. Her head pounded as she sat up, taking in her surroundings , lavish yet suffocating. Velvet curtains, expensive furniture, dim lighting. The sickly-sweet scent of perfume and liquor clung to the air.
Two women stood in front of her, their bickering momentarily forgotten. One, a striking brunette, folded her arms and scowled. The other, a sultry redhead.
"She's awake," the brunette muttered in dismay. "Great. Another hot one to compete with. I can barely keep up with Ava."
Audrey pressed her palms against her temple, trying to make sense of what was happening.
"Where am I?" she croaked, her throat dry. "I need to go home-I have an exam tomorrow. Have you seen my phone?"
The redhead laughed, a cold, humorless sound. "Oh, sweetheart. You've been napped."
"No," the brunette corrected, clicking her tongue. "She was sold."
Audrey's breath hitched.
Sold?
A sharp click of heels cut through the tension. A woman stepped forward, elegant and poised. Dark red lips, high cheekbones, commanding presence.
Mademoiselle Viola.
"The beauty is awake," she mused, her voice silky and calculated. "Perfect timing. There are many clients awaiting your presence."
Audrey's stomach twisted.
Vanessa and Lola exchanged looks, barely concealing their smirks.
"Vanessa and Lola will give you a tour and Amor will teach you everything you need to know about being a prostitute."
The words hit Audrey like a slap.
A joke. This had to be a joke.
She let out a shaky laugh. "I-I don't have time for this. I'm going home." She stood, brushing past them, only to freeze in the doorway.
Beyond the lavish room was a long corridor filled with women in provocative dresses, men leering from dimly lit booths, music thrumming beneath her feet. The unmistakable scent of sin and desperation clung to the air.
Her pulse skyrocketed.
No.
No, no, no.
"This isn't real," she whispered.
Viola stepped behind her, voice low and taunting. "Once you're here, you belong to me, Audrey. Your body isn't your dignity anymore, it's your livelihood."
Audrey spun, eyes blazing. "I want no part of this! Let me go! My aunt is waiting for me!"
Viola's smile didn't waver.
"Shut up, little girl." Her voice turned ice-cold. "You are mine now. Failure to obey my rules will result in punishment. And believe me, you don't want to experience that."
Audrey's knees buckled.
This wasn't a nightmare.
This was real.
She collapsed onto the floor, sobbing.
Vanessa crouched beside her, wiping away her tears with an oddly gentle touch. "There's no use fighting," she murmured.
"Once Viola buys you, you're hers forever. If you ever have kids, they'll belong to her too."
Audrey stared at her in horror. "I was sold?"
Lola sighed. "Yeah. Most of us were. I was napped. Vanessa was sold by someone she trusted."
Vanessa nodded solemnly. "Lola's boyfriend sold her."
Audrey's breath came in sharp gasps.
Who had betrayed her?
Who had done this to her?
And most terrifying of all , how would she escape?
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