Bound By The Mafia
5.0
5.0Chapter 1
1231words
“You’ll only be a guarantee. I’m not actually selling you off like that. Once I get the money back, I’ll come and take you home,” he said, exhaling a puff of cigarette smoke.
“I’m not some object, Dad. You can’t just throw me away and pick me up again whenever you want,” said the 19-year-old girl, her eyes pleading for him to change his mind.
“You promised you wouldn’t hurt me anymore once I got into college,” she reminded him. That promise had meant everything: to be left alone and free once she entered university. But now, on the very first day of college, that promise had already been shattered.
Moments ago, Akiko had just arrived at the family mansion—a place filled with painful memories. She avoided coming here because the house reminded her too much of a past she wanted to forget. Something bad always seemed to happen here. And now, once again, she was being forced to bow to her father's selfishness.
“This is the only way,” Mr. Eloise replied coolly. “That man actually wanted your sister, Keinara. But I’ll give you instead—to keep her safe. So don’t ever let your sister find out about any of this.” Akiko frowned. “A man?”
“Yes. His company partners with ours. But…” Mr. Eloise trailed off, taking a long drag from his cigarette, then rubbing his temple. “I owe him a lot. The stock crash hit us hard.” Akiko said nothing. She had already expected a classic excuse like this. She felt worthless, being handed over to a stranger just to cover her father’s debts.
"You’ve worked so hard all these years. Where did all the money go? I’m sure you still have some left,” she asked, her voice steady but filled with disappointment.
Mr. Eloise’s gaze sharpened. “Where did it go? I’ve been sending you a large allowance every month, and yet you ask me where the money went?” Couldn’t he have saved? After working for so long, how could he not have anything left—resorting instead to using his own daughter as collateral? Did all the suffering Akiko endured alone as a child lead to this moment, where she’d be the one to pay for it all? He stared blankly at his daughter, who had kept her head down the entire time.
“I should be asking you. Where did all that money I sent go? Are you spending it on boys, living it up?”
Akiko lowered her gaze. “For medical treatment, Dad.”
“Medical treatment? You’ve always been a sickly child. Stop acting like some delicate little flower. You’ll die just like that woman! Ungrateful brat!” he shouted. Akiko silently whispered in her heart “How cruel… How can someone be so cruel? Dad doesn’t even know what I’m suffering from. He doesn’t know what I’ve been through. Has he forgotten I’m human too? I can break if he’s too cruel.”
“I’ll stop the treatment,” she said, reaching into her bag. “Use my money to pay the debt.” She placed a card on the table. It should still have a decent amount left—it was only ever used for medical expenses.
“Akiko Eloise, do you really think this is enough?” he barked, tossing the card back at her.
“Corporate debt isn’t something a little bank card can cover. You should be grateful that man even offered an alternative.” Those words hit her harder than any slap. It was clear—she meant nothing to him. He would rather save the company than make sure his daughter was safe.
“You never wanted me, did you? So when that man asked, you agreed right away, happy to be rid of me?” Akiko asked, her voice empty. Her father didn’t reply—he simply continued smoking in silence.
“If you care about your sister at all, go meet that man in the back room. Her future will be ruined if he decides to take things further,” Mr. Eloise finally said.
Akiko could only nod in surrender. She had never been allowed to choose her own path. Her life was always dictated by her father. Everyone expected her to be perfect, never caring about her limits. She was fragile, though no one ever saw the cracks—she was good at hiding them. But this time, it involved her sister. She wouldn’t let Keinara be the next victim of their father’s selfishness.
Akiko walked toward the room where the man was supposedly waiting. She knocked softly, smoothing her short hair behind her ear, trying to steady herself. No response. Maybe he hadn’t heard her. So she slowly pushed the door open.
“Excuse me,” she called out.
The room was a private library. She stepped inside, eyes scanning the space for the man.
“Nghhh…” A moan. Akiko froze. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw a man mid-act with one of her father’s female staff members. They looked right at her—completely shameless, even as they continued their pleasure.
“Wanna join us?” the man asked casually, grinning as if this was perfectly normal.
“Don’t be so shocked, Miss Eloise. I’m sure you know exactly what we’re doing,” he sneered with a satisfied look.
Snapping out of her daze, Akiko quickly turned her face away. She didn’t want to see any more of their naked bodies. But the man wasn’t fazed in the slightest and continued his acts. Disgusted, Akiko left the room without another word. Closing the door, she sighed in frustration.
"Is that the man Papa meant?” she wondered aloud. If it was, then she was doomed—forced to live with someone who had no sense of decency. She decided to leave. If her father truly intended to hand her over, he would contact her again soon enough. For now, she needed to clear her mind so she headed to her usual ice cream shop.
“Vanilla, please,” she ordered, pulling out her card.
“The usual,” The ice cream vendor smiled, already familiar with her.
“How’s your day going?” she asked. They were both young women, around the same age. Naturally, she wanted to get to know eachother.
“Not great,” Akiko replied softly, tucking a strand of her short hair behind her ear.
“You okay?” she asked, noticing how pale Akiko looked.
“Huh? What’s wrong?” Akiko asked.
“You look pale. Are you cold?” Akiko shook her head.
“Maybe hot chocolate would be better than ice cream,” she suggested.
“No, thank you. I’ll just go home,” Akiko said politely.
“Alright. A pretty girl like you shouldn’t be out alone this late. See you next time,” she said warmly. Akiko smiled and left, calling for a taxi. But as she drove off, a black car silently watched her go.
"Mr. Eloise must think I’m stupid,” the man inside the car said with a wicked grin. “I asked for his eldest daughter, and he sends me this innocent little thing instead. Just look at that sweet face… makes me want to devour her alive.”
“Shall we take the older daughter by force, sir?” his assistant asked. “She’s never been seen in public. Maybe he’s hiding her.” The muscular man stared at the taxi, his grin growing wider.
“No, let Mr. Eloise play this game his way. I want to know more about his second daughter. She’s… interesting”
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