Capter 2 Sold

When Celeste rushed home, Rochelle was on the couch with tears in her eyes. There was also no hiding that red and swollen palm-shaped bruise that stained her cheek. “Mom, did he hit you?” Celeste was caught off guard at her mother’s disheveled state. But she quickly caught on and swept her gaze across the messy living room with a fiery glare, demanding, “Where is he?” “Celeste, why did you return?” Rochelle was so anxious that she was about to burst into tears all over again because she had a hunch that her daughter’s life was about to meet its end. Before Celeste could say anything, she saw Philip coming through the door with three men. “That’s my daughter, Celeste. You can take her away!” He was definitely drunk based on his wobbly steps. Nevertheless, the smugness and delight in his slurring voice were hard to miss. Next to him, a bald man with a very noticeable beer belly fixed his eyes on Celeste. He had a wicked yet lecherous smirk, and there was a long, knife scar on his face. She hadn’t thought that her nightmare would happen so quickly! “You’re pretty and your name sounds sweet as well. Celeste… I like it!” The repulsive pig was practically salivating. It definitely didn’t help that his wandering gaze roved over every inch of Celeste’s body. At that moment, she couldn’t help but feel utterly violated. Then, right the very next second, he cackled in delight before shooting a look to his subordinates. Two burly men lunged and held Celeste firmly. “Hello, Miss Kiss!” Not only was their voice rough, but their actions were equally unforgiving! “Celeste!” Rochelle shrieked in fear. “Let me go!” A furious Celeste fought to break free, and her eyes were filled with determined desperation. “Release me! Everyone has a right to free marriage and what you’re doing now is against the law!” “Law? Is gambling legal? Law has never bothered me, but money… Now, money makes my world go round!” He hiccups drunkenly before adding, “You’re worth 30,000 now because you’re still young, but nobody will want you later when you’re old and sullied! Take her away!” Unable to control her anger, Celeste roared, “You’ll suffer retribution for this!” “Philip, don’t do this… Please!” Rochelle pleaded, which was highly unlike her usual submissive behavior. “Celeste is not your daughter. You have no right to do this to her!” “She’s not my daughter, but she has been living off me for so many years. It’s about time she repays me. Get lost!” He shoved Rochelle to the coffee table with a violent wave of his arm. Sure enough, the moment she fell, her forehead came into contact with the sharp edge of the table’s corner and she started bleeding. “Mom!” Alas, Celeste still couldn’t wriggle her way to freedom despite being a ball fueled by pure anxiety and worry. The men had a firm grip on her shoulders no matter how hard she tried to tug herself away from them. The inhuman and heartless Philip even dared to approach Rochelle’s crumpled form l and violently grabbed her hair, threatening her in a ferocious growl, “B*tch, don’t even try to stop me!” Then, he pulled her hair so hard that her head jerked upward, and she let out a painful howl. “Mom!” Celeste stomped her feet in frustration. “Let her go!” “Celeste, I’ll kill her if you try to resist today!” Celeste immediately snapped her attention to his fierce and murderous eyes. Then, she turned her gaze to the fresh blood oozing from Rochelle’s forehead and forced herself to remain calm. Eventually, she closed her eyes as she tried to ignore the heart-wrenching pain she was feeling in her chest and said, “Okay, I’ll go with them.” She knew that he had lost his mind and was capable of anything because he was prepared to go down with the ship. “Mom, take care of yourself…” There were tears in her eyes as she resolutely thought, As long as I’m still alive, I’ll save Mom from this hell. Afterward, the thugs left the house with Celeste and forced her into a minivan. Aware that escape was impossible for a helpless woman like her, the tyrant instructed his henchmen to release her and he took a seat next to her. “You smell so good, my wife.” He laid his slimy gaze on the stoic-looking girl with tears brimming in her eyes and took great pity on her. “My wife, you’re so pretty. Don’t worry. I’ll love you tenderly,” he said, pulling her into a hug. “Let go, you pig!” Celeste shoved him aside. “I’m already married!” However, the man wasn’t taken aback at all. Instead, he took a greater interest in her after her resistance. “Fret not. For a woman as beautiful as you, I’ll marry you even after your divorce,” he said, reaching out to grope her thighs, and she screamed in fear, but he threw himself at her. “Let go, you monster!” She fought and struggled with all her might. Unfortunately, the more she resisted, the more excited he became, and his smirk turned even more lewd. “My wife, you’ll be mine sooner or later. Don’t play hard to get when your father already took my money.” Screech! Right when despair was about to encapsulate her entire being and she thought that this was the end for her, the screeching sounds of brakes cut through the air, and the minivan staggered to a forced stop. Due to the inertia, everyone in the minivan flung forward and hit their heads. Immediately after the car came to a complete stop, the tyrant roared angrily, “F*ck!” The door slid open, and a few men dressed in suits and sunglasses surrounded the car. Finally, their expressions turned grave as they gestured at him to get out of the car. It was evident that they weren’t about to take no for an answer.