Seraphina Alaric sat frozen on the velvet seat, her fingers digging into the fabric of her dress. The grand chandelier above cast a golden glow on the mahogany walls of the auction house—a place where paintings, antiques, and, apparently, daughters of powerful families were sold like commodities.
Her father sat across from her, swirling a glass of whiskey with the same indifference he had when signing away business deals. Tonight, the business deal was her.
"It's for the family, Seraphina," William Alaric said, his voice dripping with false sympathy. "Your marriage to Damien Thorne will secure our legacy."
Marriage? No. This wasn't a marriage—it was a transaction. A cold, calculated sale to the highest bidder. And Damien Thorne had paid the price.
The double doors at the end of the hall swung open, and the air seemed to shift. Heavy footsteps echoed as the infamous billionaire stepped inside. The room grew eerily silent. Everyone knew his name. Everyone feared it.
Damien Thorne.
Dark hair, sharp features, and eyes as merciless as a storm—he carried an aura of power that made her stomach twist. He didn't just own businesses. He owned cities, people, fates.
And now, he owned her.
He took slow, deliberate steps toward her, his gaze piercing. He wasn't dressed like the other men in the room, with their tailored suits and polished shoes. No, Damien carried himself like a king who had no need to impress anyone.
Stopping just inches from her, he tilted his head. "Stand up."
Seraphina lifted her chin, refusing to move.
His lips curled into a smirk, as if amused by her defiance. "Ah, so they sold me a wildcat. Good. I don't like to tame my things."
Things. The word burned, but she swallowed her fury. If she lashed out now, she'd be giving her father the satisfaction of knowing she was broken.
"The contract is signed," William interrupted. "She's yours."
Damien didn't even spare her father a glance. Instead, he reached out and took her wrist, his grip firm but not cruel.
"You'll come with me now," he said. "And let me be clear about one thing, Seraphina—I don't break what's mine. But I will remake them."
Her breath hitched. There was no illusion of freedom. No illusion of choice.
With one final glance at her father—the man who betrayed her—Seraphina let Damien Thorne lead her into the unknown, vowing that if she was a caged bird, she would sharpen her talons.
And when the time came, she would make them all regret it.