The rain had just stopped, and bright sunlight spread across the sky. Drops of water glittered under the golden rays. It was around eleven in the morning, yet no one could guess that a heavy storm had shaken the world only moments ago. Outside, everything sparkled with light, but inside Shantisudha Niketon, darkness had fallen like a moonless midnight.
Sabita Begum held Ibrat tightly against her chest. Both of them trembled in fear. Guards in black clothes stood around them, pointing guns at their heads. Shihab was lying on the floor, his hands tied behind his back. A guard pressed his foot on Shihab's back and aimed a gun at his head. Iqbal Sahib sat on his knees, helplessly watching his wife and children suffer.
From the kitchen doorway, Elizabeth watched with red, tearful eyes. Her body shook. She wanted to run to them, but Iqbal Sahib silently shook his head, warning her not to come out. Suddenly, all the guards loaded their guns together, and the sound froze everyone's hearts.
Just then, Elizabeth screamed and ran out, hugging Iqbal Sahib. The moment she appeared, a crooked smile formed on Richard's lips. A guard dragged her away from him.
Richard sat lazily on the sofa, crossing one leg over the other. Lucas and Nyaso stood on either side of him like shadows. Both wore black oversized coats, making their tall figures look even more frightening.
Shihab, hot-blooded and reckless, shouted despite the danger. Sabita Begum tried to silence him with her eyes, but he ignored her.
"Why are you keeping us hostage like this? What do you want? Let us go, or I'll call the police!"
Richard burst into loud laughter, the sound echoing through the house. Elizabeth clutched her ears, her face turning pale as old memories flashed through her mind. She collapsed on the floor, breathing heavily.
Iqbal Sahib finally spoke.
"I don't know who you are, but why are you doing this to us? What is our crime?"
Richard stopped laughing. He removed his black sunglasses and handed them to Nyaso. Then his deep ocean-blue eyes became visible—cold, emotionless, and empty.
Lucas placed a file on the small table. Seeing the casino logo on it, Shihab swallowed hard. His courage disappeared instantly.
Richard leaned back and finally spoke.
"Money. I want money."
"What money?"
Richard didn't answer directly. Instead, the guard pressed harder on Shihab's back, making him cry out in pain. Sabita Begum broke into tears.
"Please leave my son. What have we done to you?"
The pressure only increased. Shihab finally understood they wanted the truth from him.
He looked at Richard with wide eyes and asked:
"The Royal Casino… is it yours?"
Richard smiled faintly. He leaned forward, his sharp blue eyes piercing Shihab's soul.
Iqbal Sahib stared at his son in disbelief.
"You used to go to a casino?"
When Shihab stayed silent, Iqbal Sahib shouted at Sabita Begum.
"This is how you raised him? You spoiled him. My hard-earned money from teaching… he used it for gambling? I'm ashamed to call him my son."
Richard interrupted coldly.
"I'm not here to watch family drama."
The guards pressed their guns harder against everyone's heads. Ibrat clung to her mother and cried. The room grew heavier with fear.
Then Richard suddenly took out his shotgun and fired at a ceramic vase. It shattered into pieces, and everyone screamed.
After a long silence, Iqbal Sahib asked:
"How much?"
Richard answered calmly.
"Twenty-five lakh."
Everyone was stunned.
Sabita Begum cried out.
"Son, what have you done? Where will we get that much money?"
Richard's lips curved slightly.
"Either money… or life. You have only two options."
Shihab's body stiffened. Sweat covered his forehead.
Iqbal Sahib took a deep breath and asked, his voice heavy,
"How much?"
Richard answered calmly, as if he were discussing something ordinary.
"Twenty-five lakh."
The words struck the family like thunder. Sabita Begum cried out, her face pale.
"Twenty-five lakh? Where will we get that kind of money?"
Richard leaned back on the sofa and spoke in a flat tone.
"You have only two choices. Money... or life."
Sabita Begum rushed to him and fell at his feet, crying desperately.
"Please spare my son. He's my only son. Give us some time, we'll pay everything."
Richard's expression darkened with disgust. His blue eyes turned frighteningly cold. He hated being touched.
Without warning, he fired his gun toward the ceiling several times. The deafening sound made birds outside scatter into the sky. Everyone screamed.
Then, through the chaos, Elizabeth's trembling voice was heard.
"Please let them go... What have they done to you? My brother even helped you this morning."
Her soft voice cut through the fear.
Sabita Begum turned sharply toward Elizabeth, her eyes blazing.
"So you brought them here? Ungrateful girl! We fed you all these years and this is how you repay us?"
Elizabeth shook her head, terrified.
"No, Chachi, I don't know them. I swear."
Sabita Begum didn't listen. She grabbed Elizabeth by the hair and pulled her forward. Elizabeth cried out in pain.
At that moment, she stumbled and fell directly into Richard's chest.
Richard's strong arm instantly locked around her waist.
The room fell silent.
Even Lucas and Naso looked shocked. Richard never allowed any woman near him—yet now he was holding one in his arms.
Elizabeth struggled, trying to free herself.
"Please let me go. My aunt and brother need treatment. They're bleeding."
Her voice shook, but Richard didn't release her.
Instead, a cruel smile appeared on his face.
"Fine. I won't take your lives."
He paused, his gaze fixed on Elizabeth.
"In exchange for the money... I'll take this girl. She'll be mine."
Everyone froze.
Iqbal Sahib stepped forward, horrified.
"No! She is my responsibility!"
Sabita Begum immediately clutched her daughter closer and shouted,
"Take Elizabeth instead. She's not our real daughter. She's only our shelter girl."
Ibrat nodded quickly, fear all over her face.
"Yes, take her. She's not my sister."
The words shattered Elizabeth.
She stood there, unable to breathe, staring at the people she had called family for years.
Iqbal Sahib's eyes filled with tears.
But Sabita Begum fell before Elizabeth, holding her feet.
"Please save my daughter. You owe us. We raised you all these years."
Elizabeth's tears had already dried.
Slowly, she looked at everyone—her aunt, her sister, her uncle. Then she smiled bitterly.
A broken, empty smile.
Finally, she whispered,
"I agree."
Richard's smile widened like a predator claiming his prey.
He signaled a guard, and a file was brought. Richard handed Elizabeth a pen.
Without even reading what was written, she signed.
The sound of the pen dropping from her hand echoed in the room.
The moment her signature was complete, Richard folded the papers and placed them inside his coat.
Then, without another word, he lifted Elizabeth over his shoulder and walked out.
Iqbal Sahib screamed behind him, trying to break free from the guards.
But it was too late.
The car moved swiftly along the highway, heading toward Richard's private estate.
Elizabeth sat beside him like a lifeless doll, her hands resting on her lap, her gaze fixed outside the window. Cars passed one after another, but she saw none of them. Her mind was lost somewhere far away, trying to understand the cruel turn her life had taken.
A few hours ago, she had still been living under her uncle's roof. Now, with a single signature, she had become someone's possession.
Richard sat silently, focused on his tablet as if nothing unusual had happened. His expression remained cold, unreadable. Beside the driver's seat, Lucas kept glancing back through the mirror, unable to hide his curiosity. Even Naso looked uneasy.
Neither of them dared to ask why Richard had suddenly brought a girl with him—especially when he never even allowed female staff near him.
The silence inside the car felt suffocating.
Soon, the convoy entered a remote road surrounded by dense forest. After several minutes, a huge iron gate appeared. Armed guards immediately opened it as Richard's car approached.
Elizabeth finally looked up.
The place in front of her was less a garden house and more a fortress.
A massive duplex mansion stood in the middle of nowhere. The walls were high and lined with barbed wire. Armed guards patrolled everywhere, dressed in black, faces hidden behind dark sunglasses. Four black luxury cars were parked in a perfect row. There were no flowers, no decorations—only a cold swimming pool and endless silence.
The surrounding forest stretched into darkness, and strange animal cries echoed from somewhere deep inside.
Fear slowly began to sink into Elizabeth's bones.
The car stopped at the entrance.
Lucas quickly stepped out and opened the door. Before Elizabeth could react, Richard grabbed her wrist with one hand and pulled her out.
Then, as if she weighed nothing, he lifted her over his shoulder.
Elizabeth gasped, her hands instinctively clutching his coat. His broad shoulder pressed against her stomach, making it hard to breathe.
Richard walked inside without slowing, each heavy step echoing against the marble floor.
The dark perfume from his body wrapped around her, making her feel sick. To Elizabeth, it smelled like danger itself.
Her fingers tightened around his coat.
Her heartbeat grew louder.
Her limbs turned cold.
For the first time since signing those papers, the truth fully hit her.
She was terrified.
And somewhere deep inside, she knew—
Something was about to happen to her tonight.