Chapter 5: Sold (5)
She crouched on the ground, hugging herself as she trembled for a long while.
Eventually, her gaze fell on the few nightgowns scattered on the floor.
Each one was scandalously revealing, leaving her no room for choice.
Fine. When the so-called "boss" arrives, she'll explain everything—how none of this was her choice.
Then she'd ask him to let her go. As for the loss of her innocence… she'd let it go.
Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
Even if she decided not to dwell on it, it was her first time. How could she not feel heartbroken?
Jiang Sophia reluctantly picked the blue nightgown she liked the most and went into the bathroom.
The sight of her body, covered in bruises and bite marks, sent uncontrollable shivers through her.
Tears streamed down endlessly, unstoppable. Eventually, she broke down, crouching in the bathroom and sobbing her heart out.
Time passed in a haze, and a knock on the door snapped her back to reality. The knocking stopped quickly, leaving silence in its wake.
Jiang Sophia finally mustered the strength to stand, her legs weak as she shuffled out of the bathroom.
The pale blue nightgown clung tightly to her body.
The thin spaghetti straps barely hung on her shoulders, and the neckline plunged so low that her chest was almost entirely exposed.
She tugged the straps higher, only to find that doing so caused the hem to rise, revealing her thighs.
She had no choice but to prioritize covering her lower half, leaving her shoulders and chest exposed.
Her head felt heavy, her body fatigued. When the cold air hit her as she walked out, she sneezed several times in quick succession—clearly, she had caught a cold.
Her eyelids drooped heavily, whether from exhaustion or from crying, she wasn't sure.
On the table sat a plate of food, but she had no appetite at all. She simply collapsed onto the bed.
Her body felt limp, waves of cold washing over her.
She knew she was running a fever but couldn't summon the strength to move. She drifted into a hazy sleep, lost in exhaustion and sickness.
She had no idea how much time passed before a sudden, piercing light startled her awake.
She blinked in confusion, her heart racing when she noticed the tall, lean figure standing with his back to her.
Instinctively, she shrank into herself, retreating toward the head of the bed in fear.
The man's back was straight and imposing, not at all the short, plump figure she had imagined.
But his presence was ice-cold, sending shivers down her spine and covering her skin in goosebumps.
"Achoo!"
The ill-timed sneeze made her tears and nose run. She quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe her face.
The man turned around, revealing a face more handsome than any international superstar.
His gaze fell on her, and his initially indifferent expression darkened in an instant.
Veins bulged on his forehead as his jaw clenched tightly, the sound of his grinding teeth filling the air.
He strode toward her in two steps, grabbing her effortlessly and lifting her off the bed. His sharp eyes bore into her barely covered body.
"It seems you've done a lot of preparation to ensure this little job goes smoothly, haven't you?" he sneered, his tone filled with mockery and disdain.
His grip on her wrist was painfully tight. Jiang Sophia's face turned pale as her body trembled, her teeth chattering in fear.
Her wide, jet-black eyes stared at him in terror. She had no idea why he was so angry.
In a soft, trembling voice, she asked, "What… what job? What are you talking about…?"
Before she could finish, her body was suddenly thrown toward the head of the bed.
She hit the sturdy wooden frame with a loud thud, the pain nearly splitting her back open.
Turning her head, she saw her blue nightgown dangling from the man's fingers.
With a flick of his wrist, he threw it aside, snorting in disdain.
"You think you're worthy?!"
Jiang Sophia couldn't understand what he meant. Her instincts kicked in as she scrambled to find something to cover herself.
Thankfully, the thin blanket was at the foot of the bed. She crawled toward it, trying to grab it to shield her body.
But the man was faster. He yanked the blanket away before she could reach it.
Her naked body was exposed to the cold air, her skin flushing red as goosebumps spread across it. She couldn't stop trembling.
Unaccustomed to being bare in front of anyone, she instinctively crossed her arms to cover her chest. But no matter how she tried, she couldn't cover everything.
Lee Noah watched her like a predator toying with its prey, a smirk of cold amusement on his lips.
"Since you've already sold yourself, what's the point of pretending to be modest?" he said mercilessly.
Sold… sold herself?
Yes, she had to explain!
Jiang Sophia continued to shield herself as best as she could, her lips trembling as she desperately tried to explain.
"Sir… I'm sorry…"