Chapter 1


    Letitia Sanders was eyeballing a meaty bone before a stay mutt in the filthy and messy backyard at the


    AquaCity Psychiatric Institute.


    She had gone three days without so much as a crumb to eat. If this continued she’d be at risk of


    starving It was getting to the point where she’d have to grapple with the dog just for a bite to eat


    Since Elgin Ramirez chucked her into this madhouse two years ago, Letitia’s daily gund had been


    about staying alive.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    The Ramirez farmily, the big shots of AquaCity with Elgin as the heir His word was the final soy pretty


    much controlling the pulse of the city


    Letitia could still remember how Elgin had gripped her throat like he was trying to choke the life out of


    her, his eyes filled with venom. “You’re going to suffer every single day You’ll be begging for the relief of


    death, but it’s not going toe You’re going to pay off your family’s debt to me!


    The more miserable her life was, the more Elgin seemed to get his kicks.


    Two years back. Elgin’s father, Marcel Ramirez, had a car wreck and was rushed to the hospital in


    critical condition.


    The doctor on call was Preston Sanders, Letitia’s dad Something went wrong during the emergency


    operation, and Preston messed up with the medications, leading to Marcel bleeding out.


    The cops got involved and pinned the me on Preston for cuttingers. He got pped with a life


    sentence


    When Malinda, Letitia’s mom, got wind of the news, she had a stroke that turned her into a vegetable.


    From that day on, Letitia’s world had turned upside down


    She didn’t buy that her dad could’ve done such a thing, but her pleas fell on deaf


    With just a flick of Elgin’s wrist, Letitia was tossed into the mental hospital like yesterday’s trash, and he


    made sure nobody gave a damn whether she lived or died.


    Since then, her life had been worse than a stray dog’s. But she swore she’d cling to life Her folks were


    still out there waiting for her. Only by staying alive did she stand a chance!


    Suddenly, the sound of a lock turning snapped her out of her thoughts


    “Letitia Sanders, someone’s here to pick you up the head of the mental hospital announced


    Letitia froze. “Who?”


    After her dad got locked up, her friends and rtives scattered like roaches. Who woulde for her?


    “You’ll see when you meet them.”


    Letitia never thought she could get out of this hellhole. Without Elgin’s say so, who would dare spring


    her?


    With jitters and hope, Letitia stepped out of the mental hospital, only to be greeted by a van pulling up


    in front of her.


    Before she could get a good look at who was inside, a couple of burly guys leaped out, threw a ck


    sack over her head, and snatched her up!


    “Help…” Before she could scream, a heavy blow to her neck sent her into darkness


    When Letitia woke up, she found herself tied to a bed in a hotel room, unable to move a muscle.


    What the heck was going on? Where was she? Thest thing she remembered before cking out


    gave her a bad feeling


    A bold and chunky old guy in front of her was rubbing his hands with glee. “Such an innocent young


    thing. I can’t wait anymore!”


    Crap! Letitia realized she had been fooled!


    No one hade to get her. The director had given her to this old creep!


    “Stay away…” Letitia clenched her teeth. “Back off!”


    “Pamper me, and I’ll make it worth your while…”


    As the old man lunged at her with a lecherous grin, Letitia thought fast and retreated, shouting, “Wait!”


    “What’s up?”


    Letitia forced a giggle. “Easy there, my lord. How about you untie me first, then we can have some real


    fun…”


    “Alright then. It’s not like you can make a break for it.”


    The moment the ropes were loose, Letitia kicked him in the balls and bolted as he howled in pain.


    “Grab her!”


    She could hear footsteps chasing after her. If they caught her, she’d be toast!


    Panicking. Letitia spotted a door ajar, dashed in, and mmed it shut.


    As she was gasping for air, a man’s arm with distinct knuckles suddenly wrapped around her waist.


    “A woman? A husky male voice pierced the dark


    Letitia felt his burning hot body and frantically asked, “Who are you? What do you want?”


    To get rid of this drug in me with you. Without another word, he hoisted her up and dumped her on the


    bed


    Letitia couldn’t see the man’s face, but his familiar scent made her think of Elgin.


    No, it couldn’t be Elgin!


    “Don’t! Please let go!” Letitia struggled, her voice tearful. “Don’t… I’m not that kind of girl…”


    The man whispered in her ear, “I’ll marry you.”


    He silenced her protests with his fervent kisses.


    By dawn, the man was sound asleep.


    Letitia, aching all over, had thought she could escape unscathed. Instead, she lost her virginity.


    Her life was tragic enough. When would fate ever cut her a break?


    Though this guy was leagues better than the old man and had even promised to marry her, she knew


    saying ‘I do’ would drag him down into Elgin’s pit of fire with her She couldn’t do that to him.


    With that thought, Letitia quietly left the hotel, dressed and bewildered.


    She could have slipped away, but she knew AquaCity was Elgin’s turf, every exit locked tight. Even if


    she ran, where could she possibly hide?


    Besides, her parents were there, and she couldn’t bail on them.


    In the end, Letitia returned to AquaCity Psychiatric Institute. At least she had to get the scoop on the


    director’s schemes to watch her back.


    Just as she reached his office, she overheard a heated argument


    “The old goat’s got his eye on my daughter. How could I bear to give her away? The only choice was to


    hand over Letitial”


    “Are you nuts? Mr. Ramirez put Letitia here himself, and you’re messing with his property?”


    “Mr. Ramirez? He’s forgotten about her. As long as she’s ounted for, we’re golden. We need to find


    her, stat!”


    it was all the director’s doing, just as she suspected! Fuming, Letitia clenched her fists, ready to burst


    in, but the director came out looking all worned


    He looked up and saw Letitia, but before he could fake a smile, he spotted the love bite on her neck


    “You slut, who did you shack up withst night? he cursed, red-faced with rage. You nearly got me


    killed


    Letitia had no clue who that guy was and might as well chalk it up to some ridiculous dream.


    She drilled the director with a frosty question. “What gives you the right to pawn me off?”


    “Pawn you off? You’re spouting more and more nonsense, and your madness is getting worse! Quick,


    lock her up in the ward!


    Lettha shot him a chilly look “Let go. I can walk on my own.


    Meanwhile, Elgin woke up at the hotel, rubbing his temples as he sat up and swept over the messy


    bed, shes of memory racing by


    He couldn’t stop thinking of the girl’s silky smooth skin, her whispers, and her first time in bed.


    But next to the bed, there was nothing but air. Gosh! Did she sleep with him and bolt?


    She was nothing like those gold digging chicks who throw themselves at him.


    It was a setup the night before. A woman happened to burst into his room and helped relieve the drug


    coursing through


    Elgin dialed a number,manding. Find out the woman who crashed my roomst night.”


    “Right away, Mr Ramirez


    He had promised to marry her, and he intended to keep it. He would track her down even if she ran to


    the ends of the earth


    Elgin swung out of bed, eyeing the empty ss on the nightstand.


    His stepmom couldn’t give it a rest, always seizing every chance to shove a woman his way, even


    stooping to drugging him


    He thought it was time to secure a Mrs. Ramirez to end his stepmom’s schemes.


    “Mr. Ramirez, today is your father’s death anniversary, the assistant reminded him as they got into the


    car.


    “Got it, same as every year


    Once a year, Elgin made his pilgrimage to his father’s grave, and it was time to see Letitia, the woman


    he’d dumped all his hatred on


    A luxury car pulled up at the entrance of AquaCity Psychiatric Institute, with Elgin casually sauntering


    in.


    Seeing Elgin arrive, the mental hospital director nearly pissed his pants “Mr., Mr…”


    “Where’s Letitia? Elgin’s eyes were icy


    1. I’ll go fetch her this instant!


    The director scurried off to the ward, warning Letitia, “Keep your trap shut tight. If Mr. Ramirez finds out


    you’re no longer a virgin, we’re both dead meat!”


    As Letitia was about to respond, a tall figure appeared.


    it was Elgin. He was as handsome and aloof as in her memories, oozing with an air of superiority,


    someone born with a silver spoon


    An overwhelming presence hit her, and Letitia’s nerves instantly were on edge “Mr. Ramirez”


    “Are you so scared of me? He teased with a smirk.


    Yeah she was so scared that she barely dared to breathe, let alone meet his eyes. She kept her head


    down silently with


    be strands of hair ticklinger cheeks, resisting the urge to brush them away


    Let s been two years, but you haven’t changed. How duft. Elgiris tone was even, but Letitia felt bone-


    chilling cold


    ETH


    Che wasn’t the mess he expected, which had disappointed him. Little did he know that she had fought


    tooth and n only to survive and keep a shred of humar, dignity


    Those first few months were worse than an animal’s life.


    “So, game over.” Elgin’s gaze nanowed, somewhat enigmatic “You’re free now”


    Free? She even couldn’t believe it


    Letitia knew too well that he had some new method up in his sleeve to torment her. She couldn’t help


    but tremble, retreating step by step as Elgin advanced


    “Keeping you under my thumb for my amusement will quench my thirst for revenge his words were


    chillingly cold. “From now on, Letitia, you’re nothing but a dog at my side


    Elgin tumed, his figure resolute Follow met


    Confused, she asked. ‘Where to go?


    “The city hall