"Women would kill for this opportunity. With Delgado money behind them? They'd cling to this family in a heartbeat."

He gripped my chin, forcing my gaze to his.

"I don't even have to lift a finger. They throw themselves at me."

His eyes flicked to the doorway. Tanya stood there, face arranged in worship.

"So here's what's going to happen. I'll sit right here while you reflect. The moment you admit you were wrong, I'll untie you."

He dropped into the chair across from me and let out a low, certain laugh.

Terror crashed over me. Every hair on my body stood on end.

Because I'd been tied up exactly like this before. In Eldoria. By kidnappers.

My body began to shake uncontrollably. Silently, desperately, I prayed someone would come.

When I first found Alex, I had no idea he was the Delgado heir.

He'd been hit by a car—that's why he'd lost his memory. A vagrant had stolen whatever cash he had.

I was dirt poor back then. We lived together in a cramped, run-down house in the suburbs.

One day after school, the moment I stepped out the gate, masked men dragged me into a van.

They kept saying something about "the Delgado family," "Mr. Delgado."

I didn't understand a word. I was certain I'd die in a foreign country.

Then they realized their mistake.

They'd meant to kidnap the Delgado heir—Alex—but grabbed me instead.

They tied me to a bed. Wrists and ankles bound to the frame.

Furious at their own incompetence, they decided to take it out on me.

"Wrong girl? Doesn't matter. She's pretty enough."

"Been a while since we had any fun. Might as well enjoy ourselves. Then dump her in the snow."

They rubbed their hands together. Their eyes crawled over me like I was meat on a plate.

Just when I thought it was over, Alex burst in with patrol officers and pulled me out.

He knew that memory was my nightmare. And he was using it against me anyway.

Nausea surged. I retched miserably against the mattress.

I was waiting for Alex Gilbert. He was my only hope.

Before I came, I'd told him: if I didn't message within half an hour, come to the hospital immediately.

Alex's ice-cold hand slid down my neck.

He undid the first button of my blouse.

I shuddered.

"What are you trying to do?"

I tried to kick him, but my feet were bound tight.

He looked at me with displeasure, his palm pressing down on my ankle.

"You're mine. I can do whatever I want."

Those disgusting memories surged up again.