To throw around billions like spare change?


    "I don’t think I’ll need an extra year," Penny said, almost breathless. "But thanks for the offer."


    She signed.


    All three men stood and bowed deeply.


    "Wee to the Adkins family, Madam."


    Timothy handed her a sleek ck card with a shimmering "A" embossed in gold.


    "This is the Adkins ck card. It’ll handle everything you need, no limits, no questions.


    "For one year," Willy said gently, "everything the Adkins family owns is yours."


    "Live the life of your dreams, Madam Penny." Treadwell smiled.


    "And thank you, for choosing our master." They all bowed deeply to their new madam.


    "I want a favor from you." Penny suddenly said to them.


    .


    .


    The air in the dungeon was damp and cold. The sound of water dripping echoed in the dim space like a ticking clock. Ariana screamed and kicked as two guards dragged her across the wet stone floor.


    "Let me go! You can’t do this to me!" she shrieked, heels skidding, hair wild, her voice echoing off the moldy walls.


    This was her punishment, for hurting Osvaldo.


    But why was she the one being punished? Who were those strange men in ck suits? Why did they have so much power over her?


    Ariana couldn’t understand. She was the heiress of the Wird family. In Owlsgrave, the Wirds were royalty. No one dared raise their voice against her. But now, she was being thrown into a dungeon like amon criminal?


    "This must be a joke. Chris! Chris, help me!" she shouted, her voice cracking as the cell door mmed shut behind her with a heavy ng.


    Her cries died out in the cold air. She was to stay here for three days. Three freaking days without food or water.


    How the hell is she supposed to survive?


    "Chris!" she shouted again, eyes locking on the figure walking toward her.


    Chris stood just outside the bars, his hands in his pockets, his face unreadable as he stared at her.


    "I’m afraid I can’t help you this time, Ariana." Christian’s voice was calm, too calm. Like he wasn’t even moved by her tears.


    Ariana’s breath hitched in disbelief. "What do you mean you can’t help me? Those men are yourwyers. How dare they lock me up like this?"


    She was trembling, her designer dress wet and dirty. "Your father hired them, didn’t he? They’re just legal dogs. How dare they judge me?" Her father hadwyers too, and never once have they treated anyone like this.


    Chris looked away, jaw tight. "They’re not mywyers. They’re the Adkins’ personal attorneys. Their word is final when ites to Osvaldo."


    Ariana blinked. "Osvaldo?" she repeated like it was a joke.


    That madman?


    He was just a ghost in the family, a curse no one wanted to speak of. And now... he was suddenly important?


    "He’s insane, Chris! He’s not even normal. Why am I being punished for him?!" she shouted, grabbing the bars.


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    "You should’ve listened to me when I told you not to go near him," Chris said.


    Ariana’s eyes widened with rage. "I did it for you! I did it for us! I just wanted to humiliate Penny. That was all!"


    Chris didn’t flinch. "And look where that got you."


    "You said you loved me. You said you chose me over her! Is this what love means to you? Locking me in a dungeon?!"


    Chris said nothing.


    "Say something!" she screamed, but his silence was louder than anything else. He didn’t know whether to tell her about the truth or not.


    "Everything is not what it seems to be Ariana." He suddenly said, face still unreadable. He didn’t know where to start from.


    "What are you talking about Chris?" Ariana asked.


    "In this world, in our world, Osvaldo..."


    "Is very important to our family." A voice sounded in the dungeon. It was Abby, the sharp clicking of heels echoed down the corridor.


    Her face was cold as she approached the cell. Her eyes were sharper than ever.