Pranav, still smiling like an innocent angel who definitely wasn't stirring chaos, suddenly shifted his gaze to the man responsible for everything-Mr. Dalton.
The man who had actually made the deal with Adolph.
The man who had sold his own daughter for twenty million dollars.
"Ah," Pranav sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his chest, "and here we have the mastermind behind this beautiful, heartwarming family transaction-Mr. Dalton Valencia, everyone!"
The room went silent.
Neti's father, who had been quietly eating, paused.
Adolph set his wine glass down, his sharp blue eyes watching carefully.
Neti?
She just... exhaled sharply, already knowing this was going to be a mess.
Pranav?
Oh, he was living for this.
"Tell me, Mr. Dalton," Pranav continued, leaning forward with genuine curiosity, "how did you even come up with the idea of selling your own daughter? I mean, was it a long, thoughtful decision? Or did you just wake up one day and think-oh wow, I could make a quick twenty million today?"
Neti's father stiffened.
Aliya, sipping her champagne, raised a brow. "Oh, this is getting good."
Mr. Dalton finally spoke, his voice calm, cold, and businesslike.
"I did what was necessary."
Pranav blinked.
Then he laughed.
Not just any laugh. A full, amused, borderline insane laugh.
"Necessary?!" he repeated, wiping a fake tear from his eye. "Oh, wow. Okay, okay. Let me process this. Selling your daughter... was necessary?"
"I didn't want a useless heir," Mr. Dalton replied smoothly. "She had no value in my business. So I found another use for her."
Neti gripped her fork tightly.
Adolph's jaw tensed.
Pranav?
Pranav looked like he was about to flip the entire table.
"Damn," he muttered, shaking his head. "That's impressive. You know, I've seen a lot of messed-up people in this world, but you? You take the gold medal."
He suddenly leaned back, stretching his arms.
"You know, I have this dog back at one of my places."
Everyone blinked.
Aliya frowned. "What-?"
"Yeah, yeah," Pranav nodded. "Real fluffy guy. Loyal as hell. I've had him for years. And do you know what I haven't done to him?"
Mr. Dalton narrowed his eyes. "What?"
"Sell him."
Silence.
"See, because unlike some people, I actually care about the things that belong to me." Pranav smiled, but there was something sharp in his gaze. "But hey, maybe that's just me."
Mr. Dalton's fingers twitched, but he remained calm.
Adolph finally spoke, his voice low, smooth, and deadly.
"Pranav."
Pranav held up his hands. "What? I'm just saying, if he ever gets tired of his other family members, he should let me know. I might need some cheap labor."
Neti choked on her drink.
Aliya?
Aliya actually covered her mouth, shaking with silent laughter.
Adolph simply sighed, rubbing his temple.
Mr. Dalton?
Oh, he was seething.
And Pranav?
He just grinned wider, like he had just won a game only he was playing.
I knew Mr. Dalton was greedy.
That wasn't a secret.
But even I hadn't expected him to agree this fast.
When I first offered twenty million dollars, I had been testing the waters, seeing how far he'd go, how much of a monster he truly was.
And in less than ten minutes, he had signed her away.
His own daughter.
Not a moment of hesitation. Not a flicker of guilt. Just pure business.
I remember staring at the contract, the ink still fresh, the weight of the paper heavier than I expected.
It was done.
Neti was mine.
But even as I sat in that dimly lit office, watching him sip his whiskey, pretending this was just another business deal, something inside me shifted.
I had seen a lot of cruelty in this world. I had delivered a lot of cruelty in this world.
But this?
This was a different kind of sick.
I had expected him to negotiate. To pretend to care. To at least act like he was giving up something important.
But he didn't.
Instead, he leaned back in his chair, looked me in the eye, and said-
"She's all yours. Make sure she doesn't cause trouble."
Like he was talking about a piece of furniture.
Not his blood.
Not his own daughter.
And in that moment, I realized something-
I wasn't the villain in this story.
He was.
_______________________________
Flashback
When Adolph was 21 and Neti was 17
--------------
The study smelled of cigars and aged whiskey, the air thick with the overbearing authority that Mr. Dalton exuded effortlessly. I stood stiffly before his desk, my hands clenched behind my back, my expression carefully blank. He sat in his usual grand leather chair, a glass of whiskey swirling in his grasp, his sharp, judgmental eyes fixed on me.
"You're getting too close to her," he stated, his voice laced with disdain.
I kept my face neutral. "Sir?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Adolph," he snapped, slamming his glass onto the desk, the amber liquid sloshing over the rim. "I've seen it. She smiles at you too much. Laughs at your words. She's getting too comfortable with you."
I knew exactly what he was talking about. Neti-bold, stubborn, and far too trusting-had been treating me differently. She sought me out in the halls, invited me to accompany her on walks, and even teased me in that infuriatingly playful way of hers. It was dangerous. I knew it. And yet, I could never seem to stop her.
"She is just friendly, sir," I replied evenly, refusing to let my irritation show. "She treats everyone-"
"Don't insult my intelligence," he cut me off, leaning forward with a sneer. "You think I don't see how she looks at you? How she finds excuses to be near you? She may be young and naïve, but you are not." His voice turned sharp, accusatory. "Are you encouraging her?"
I gritted my teeth, forcing my voice to remain calm. "No, sir."
"You better not be," he growled. "Because let me remind you, Adolph, you are nothing. You are here because I allow it. You serve her because I command it. You are not her equal, and you never will be."
I had heard those words a thousand times before. They used to sting. Now, they only fueled the fire inside me.
"She will be married into a powerful family one day," he continued coldly. "A man of wealth, of status. Someone worthy of her." His eyes darkened. "And that will never be you."
I stayed silent. What could I say? He held all the power. I was just a man working under his thumb, a pawn in his world of wealth and greed.
"She is getting attached to you," he said, his tone filled with distaste. "Fix it. Now. Or I will."
I clenched my jaw. I knew what he meant. Mr. Dalton had no patience for disobedience. If he thought I was a distraction to Neti's future, he wouldn't hesitate to remove me. And I wasn't foolish enough to think he'd do it kindly.
"Yes, sir," I said finally.
Mr. Dalton leaned back, satisfied. "Good. Now get out."
I turned on my heel and left the room, my head held high despite the weight of his words. I walked down the dimly lit hallway, my mind racing. I knew I should listen, that I should push her away, make her see that we could never be what she probably imagined.
But as I stepped into the courtyard and saw her sitting on the fountain's edge, smiling up at me with that damn glow in her eyes, I knew-I was already too far gone.
I had barely stepped into the courtyard when I saw her.
Neti sat on the edge of the stone fountain, absentmindedly swirling her fingers in the water, her hair cascading down her back like silk. The dim lanterns hanging around the garden gave her an ethereal glow, and for a moment, I just stood there, watching.
Then, as if sensing me, she turned her head and smiled.
"Adolph!" she called out, her voice laced with excitement. She hopped up from her seat and walked toward me, her usual playful grin in place.
I forced my expression into something neutral. "Neti."
She stopped in front of me, her brows furrowing slightly at my tone. "What's with you?"
"Nothing," I said, keeping my hands behind my back. I had to distance myself. Her father's words still rang in my head.
She raised an eyebrow. "Liar."
I said nothing.
She stepped closer, tilting her head, studying me. "You're acting weird."
"I'm not."
"You are," she shot back, narrowing her eyes. "Usually, you at least pretend to be interested when I talk."
I clenched my jaw. I wasn't going to entertain this conversation. I needed to push her away before her father did something drastic.
"I have work to do," I said flatly, turning to leave.
She grabbed my wrist. "Hey-"
I tensed but didn't pull away.
She sighed. "Adolph, what's wrong? Did something happen?"
For a split second, I almost gave in. Almost told her that her father saw us as nothing but a transaction, that he wanted me to act like a servant and nothing more. That I had no right to be near her.
But instead, I pulled my wrist from her grasp and took a step back.
"Nothing happened," I said coldly. "You're imagining things."
Her expression flickered with something-hurt? Confusion?-before she masked it with mock offense. "Oh, so now I'm crazy?"
"I didn't say that."
She folded her arms, tapping her foot. "You're being awfully mean today."
"Maybe I'm just tired."
"Maybe you're just a bad liar," she countered.
Damn it.
I sighed, rubbing a hand down my face. "Go to bed, Neti."
She didn't move. Instead, she squinted at me like she was trying to read my mind.
"You know, if you're trying to push me away, you're doing a terrible job at it," she said. "You'll have to be much crueler than this."
I forced myself to smirk, though it felt empty. "Maybe I will."
She scoffed. "Sure, tough guy."
And before I could stop her, she reached up and poked my cheek.
I froze.
"See?" she said, grinning. "You're still the same. Whatever's going on, you'll tell me eventually."
I clenched my fists, forcing my body to remain still.
She had no idea how wrong she was.
_______________________________
Neti
I knew something was off.
Adolph wasn't acting like himself.
He was always composed, always carrying that stupidly unreadable expression, but this was different. This time, he was pushing me away-deliberately. And I didn't like it one bit.
I tilted my head, watching him closely. His sharp jaw was locked, his hands were curled into fists, and he wouldn't meet my eyes for too long.
"Maybe I will," he had just said, trying to sound like his usual self. But it wasn't the same. It didn't feel like the playful banter we usually had.
I squinted at him. "You'll have to be much crueler than this."
His smirk twitched, but I caught it.
Got you.
I poked his cheek, hoping to break whatever weird spell he was under. "See?" I grinned. "You're still the same. Whatever's going on, you'll tell me eventually."
His jaw clenched, and for a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes. Guilt? Frustration?
And then, just as quickly, it was gone.
"I have nothing to tell," he muttered, turning slightly.
Liar.
I huffed and took a step forward. "Oh? Then why do you look like someone just kicked your puppy?"
He shot me a deadpan look. "I don't have a puppy."
"You know what I mean."
He sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Go to bed, Neti."
I rolled my eyes. "You sound like my father."
At that, his entire body tensed. It was so quick I almost missed it.
My smirk faltered.
Wait.
That was it, wasn't it? This wasn't just him being moody-this had something to do with my father.
I crossed my arms, suddenly serious. "Did he say something to you?"
Adolph didn't respond.
But he didn't have to.
His silence spoke louder than words.
My stomach twisted.
I knew my father could be harsh, but what could he have possibly said to make Adolph act like this?
I reached for his sleeve, hesitating for a second before gripping it lightly. "Adolph..."
He exhaled sharply, as if debating something in his head. But when he turned to face me, his expression was unreadable again.
"I told you," he said softly. "Go to bed."
And this time, before I could argue, he turned on his heel and walked away.
I stood there, watching him disappear into the shadows of the courtyard, my chest tightening with something I couldn't quite name.
Something wasn't right.
And I was going to find out exactly what it was.
{Months later...}
It had been months.
Months of Adolph avoiding me. Months of him acting like we weren't as close as we had been. Months of him treating me like I was just another person in this giant house instead of someone he used to tease, joke with, and maybe even-just maybe-care about.
And I was getting sick of it.
At first, I had thought it would pass. Maybe he was just in a mood. Maybe whatever my father had said to him had just rattled him temporarily. But no, this was different.
This was deliberate.
He wasn't just distant. He was actively ignoring me.
If I entered a room, he left.
If I spoke to him, he gave clipped answers.
If I tried to joke with him, he didn't even smirk.
It was infuriating.
I stormed through the hallways of the mansion, my heels clicking against the marble floors, heart pounding with frustration.
Fine. If he wouldn't talk to me, I'd make him.
I knew exactly where he was-he always went to the back courtyard at this hour. A place I used to find him in all the time, where we'd sit under the stars and talk about the most random things.
Not anymore.
Now, he sat there alone. Always alone.
Not tonight.
I pushed the door open and stormed inside, finding him sitting on the stone bench, staring at nothing in particular.
He barely looked at me.
I clenched my fists. "Enough."
He finally turned his head slightly. "Enough what?"
"This!" I threw my hands in the air. "Whatever game you're playing. Acting like I don't exist. Avoiding me like I have the plague. Just-stop."
He exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temple. "Go inside, Neti."
Oh, no. Not this time.
I marched up to him and grabbed his wrist. "No. You don't get to keep brushing me off like this. I know my father said something to you that day. And I know that's why you've been acting like this."
His jaw clenched, but he didn't pull away.
I took that as a good sign.
"Just tell me, Adolph. What did he say to you?"
For a moment, he looked at me. Really looked at me. And for the first time in months, I saw the flicker of hesitation in his eyes, like he was debating whether to finally let me in again.
But then, just as quickly, it was gone.
"It doesn't matter."
I scowled. "It does matter."
"It doesn't." He pulled his hand from my grip and stood up. "Go inside, Neti. It's late."
I blocked his path. "No."
He sighed, clearly running out of patience. "Why are you being so stubborn?"
"Because you're my friend, you idiot!" I snapped. "And friends don't just cut each other off for no reason."
He stared at me for a long moment, something unreadable passing through his expression.
And then, finally, he spoke.
"I'm not your friend, Neti."
It was like a slap to the face.
I took a step back, my heart sinking. "What?"
His face was completely blank, as if he had just said the most natural thing in the world. "I was never your friend."
Liar.
Liar, liar, liar.
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
He didn't let me speak anyway.
"Go to bed, Neti," he said one last time before walking away.
And this time, I didn't follow.
I just stood there, feeling something inside me crack.
_______________________________
Adolph
I had to push her away.
There was no other choice.
For months, she had tried to break through the distance I had put between us. She stormed into rooms demanding answers, tried to joke with me like nothing had changed, acted as if we could go back to how things were before.
But we couldn't.
We never could.
"Keep your emotions aside, Adolph," my mother had told me over and over again, her tired hands wringing the cloth she used to clean the floors. "You are not like her. You are not one of them."
"You do what you are told," my father had added, standing tall in his black suit, always ready to serve. "And you never forget your place."
And I hadn't.
Not until her.
Neti had always been different. She had never looked at me the way her family did-like I was just another one of the staff, like I was below them. To her, I had just been Adolph. Someone she could laugh with, complain to, trust.
For years, I had let myself believe in that.
That maybe-just maybe-things could be different.
I had let my guard down. I had let her in.
And then her father reminded me exactly where I stood.
"You're nothing, Adolph," he had said that night, his voice laced with irritation. "You serve this family. That is your only purpose. And yet, you act as if you're her equal."
I had stood still, jaw clenched, hands at my sides.
He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "She is too naïve to see it, but you? You know better."
I did.
I had always known.
"You will stay away from her," he had continued, his tone final. "Or I will make sure you and your parents regret it."
And that was that.
That night, I made my choice.
No more jokes. No more late-night talks in the courtyard. No more letting her believe we could be something more.
Because we couldn't.
Because no matter what she thought-no matter how much she cared-she was Neti Dalton. The daughter of the man who owned people like me.
And I?
I was just the son of a maid and a bodyguard.
Nothing more.
So when she stood in front of me now, her eyes filled with hurt, asking why I was shutting her out, I did the only thing I could.
I looked her in the eye and lied.
"I'm not your friend, Neti."
The moment the words left my mouth, I saw the way she froze. The way her face fell. The way her fingers curled into her dress as if she was trying to hold herself together.
I could have taken it back. I could have told her the truth.
That she was the only thing in this godforsaken house that had ever mattered to me. That she was the only person who had ever made me feel like more than just a shadow.
That she was everything.
But I didn't.
I turned my back and walked away, leaving her standing there under the moonlight, alone.
Because this was how it had to be.
Even if it killed me.
_______________________________
Neti
I buried my face into my pillow, the fabric muffling my sobs.
I had no one now.
Not that I ever really did.
My so-called family barely acknowledged my existence unless it was to scold me for something or remind me how much of a burden I was. I had learned to live with that, to accept that I was never going to be the daughter they wanted.
But Adolph...
Adolph had always been mine.
Or at least, I thought he was.
Now, even he had pushed me away.
"I'm not your friend, Neti."
His voice echoed in my head like a cruel joke.
He had looked me in the eyes when he said it-cold, distant, like I was nothing.
Like I had never meant anything to him at all.
And I hated that I couldn't believe it.
Because Adolph wasn't like my parents. He wasn't like the people in this house who only knew how to hurt and take and destroy.
He had been different.
He had been mine.
And now he was gone too.
I curled into myself, my chest tightening as another sob escaped me.
I didn't know how long I stayed like that, shaking, crying into my pillow, but at some point, the sound of muffled footsteps outside my door made me pause.
I wasn't sure how, but I knew it was him.
Even without seeing him, even without a single word spoken, I could feel him standing there.
Listening.
And yet-he didn't come in.
He didn't knock.
He just stood there in silence, like a ghost haunting the edges of my pain.
And that hurt even more.
Because it meant he cared.
It meant he still felt something.
And if he still felt something, then why was he doing this?
I wanted to scream at him. To throw open the door and demand answers. To force him to look me in the eyes and tell me the truth.
But I didn't.
Because I already knew.
No matter how much I meant to him, no matter how much he meant to me...
I would always be a Dalton.
And he would always be beneath me.
At least, that's what the world had decided.
And Adolph?
He had chosen to believe it.
_______________________________