Chapter 1

The vehicle raced along the elevated bridge, the fleeting streetlights casting a hasty glow, faintly illuminating the inscription on the note held by the girl in the back seat of the taxi: "11 PM, Room 1688, 16th floor, Hilton Hotel."

A tear splashed onto the paper, dampening the ink. She hastily wiped away the tear, yet the poignant sorrow lingered, involuntarily causing her shoulders to tremble.

"Miss, are you alright?" The taxi driver noticed the young woman's distress in the back seat and spoke up. The girl, adorned in opulent yet alluring attire, resembled a noble goddess, but her hesitant expression upon entering the taxi resembled that of a bashful child from a foreign land as she held the note for a long while before finally uttering the hotel's name.

"I'm fine." Brianna Diaz hurriedly brushed away her tears, her embarrassed hands gripping the note against her knee. "I, I just have a slight foot ache."

The eight-centimeter high heels she wore for the first time today were causing her feet genuine pain, yet the fear in her heart of what was to come made her hurt even more.

Remember, never anger him; his temper is not good, but his generosity is unmatched. Thus, he holds the key to whether you can raise the funds for your brother's surgery. You also know how rare it is to find a successful kidney match. Your brother is fortunate to have another chance, but if you don't promptly come up with the money, the hospital won't hold this opportunity for you! Do you still expect to come across a third chance?

In her mind echoed the words of Aunt Adams, who was also suffering from kidney failure but was not lacking in funds. She was simply waiting for the right kidney donor. During this waiting period, she watched Upton Diaz miss a kidney donor opportunity due to lack of money, and upon learning of another successful match while Brianna Diaz had no money, she discreetly suggested to Brianna Diaz that there was a way to get money - by selling herself.

At first, Brianna Diaz opposed and resisted, but after a few minutes, she looked at her brother's swollen face and legs and chose to compromise.

"I'm not forcing you to take this path. The girls I introduce are all voluntary. You're a good girl, and I don't want to ruin you. But in today's society, this is how it is for you two parentless children. Honestly, if it weren't for your good looks, I wouldn't dare entertain this thought. Think about it; thirty thousand in just one night. How many women can command that price, and how many men are willing to pay it? Miss, this gentleman is no ordinary man. Your student attire won't do. Let me lend you some clothes! Thank goodness you're eighteen; otherwise, just based on your looks, I wouldn't dare to involve you!"

Aunt Adams's voice replayed in Brianna Diaz's head as she tightly clenched the note in her hand: For your brother, you can do it. It's just one night, isn't it? No matter how painful or unbearable, you can surely endure it...

"Squeak..." The harsh sound of brakes pierced Brianna Diaz's ears as she instinctively looked up, but the inertia had already propelled her forward.

"Bang! Crack!" The impact of the collision caused the car to spin half around, but she had already crashed into the front seat.

Luckily, the vehicle had slowed down early, and she was wearing a seatbelt; otherwise... Yet, even with this collision, her head still throbbed with pain. She reached to her forehead, looking ahead, and asked, "Sir, are you alright?"

The driver master shook his head, lethargically affirming that he was fine, then opened the car door. Brianna Diaz looked outside and realized that the taxi had collided with a very handsome sports car. She didn't know the brand of the sports car; she never concerned herself with such matters. However, she observed the trident emblem and speculated that it must be expensive, as the taxi driver's face turned unusually grim.

Exiting the vehicle, she had no time to linger because it was already half-past ten, and she only had half an hour to get there.

"This is my fare. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I won't accompany you here..." She hastily took out money to give to the driver. However, at that moment, an excessively handsome man stepped out of the beautiful car. He was tall and lean, with long hair. As soon as his face entered Brianna Diaz's eyes, she was stunned: "Thomas... Moore..."

She often saw him on television, magazines, and even in the news. She always thought such people were like clouds, but she never expected to have the chance to see him in person. He looked even more handsome and charming than in all the images she had seen.

"I don't have time to waste with you. This is my lawyer's business card. Wait here for him to handle it!" he said as he approached, pinching a thin card between his fingers and handing it to the driver. However, at that moment, he glanced at her stuttering and quickly gave her a second glance, his eyes fixed straight on her eyes without wavering.

Brianna Diaz instinctively lowered her head. The prince in the hearts of countless girls was actually looking at her, while she was dressed in such overly sexy attire. She felt her face burning, but what surprised him was that her cold fingers pinched her chin and lifted it up...

She saw his eyes, the gray pupils proving his mixed-race identity, and that beautiful face... Oh God, she felt like she was about to faint...

"What's your name?" He stared into her eyes, a glint of indescribable luster in his eyes.

"What?" Her ears were full of her own heartbeat. She could see his bright lips moving under the streetlight, but she couldn't hear what he was saying...

The pain on her chin deepened, and she lightly moaned. He asked again, "What's your name?"

"Brianna Diaz."

The man's brows and eyes quickly swept over her, then he suddenly grabbed her hand and said, "Get in the car!" as he pulled her into the sports car.

"What?!" Brianna Diaz was pulled two steps before realizing it wasn't right. She hurriedly said, "Why should I get in the car? I, I still have things to do..."

The man stopped and turned back to look at her, then directly snatched the note from her hand. "Is this the matter, right?"

Brianna Diaz immediately felt ashamed and lowered her head.

"It's different for everyone, isn't it? Whatever he offers, I'll match it!" he said, pulling her forward again.

"No, no way!" She instinctively objected. She wasn't entirely clear about what kind of man Thomas Moore was, but she wasn't completely ignorant of his background either. She had no doubt about his ability to pay, but today she had ventured out to raise funds for her brother's surgery. Who nowadays would willingly spend three hundred thousand to buy a woman?

"What did you say?" The man turned around again, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "In front of me, no one can say no. You heard me clearly. Tonight, you belong to me, and I want you!"

With that, he shoved Brianna Diaz into the car, lacking any gentlemanly demeanor. After he got into the car and closed the door, amidst the roar of the engine, he sped away with her in the opposite direction, leaving streaks of light and shadow in the night.