"I know about Mila's relationship with the gardener," Altan whispered, pulling her closer, curling a finger under her chin. She stared up at him naive as a doe in a forest.

  "The elders do not and will not accept the relationship," Altan continued. "The elders will never accept a marriage with the poor."

  "Mila's relationship?" Lina echoed, feigning ignorance even though she knew the truth. As well as a terrifying revelation that had left both sisters speechless.

  "Yangs hail from royal blood," Altan boldly declared. "You are blue-blooded, but us Medeors are mixed. I'm just a mutt."

  "Altan, you know I do not like to hear such words from your mouth," Lina muttered. "I do not care, I—"

  "So when the elders wage over the dinner table, you must reject it. You must tell them that you—"

  "Third Young Master!"

  Lina's head snapped to the side where a man in a butler's uniform was quickly rushing towards them. She saw the briefcase in his hand, his hat in the other, and a frightened expression on his face.

  "Lina, you—"

  "Third Young Master, there are urgent matters! Quickly," the servant cried out, rushing to the young heir. He was out of breath from running all the way on foot, instead of taking the car, for the business was too urgent to wait for a vehicle.

  "Go," Lina said with a small smile. "Your family matters are important, especially if they're summoning you, the law student."

  Altan scowled. The only time he was acknowledged by his family was when they found a use for him. Holding back a sigh, he patted the top of her head. Her hair was soft to the touch. His fingers itching to wrap themselves around her hair, to tug it back and watch the ecstasy on her face.

  But Lina didn't belong to him. She was the unplanned daughter of the Yang family, but was still the favorite. A cherished gem whose name would one day be forgotten by history, for her sins burned down her esteemed reputation.

  "Remember what I told you," Altan whispered.

  "Of course, big brother," Lina sarcastically responded.

  "Lina, you—"

  "Hurry, Third Young Master! The Elder can't wait any longer!" the servant begged, urgently peering up at the heir with a desperate gaze.

  So as not to hold Altan back, Lina stepped away and smiled.

  "Wait you should take a car—"

  "The club is only a few blocks from here," Lina reminded him. "This is Yang territory. I will be fine."

  Then, Lina waved a hand and began to stroll down the sidewalk.

  Altan watched with despair as she left without turning back. With each step, her ample hips sashayed down the pavement. Men tripped over their feet to get a second glance. Women gawked with jealousy.

  Every gender alike was admiring her perfection. From her curled hair tied in a chic bun to her modest dress, without a mistake, one could tell she was a well-bred lady. The kind that people wished to keep pure, yet wished she was dragged through the mud—just to see her in ruins.

  Altan could only helplessly watch as she disappeared out of his sight. But not for long. Soon, Lina would belong to him. Soon, he would wager for the impossible—especially when he knew the eldest Yang daughter's secret——

  "Sigh, how can you get lost in your own territory?" Lina grumbled to herself, angrily wrapping a hand around her stomach.

  Lina glanced around her surroundings in fear, her eyes filled with hesitation. She shuffled on her feet when she caught weary gazes coming her way. Swallowing her nerves, she took out the slip of paper from her pocket.

  Belle had drawn her a detailed map. Lina was certain she had taken the right turns. What was going on? Lina didn't know a neighborhood like this existed. Within the Yang territory, almost everything was prospering and filled with wealth.

  However, her surroundings were slums. Houses with moldy wooden doors greeted her. Torn curtains, leary gazes, and hungry bodies filled her line of sight.

  "I must memorize this neighborhood. This can't be the East anymore…" Lina muttered to herself, turning around and deciding to retrace her steps.

  Suddenly, Lina bumped into smelly cloth. She was surprised and staggered backward in disbelief.

  "Hi there, little lady. Are you lost?" A man with a friendly smile asked, revealing his pearly white teeth.

  Lina was relieved, but then apprehensive. Why was a well-dressed man like him in the bad parts of Ritan? She narrowed her eyes, an unsettling feeling lurked in her stomach. Turning on her heels, she began to walk off, only to be blocked by someone.

  "We can guide you on the right path, if you tell us where," another man told her, with the same crisp suit.

  Lina's heart dropped. There could only be one reason why they were here. People like them were looking for easy prey. They pretended to be gentlemen, but would guide unsuspecting women into alleyways to be robbed, killed, or sold.

  "The Yang Main Mansion," Lina told him with an aloof gaze.

  At her words, they froze. They glanced at her from head to toe, lingering on her breasts and then, her neck. She felt her blood chill. With a sneer, they licked at their bottom lips.

  "You're on my turf," Lina continued, revealing a cold smile. "Do you have permission to be here—"

  "I hear the Yangs keep many whores around," another said from her side.

  Lina's head whipped to the left, and then, she felt her heart plummet to the ground. She was surrounded. Men emerged from the shadows, dressed in questionable clothing.

  The kindest smiles with the harshest hands.

  Lina would know.

  "You think she's the old geezer's woman? Looks like his type. Young, pale skin, black hair, red lips."

  Lina narrowed her eyes. She tried to side-step him, but was blocked by him. If they weren't terrified to threaten a Yang on Yang turf, then they were asking for death. Lina was going to have them skinned and hung before the crowd as an example.

  "Nevermind being their whore. A garden frequented by the Yangs will be popular amongst their enemies. Grab her."

  At this, Lina sharply turned and tried to run, only to realize she was cornered. Then, she saw one of them gaze at her hand. The purse.

  Lina shook it like a dog treat in front of them.

  "You can buy a house with this," Lina suddenly said, waving it in the air like a shiny toy. "Take it."

  Lina tossed it to the right and then made a dash for the left. Unfortunately, they didn't want houses. The second she tried to escape, they grabbed her.

  Lina let out a scream, but it fell on deaf ears. Suddenly, her wrists were seized, her hair yanked back. She cried out in pain, her entire body falling backward.

  "If we sell you," one of the fine gentlemen snarled. "We can buy more than just a house. You don't understand how much you're worth, whore."

  "I am the youngest Yang, I would know my worth," Lina snarled back, kicking her heels. Immediately, they connected with bones.

  The man buckled and roared in pain, his grip loosening on her hair. Lina tried to flee, but her wrists were still painfully seized by another.

  "Bitch!" A man growled, yanking her wrists forward, pulling her body straight to him. "A Yang you say?"

  Men howled at his words, their laughter like wolves before a feast. Lina wretched her body and tried to stomp his toes into smithereens. Unfortunately, they were much smarter and stronger than her.

  PAK!

  Lina's head flew to the side, hair covering her face. She let out a shaky breath. A smack didn't hurt. What was most antagonizing was the humiliation. Tears filled her eyes, her skin burned with the slap. This wasn't her first and it certainly wouldn't be her last.

  "Fuck bringing her back to our Boss, we'll have a taste of her on the floor first. We'll screw her like animals on the concrete—we'll see if she still dares to call herself a Yang."

  Lina violently struggled. She was smart. She refused to go down without a fight.

  "Why do you think I'm wandering this area?" Lina spat out.

  "That mouth of hers is damn annoying, it's perfect for one of our rods to be shoved in there," someone sneered.

  A round of laughter echoed through the crowd. Lina's eyes burned at their words, despite hearing it many times before. She could still remember her Uncle Clyde's gaze wandering all over her body when he heard her first menstrual cycle had begun. She certainly remembered his snide remarks that made goosebumps crawl on her skin.

  What the men said to her paled in comparison to what Clyde commented.

  "Force yourself upon me and I can promise you, when the sun rises there will be warts on your rod," Lina seethed.

  At this, their voices quietened down.

  "You think she has those diseases that prostitutes have?" A frightened member asked his peer.

  "She tells lies," the smarter one replied, the man wore a suit and trench coat to mimic gentlemen.

  "Come and have a taste then," Lina dared them. "If you're not afraid of an incurable illness."

  "Sir…"

  The gentleman narrowed his eyes. "Sometimes you can tell if a woman has it by looking directly at the hole."

  Instantly, Lina's blood ran cold. She thought her bluff would work.

  "Let go of me!" Lina screamed when she felt a hand tugging at her dress. She loudly yelled, but a hand clamped over her mouth.

  "Mmph!" Lina shrieked into it, but it was too late.

  In a blink, hands were pulling at her skirt, raising it for everyone to see. Tears filled her vision as she struggled.

  BANG!

  Blood flashed in front of her. And suddenly, the restraints were gone.

  BANG!

  Lina could feel her entire body freeze, her dress raised to her thighs.

  "Pathetic," a frighteningly calm voice spoke from the shadows. Out stepped a man so tall, his figure cast shadows over them.

  The second his eyes met hers, Lina could've sworn she saw rubies. Then, when she blinked, she saw obsidian black. She was left breathless by his appearance. His attention swept to the hand on her thighs and wrists, the men fell to the ground, and the weapons were drawn.

  But none dared to lift their knives. They didn't even dare to move.

  "Unhand her, else you lose your heads."