For Asher, I sold myself to Damon Sterling. In the pouring rain, inside his RV, my hair was yanked, and my thin white dress was torn to shreds. My body became the currency for this treacherous dance with my enemies. But I never imagined that this degrading spectacle, this feast where I was just a kept woman, didn’t go unnoticed by another pair of eyes. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m Marcus Sterling, Damon Sterling’s uncle.” The last final exam of my sophomore year had just ended. The moment my phone buzzed with the message, I rushed out into the pouring rain towards the hospital. “The patient’s heart stopped briefly, but thankfully, after resuscitation, he’s out of danger. We couldn’t reach you, so we contacted Mr. Sterling.” The doctor was still rambling on, but I pressed my head against the glass, letting out a long, shaky breath. The cold sweat of a near-disaster drenched my back. Damon Sterling had helped me again. Knowing him, he’d undoubtedly make me pay, in his own twisted way. Sure enough, no sooner had I settled Asher than my phone rang. Damon Sterling’s driver, Victor, subtly urged me downstairs. The car was already waiting. Stepping out of the hospital, the biting evening wind felt like a harsh slap across my face. But what chilled me more was Damon Sterling’s gaze. He turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting mine across the torrential rain. The stark, cold white light reflected off his face, his thin, chiseled lips pressed tightly together. My gut told me my sugar daddy was pissed. Without another thought, I pulled up my collar and ran towards the RV, battling the storm. Victor was already standing by the door. “The young master isn’t in a good mood,” Victor whispered, pulling open the door. I gave a barely perceptible nod of thanks as I ducked my head and plunged into the car. The door closed, sealing off all sound from the outside. “With this kind of rain, why did you come?” I tried to steady my voice, shaking off the raindrops. Damon Sterling said nothing, only hooked his finger under my chin, his rough thumb tracing the line of my lips. I avoided his intense gaze, dropping my eyes. “It’s about Asher. Thank you for your help again today.” Damon Sterling hummed faintly, his voice devoid of warmth. “Your classmate even followed you here.” I followed his gaze and looked back. Noah Jensen was still standing at the hospital entrance. I didn’t know how long he’d been watching, but the two men stared at each other through the rain. My right eyelid twitched. That possessive jerk’s jealousy was flaring up again. I got out of the car, and Victor, holding an umbrella, walked me back to the hospital entrance. “Noah, you should head back to campus. Asher’s fine, and thank you for your help today.” Noah looked at the car behind me, wanting to say something, but he didn’t push me. He nodded and disappeared into the rain. When I got back into the car, Damon Sterling had just hung up his phone. I felt compelled to explain. “I forgot my bag after the exam. Noah happened to see it and chased me to bring it, then offered to come to the hospital to see if he could help.” “That kid likes you.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement. “Noah’s just a warm-hearted person. He’s friendly to all his classmates.” Damon Sterling leaned closer, rubbing his nose against mine intimately. One hand slipped under my dress. “A toad wanting to mate with a swan! He’s completely out of his league! Doesn’t matter if he likes you, you’re mine.” His fingers were cold, and I instinctively flinched. Damon Sterling paused, raising an eyebrow. “What, are you cold?” He curved his lips into a smile, and my heart lurched. Having been with him for a year, I knew that expression all too well. Sure enough, the next second Damon Sterling loosened his tie. “Since you’re cold, let’s play a grown-up game and warm ourselves up.” “No!” I pressed hard against his chest, stopping him from coming closer. Victor was still outside the car. Damon Sterling might be shameless, but I still had some dignity to lose. Damon Sterling, with his entitled young master’s temper, couldn’t stand even a hint of resistance. His face immediately hardened, and he narrowed his eyes. “In front of me, do you have the right to say no?” “No, it’s not that. I mean, can we not do it in the car? Victor is right outside, he’ll hear us.” “Ha! You’re really concerned about his feelings. First a classmate, now the driver. You sure have a lot of men on your mind.” “No, they’re just my friends.” “You’re mine. Your thoughts should only be on me, understood?” He pinched my cheek. “But you did remind me. Victor is still standing outside. It wouldn’t be good if he caught a cold in this weather.” I should have known, Damon Sterling was a total psychopath! When he was in a good mood, he’d practically give me the world for a smile. But when he was in a bad mood, he’d stoop to the most despicable acts. Rich and utterly unhinged! He tapped on the window, deliberately calling Victor inside. The atmosphere in the car became incredibly bizarre. Victor sat in the driver’s seat, staring straight ahead, his hands gripping the steering wheel. I couldn’t tell if the drops on his face were rain or sweat. “Young Master, are we heading back to the mansion?” Damon Sterling chuckled, his gaze flitting between Victor and me. After a long moment, he slowly replied, “To Brock Miller’s birthday party. I have a ‘big gift’ for him.” The Miller family and the Sterling family were old family friends, their relationship complex and tangled. Damon Sterling’s temper was merely unpredictable, but Brock Miller, the other heir to the Miller fortune, was a pure, unadulterated madman, a loose cannon. The car started moving, but Damon Sterling hadn’t forgotten what had just happened, and he wasn’t about to let me off easily. “Didn’t you say thank you earlier?” He stroked my long hair. “Show me some sincerity now.” His gaze fell on my lips. I steeled myself and leaned in, kissing the corner of his mouth. “That’s it? Are you playing with me?” He sneered, pulling me close by the waist, not letting me move. I bit my lower lip, shaking his arm. “Just a little interest payment for now. When we go back tonight, I’ll take off my makeup and shower, then you can do whatever you want, okay?” “Not okay! Begging won’t work.” “I’ve been working like a dog all these days on my business trip, and I just landed only to rush here for your brother. Meanwhile, you’ve been living it up, and I’m practically bursting at the seams…” My face flushed, and I clapped a hand over his mouth, afraid of what other vulgar words he might utter. Damon Sterling chuckled, kissing my palm and then pulling my hand into his, playing with it. He whispered a hot breath into my ear, “I’ve changed my mind. Your cries for mercy sound so sweet, I don’t want any other man to hear them. Let’s try a different game.” He pressed me against him, my vision completely consumed by him. I shook my head frantically. Without his command, Victor wouldn’t dare lower the privacy screen or turn on the music. In the confined space, all that could be heard was my soft, desperate resistance. “Don’t cry, baby. The more you cry, the more I want to torment you.” His breathing grew heavier, his eyes fixed on my face. He licked away my tears, coaxing softly, “Now, you have two choices…” Between Damon Sterling and me, there was no ‘if I wanted to,’ only ‘if he wanted to.’ “If you’re a good girl and listen, I’ve found a special medication from abroad to ease your brother’s pain. It can be air-shipped next week.” Asher was my weakness; Damon Sterling knew that perfectly. There was no choice. All my dignity and pride were trampled under Damon Sterling’s heel. With my hair falling around me, I reluctantly lowered my head. “Hiss…” Damon Sterling’s arm muscles flexed, his throat working. I had never done this before. Outside the window, traffic flowed, but who could imagine such a scene unfolding in the opaque car? I looked up, tears blurring my vision as I gazed at Damon Sterling. What normal man could resist such a look? “Lower the privacy screen!!!” Damon Sterling roared.
Victor, as if a great weight had been lifted, quickly pressed the button. I closed my eyes, trying to empty my mind, my consciousness slowly blurring. I felt as if I was back in that cicada-filled afternoon. Golden sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the ground. Asher’s lean, firm arms were stiffly wrapped around me, his fingers gripping the reins so tightly they were white. I looked back and saw his ears flushed crimson, and the sparkling galaxy in his eyes. “W-what are you looking at? I’m teaching you to ride. If you’re not careful, you’ll fall and start crying again.” “What’s there to be afraid of? You’re here, you’ll protect me. Wow, Asher, your face is red!” “Such disrespect! I told you to call me ‘big brother’.” Asher suddenly spurred the horse, and I shrieked, burying myself in his arms, hearing the thunderous beat of his heart. That summer, the vast grassland, unripe fruits, and intertwined figures on horseback. A sparkling secret was etched into my life, from a time in my youth I could never return to. “Skylar, look at me, say my name!” Damon Sterling’s voice was hoarse as he patted my face. I slowly opened my eyes. The illusion vanished. I had missed that vibrant summer and lost that bright boy. Tears streamed down my face. “Damon Sterling.” Damon Sterling tugged my hair and kissed me deeply, not hearing the rest of my sentence. “I hate you…” He kissed my sweat-dampened forehead, wiping away the marks on my body, as intimately as if we were lovers lost in passion. “Sorry, I got carried away. Your dress is ruined, I’ll take you to buy a new one.” “No.” No dress was better. That way, I wouldn’t have to go to Brock Miller’s birthday party. Meeting my enemy face-to-face, I was afraid I’d lose control and stab him. Damon Sterling didn’t think much of it, only assuming I was pouting playfully. He smiled, picked me up, and wrapped me tightly in his jacket. “Alright, alright, my bad. I wore you out, baby. I’ll carry you in myself, how’s that?” Damon Sterling had already informed the store manager to clear everyone out. When he carried me in, only a few meek-looking staff stood by the door. He placed me on the sofa in the dressing room. “Don’t be shy. These guys are all trustworthy, they won’t gossip or stare.” He knelt before me, looking completely harmless. I reached out to smooth a stray lock of hair on his head, my hand lingering on his face, gently caressing it. Such a simple gesture made Damon Sterling grin like an idiot from a rural town. Even a hint of feigned affection from me was enough to send him over the moon. Damon Sterling was already deeply smitten, though he didn’t realize it. He reluctantly held my hand, kissing it for a long time before his phone rang. “What the hell are you rushing for?!” The person on the other end wasn’t bothered by his rudeness. “What’s up, buddy? So much anger. Did I interrupt something good?” “Get lost, get lost! If you call again, I’ll kill you.” Damon Sterling cursed as he hung up. The tender moment was broken. “Go take a shower, I’ll go pick out clothes for you.” When I emerged, I was dressed from head to toe, including jewelry. Damon Sterling sat beside me, propping his chin in his hand, watching me apply makeup, thoroughly pleased with my look. Beauty is tempting; it can make a king forget his duties. I knew how much my face tempted men. I also knew that beauty was just one card. Coupled with background, education, or intelligence, any one of them could be a winning hand. But alone, it was a dead end. So, I needed a teammate to help me win this game. Damon Sterling brought me to the club, but his hands were empty. “Didn’t you say it was Brock’s birthday? How come you didn’t bring a gift?” Damon Sterling smiled, kissing my cheek. “The gift will arrive on its own.” The private room was thick with smoke, making me cough. I nudged Damon Sterling inside. “I’m just going to the restroom, I’ll be right back.” This floor was for VIPs, so there weren’t many customers. I walked down the corridor to the ladies’ room. The moment I entered, I froze. A woman’s voice mingled with the sound of impacts. I instinctively stepped back, kicking a nearby trash can, which made a loud noise. The woman shrieked in surprise, and then everything fell silent. I turned to leave, but the door behind me opened and then closed. A large hand reached over my head, slamming against the door, blocking my exit. The man loomed over me. “Where are you running off to?” He had clearly come out in a hurry, his shirt unbuttoned. I immediately turned and walked a few steps away, widening the distance between us. “Little darling, you interrupted big brother’s fun. Aren’t you going to apologize?” “Fun? What kind of fun is this? This is the ladies’ room, a public place. Don’t you have any shame?” Brock Miller walked closer, looking at me like an interesting toy. “Look at you, all fired up with righteous anger. Have you never tried it in a bathroom? Want to try with me? Big brother will be very gentle.” He grabbed my raised hand, pinning both my hands behind my back. “Trying to hit me?” Seeing my mixture of fury and fear, Brock’s smile widened. He leaned in, but I dodged, and his kiss landed on my neck. “You smell delicious.” He then bit me. Just as I was about to scream for help, there was a knock on the door. “Skylar, are you okay? What’s taking so long?” It was Damon Sterling. Seizing the moment Brock was distracted, I raised my knee and brutally slammed it into him, then pushed him away and ran out. “Damon Sterling, help me!” Damon Sterling’s face instantly changed when he saw me. He pulled me behind him. “Which bastard, get out here!” The door opened, and Brock Miller emerged, his face grim. “You little brat, you dare lay a hand on me? You’re tired of living!” Damon Sterling looked at the sign on the door, then at Brock, and turned to ask me, “Did you hit him just now?” I nodded vigorously. “He’s a pervert! He was in the ladies’ room…” A scoff echoed from the end of the corridor. All three of us looked. A tall figure leaned against the window, smoking. The glowing red tip of his cigarette flickered, illuminating a sharp jawline. “Some dogs never change their spots. Brock, your bathroom ‘encounters’ habit will probably stick with you forever.” Brock Miller’s face flushed and then paled at the insult. Damon Sterling seemed frozen, as if struck by lightning, until the man in the black suit, hidden in the shadows of the night, stepped out and walked towards him, blowing a puff of smoke into his face. “Well, nephew, what’s wrong? Don’t you recognize me?” Damon Sterling, at 6’1″, actually had to look up. “Uncle… Uncle Marcus.” Marcus Sterling nodded in satisfaction, flicking his ash onto Brock Miller’s leather shoes. The smell of burning leather quickly spread, but Brock didn’t dare utter a single sound. “Uncle Marcus, why are you suddenly back in the country?” “Grandfather Sterling isn’t well. As his younger son, I came back to check on him. Do you have a problem with that?” His gaze swept past Damon Sterling and settled on me. “And who is this?” Damon Sterling’s hand, gripping mine, was clammy with sweat. He was visibly nervous. “Oh, you don’t want to introduce her? Is she that precious? Afraid I’ll steal her?” I stepped out from behind Damon Sterling, meeting Marcus Sterling’s scrutinizing gaze. “Hello, Mr. Sterling. My name is Skylar Xiao.” My position was awkward. I wasn’t Damon Sterling’s wife or girlfriend; I was just his kept woman. He smiled slightly, extending his hand towards me. I thought he wanted to shake my hand, but he gently took my fingers, lifted them to his lips, and kissed them. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Xiao. I’m Marcus Sterling, Damon Sterling’s uncle.” Marcus Sterling was a stain on Grandfather Sterling’s life, a love child born out of wedlock. His mother had been a hotel hostess back then. She’d thought she’d gain status by having a son and marry into the Sterling family as a mistress, but instead, both mother and son were exiled abroad. Damon Sterling called him ‘Uncle Marcus’ because Marcus was older in terms of generation, but in reality, he was only five years older than Damon. They shared a five-point resemblance in their features; standing together, they looked more like brothers than uncle and nephew. I had thought I would meet Marcus Sterling, but I hadn’t expected it so soon. “Uncle Marcus, Skylar is my…” Marcus Sterling’s expression instantly changed, the chill in his eyes dropping the surrounding temperature by several degrees. “My girlfriend,” Damon Sterling bit out, snatching my hand from his uncle’s and pulling me close by the shoulder, asserting his claim. His grip was so strong it hurt. He was starting to panic. “Girlfriend?” Marcus Sterling scoffed. “Have you brought her home to meet Grandfather? What did the old man say?” My heart skipped a beat. How could Damon Sterling dare take me to meet his grandfather? “Not yet, but when the time is right, I’ll definitely bring Skylar home to meet my parents and grandfather.” Damon Sterling’s urgent declaration was for his uncle, but it sounded more like it was for me. Marcus Sterling patted Damon Sterling’s shoulder. “Good nephew, remember your uncle’s words: the more beautiful the expectation, the easier it is to fall apart. Not getting what you want is the norm in life.” After saying that, Marcus Sterling gave me a meaningful look.
Marcus Sterling extinguished his cigarette and took the elevator, not forgetting to taunt Brock Miller about the “wild woman” from the restroom. Brock Miller frowned, watching Marcus Sterling’s retreating form. “Grandfather Sterling just fell ill, and your uncle returns to the country. The timing is too coincidental; he’s probably up to no good.” Outside, storm clouds gathered, a strong wind blew – a storm was brewing. Brock Miller walked ahead, Damon Sterling pulled me along behind him. Trailing far behind was the woman from the restroom. She followed us all the way into the private room, then casually snuggled into someone’s arms, getting intimate. It turned out she was the companion of one of Brock Miller’s friends. Even rabbits don’t foul their own nests, but Brock, that horny dog, clearly didn’t care who he preyed on. The private room was noisy, filled with people who were either high or simply drunk. Damon Sterling kicked someone aside and pulled me onto a sofa. Brock Miller sat across from me, drinking moodily, glaring at me hatefully. The door was knocked open, and a server brought someone in – someone I had seen just a few hours earlier. “Skylar?” Noah Jensen’s face lit up with surprise when he saw me. “Did you come to the wrong room?” I was startled, a strange premonition creeping over me, but I still held a flicker of hope. “Didn’t you ask someone to tell me to find you here, that you had something to tell me?” I immediately shook my head. No doubt, this was Damon Sterling’s doing. Damon Sterling gave me a chilling look, then beckoned to Noah. “You, come here.” “Do you know who I am?” Noah shook his head. “Reading too much, huh? My name is Sterling. When people talk about the Sterling family in this city, they’re talking about my family.” Noah stood his ground, unfazed, his expression calm. “Oh, Mr. Sterling, why did you specifically trick me into coming here?” *Smack!* Brock Miller stood up and delivered a hard slap across Noah’s face. Not satisfied, he followed it with a vicious kick. “Oh, ‘Mr. Sterling’ my ass!” Noah crashed into the corner of a table, his glasses falling to the floor. A winding trail of blood streamed down his forehead. “You bastard, who are you trying to impress?” I couldn’t control a scream. I wanted to rush to Noah’s side to check his injuries, but Damon Sterling gripped my arm tightly, holding me captive in his embrace. “Skylar isn’t a name you get to use. Stay away from her from now on, or I’ll beat you every time I see you.” Noah wiped the blood from his head. “Skylar is well-liked at school. Friends who are close to her all call her that. May I ask, Mr. Sterling, what right do you have to order me around?” Noah was on the school debate team; he had never lost a competition. But at this moment, I truly wished he was mute. “Firstly, I haven’t heard that Skylar has a boyfriend. Secondly, even if Mr. Sterling is Skylar’s boyfriend, treating her so brutally and arrogantly certainly doesn’t make you a suitable one.” “Noah, please stop talking!” Too late. Damon Sterling grabbed a wine bottle, swung it, and smashed it over Noah’s head. I watched, horrified, as Noah collapsed before me. Brock Miller caught Noah, then patted his face. “Wake up, hey! Are you that weak? Did one hit kill you?” “Brock, this Noah is quite stubborn. Help me ‘reason’ with him.” Brock Miller looked at the unconscious Noah and grinned sinisterly. I was icy cold. How could I leave an unconscious Noah behind? But Damon Sterling forcefully dragged me towards the door. “Let’s go. Don’t worry, Brock will take good care of your friend.” I clung to the doorframe, refusing to let go. “No, I have to take him with me! I won’t leave Noah here alone!” “Skylar!” Damon Sterling rarely called me by my full name like that. “Don’t add fuel to the fire. Say one more word, and I guarantee your friend will vanish without a trace, never to see tomorrow’s sun.” “You wouldn’t dare!” Damon Sterling was furious, gritting his teeth. “What wouldn’t a Sterling dare to do?!” I froze. He was right. There was nothing a Sterling wouldn’t dare to do. Damon Sterling lost his patience. “Skylar, you’re done for. Tonight, you’ll see how I punish you.” He delivered a chop to the back of my neck. Before I completely lost consciousness, he slung me over his shoulder. As darkness enveloped me, I vaguely saw Brock Miller moving towards Noah. Damon Sterling didn’t kill me in bed – not because he didn’t want to, but because he didn’t get the chance. When I woke up, I was still in the car, my neck aching. Damon Sterling was beside me, unconsciously chewing on his fingers. He only did that when he was most stressed; the last time I saw him like that was the day his grandfather had a stroke. “You’re awake.” When I stirred, he grabbed me like a lifeline, pulling me into a tight embrace, burying his face in my chest. “Skylar, what do I do? My parents… they were in a car accident…” His voice was choked with tears, like a helpless child. Damon Sterling was the Sterling family’s only third-generation grandchild, spoiled rotten since childhood, protected fiercely by his parents and grandfather. He had no ability to stand on his own when faced with a crisis. The car turned around, speeding towards the hospital. I felt a persistent unease. While Damon Sterling wasn’t paying attention, I secretly called Noah’s phone, but it kept going straight to voicemail. When we arrived at the hospital, as I got out of the car, I immediately felt an undeniable gaze from above. I looked up. Marcus Sterling leaned against a window, smoking. This hospital was a Sterling family asset. Although he was a love child, he still bore the Sterling name, and no one dared to stop him. Through the vast darkness, I couldn’t discern his expression, only the crimson glow of his cigarette, flickering on and off. “Uncle Marcus!” Damon Sterling, after all, was just a twenty-something young man. With such a massive catastrophe, the first sight of his uncle brought out his vulnerability, and he couldn’t help but feel wronged. Marcus Sterling was still dressed in the same black suit from hours earlier, the only difference being one shirt sleeve rolled up, revealing a bandage on his arm. He had short hair from living in tropical regions for so long, and a scar on his forehead, giving him a fiercely intimidating aura. “What happened to my parents?” “They were on their way to a gala, but they crashed into a truck. Now, both of them are in the ICU.” Damon Sterling’s legs gave out, and he sank to the ground. “What do I do, Uncle Marcus? What should I do?” Marcus Sterling patted his shoulder. “Don’t panic yet. I’ve already donated blood to your father. Let’s wait for the surgery to finish and hear what the doctors say.” “Thank you, Uncle Marcus.” “Don’t thank me yet. There’s a tricky situation at hand. Tonight’s gala is very important. As leaders of the business council, the Sterling family must have someone there to represent…” Grandfather Sterling was incapacitated by a stroke, and now his parents were in trouble. Damon Sterling suddenly lost all his support. “Uncle Marcus, can you go in my father’s place? I don’t understand anything about the company, and I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here and wait for them to wake up.” “Me? I don’t think that would be appropriate. I’ve been living abroad for so long, the board members probably won’t recognize me.” “No, Uncle Marcus, it’ll be fine. I’ll have Victor accompany you. He’s been with the Sterling family for many years; most people know him. Besides, we both share the Sterling name. You’re my uncle, and those people will have to accept you.” “In that case… alright, I suppose. Who else but your uncle would help you? However, besides Victor, I’ll need to take one other person with me.”
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