Lilian's POV
My mouth nearly twisted into a bitter laugh. The man had completely lost his mind.
Every fiber in my body wanted to throw a cutting response right back at him, but Augusto was no longer someone I could treat like a doormat.
I swallowed my rage and plastered on another fake smile. "Very amusing, Mr. Atlas. I have other clients waiting. Have a good evening."
"Why would you do it for Shawn but refuse me?" His tone was ice-cold, cutting through the air like a blade.
My brow furrowed in confusion. "What exactly are you implying? Shawn has nothing to do with this."
"Before. You told him he could pay extra for a night with you. So I'm wondering why you'd consider him but not me."
I nearly laughed out loud. My comment to Shawn had been purely sarcastic since thirty thousand was already pushing his financial limits. Demanding more was simply my way of getting rid of him. I never imagined Augusto would take it seriously.
He drew slowly on his cigarette, releasing a perfect ring of smoke into the air. "Your family is financially ruined. Completely destroyed. One evening. 3.5 million dollars. It's straightforward business. Accept or decline."
My hands balled into tight fists. This was nothing but a calculated move designed to humiliate me, wrapped up in the language of commerce. Furious tears threatened to spill, but I forced them back, staring at him with icy contempt.
"You think your wealth makes you untouchable? Sure, we're struggling financially. But I'm not desperate enough to sink that low," I spat.
Then I bolted before he could witness my breakdown.
Emotions were peculiar things. Insults from everyone else seemed to bounce right off me. But his words cut deep, each one a precise wound that left me gasping with anguish.
I rushed into the main lobby and froze completely. My brother Gavin was there, still wearing his delivery company uniform, crawling on the floor. Doran, Shawn, and their entire group were cackling with delight, tossing bills down at him. Gavin was scrambling to collect every piece of cash, his dignity completely abandoned.
In that instant, my own pride crumbled. Tears poured down my cheeks as I pressed my hand over my mouth.
There was Gavin, degrading himself for pocket change, while I had just walked away from 3.5 million dollars. What gave me the right to act so righteous?
I whirled around and raced back upstairs, silently praying that Augusto hadn't departed yet.
I burst through the private room door. He remained on the couch, completely relaxed. He glanced up with that infuriating half-smile, as though he had been expecting my return all along.
I marched straight toward him. "Do you despise me?" The question escaped before I could stop it. "Is this your revenge for how I treated you before?"
I didn't wait for his response. "Fine. Clear my family's debts. You can degrade me however you choose, for however long you want."
Augusto slowly rotated his glass, studying the amber liquid with that same maddening expression. "So you're agreeing? Even to becoming my hidden mistress?"
I drew in a shaky breath. He would save the position of wife for his first love, and now he was offering me the shadows. The degradation couldn't be more obvious.
But I was trapped. "Yes," I whispered, the word tasting like poison.
The following day, my father returned home practically glowing with joy and declared that every single one of our family's debts had been completely eliminated.
My mother broke down in tears of gratitude, immediately demanding to know how this miracle had occurred.
Father revealed that Augusto had handled everything, not just the debts, but he had also secured a beautiful new home for them to live in.
Mother was ecstatic, immediately praising his generosity. "He must still adore you deeply," she kept repeating, "to be so kind to our entire family."
I simply nodded and smiled. If only she understood the reality.
That afternoon, Augusto's driver came to collect me. My parents waved goodbye proudly, convinced their daughter was being swept away to resume her role as a beloved wife.
They couldn't have known I was being retrieved like purchased property, entertainment for his need for revenge.
Augusto had moved into my family's former estate. He had kept the same head butler and entire household staff.
Servants always reflected their employer's attitudes, and when I had been in control, they had eagerly assisted me in humiliating him.
The fact that he had retained every one of them demonstrated remarkable restraint on his part. It made me wonder if any of that mercy might extend to me.
But then I recalled his cold offer in that private room, and hope died.
My circumstances were different from the servants. Their transgressions had been limited to cruel words. Mine had been public theater. I had screamed at him, struck him, and even hurled a glass of wine directly at his face in front of everyone.
Remembering my own viciousness now made my blood run cold. If I had known how dramatically our positions would reverse, I truly should have shown him kindness from the beginning.
Alicia, one of the housekeepers, escorted me to the bedroom entrance.
"Mr. Atlas requested that you wait inside," she explained, then paused awkwardly before continuing, "and that you should prepare yourself properly before his return."
I pressed my lips together, recognizing the insult for what it was. But what choice did I have? I had accepted this arrangement. I had traded myself for my family's salvation, and my self-respect was included in the transaction.
The bedroom was a cruel reminder of our past, the same room Augusto and I had once shared. Every piece of furniture remained exactly where it had been, yet everything felt completely transformed.
I remembered the threadbare sleeping mat that used to lie beside the bed, his assigned place, while I had ruled alone in the spacious bed, constantly reminding him of his inferior status.
That mat was gone now, along with the girl who had demanded it. That gentle, obedient husband I had controlled was gone too.
I reminded myself this wasn't the time for regret. I buried those feelings deep, forcing myself into the bathroom. Afterward, I climbed into bed to wait. I was his mistress now, and I would fulfill the role I had agreed to.
Despite all the pain and humiliation, it served a purpose. Our debts were erased. My parents could finally rest easy. My brother Gavin would never have to grovel for spare change again.
That single thought provided my only consolation, a tiny flame in the overwhelming darkness.
I had no idea when Augusto would arrive. Drained from the emotional chaos of recent days, I unexpectedly drifted into deep sleep.
I had only been unconscious briefly when I felt weight settling over me. I opened my eyes to discover Augusto above me, his hand already beneath my clothing.
"How dare you!" I struck out reflexively.
In one fluid movement, he seized my wrist. "Still broke," he mocked, "but still acting like royalty, aren't you?"
It took me a moment to remember where I was, whose room this was, and the cold expression on his face. Then reality crashed back. Right. He was the master here now.
And I was merely his mistress. Nothing more.
I withdrew my hand and whispered submissively, "I apologize."
He released a harsh laugh and stood up, walking toward the bathroom.
The sound of running water filled the silence. I sat there, anxiously wringing my hands. It wasn't that I objected to his touch. Ever since I had developed feelings for him, part of me had actually longed for his closeness.
But there was an enormous difference between mutual desire and this possessive need for revenge.
The thought of what was approaching made me want to flee. But I couldn't.
It seemed like hours before the water finally ceased. The bathroom door opened, and I tensed.