In the small world that once held only him and his father, trust was the only treasure 'Seth' ever possessed. But today, that treasure was crushed to dust by the very hands of the father he loved and relied upon—the man who chose to 'sell' him in exchange for the settlement of his debts.
"Dad! What are you doing?!" Seth's voice trembled so violently it was almost unintelligible. Yet, his father only barked back with callous indifference, leaving no trace of the bond they once shared.
"You ungrateful brat! Can't you even help your own father?!"
"Dad… please don't do this to me! I'm begging you!"
Seth clung to his father's arm, throwing his entire weight onto the legs that were trying to flee. His father struggled to pry Seth's hands off, his eyes cold with irritation at his son's desperate resistance.
"I only sold you for two years! It won't kill you! Look at where he lives—you'll eat better there than at some job paying pennies a month. You could work until you die and never pay off my debts. It's better to just serve a master for two years!"
"Dad… please… I'm begging you…"
Seth collapsed to his knees, prostrating himself again and again, stripping away every shred of his dignity. Fear and despair surged within him until tears soaked both cheeks; he looked like a discarded pup, abandoned by an owner who felt no remorse.
"You old bastard! If you don't hand over your son as promised… we'll have to price your internal organs to cover that fifty-million-dollar debt!"
At that thunderous threat, the last flicker of hesitation in his father's eyes vanished.
"Take him! Take him right now!" his father bellowed, shoving Seth's body toward the four men in black who stood waiting in silence.
The thugs lunged instantly. One gripped his arm with bone-crushing force, while the other pressed a chemically-soaked cloth over his nose. Though Seth's heart screamed for freedom, his consciousness began to fray. Darkness bled into his senses, and his body slumped into total oblivion.
Seth woke on a massive, unfamiliar bed. The satin sheets were smooth and chilling, a sharp contrast to the burning heat searing his chest. At the foot of the bed sat a tall, shirtless man with his back turned—his posture regal yet radiating an overwhelming pressure.
"You're awake?" The low, unfamiliar rumble of his voice made Seth bolt upright.
"Who… who are you?"
The muscular figure slowly turned to face him, revealing a countenance that seemed carved from marble. His features were sharp, his jawline defined, and his arched lips bore faint lines of a life lived intensely. His narrow, hawk-like eyes were cold, yet glinted with a worldly cunning. Deep within that gaze lay traces of exhaustion, but it was eclipsed by an aura of formidable confidence. Seth couldn't look away.
"Me? I'm your father's creditor… From now on, you belong to me."
The answer, delivered with a smile as cold as ice, stole Seth's breath. He scrambled back until his spine hit the headboard. A heavy weight of terror paralyzed him.
"You…" Seth whispered, trying to gather the remnants of his courage.
"Shh~" Adam raised a forefinger to his lips in a silencing gesture.
He drew out the sound purposefully, leaning in closer. A predatory smirk played on his lips, making Seth feel like a choice piece of prey.
"By the way… what is your name?"
"Se… Seth."
Adam arched an eyebrow. His sharp eyes swept over the smaller man's panicked face before he spoke in a tone laced with clear disapproval.
"Ah~~ A lovely name… Seth."
The emphasis on the final syllable made Seth flinch. He understood in that moment that he no longer held any right to negotiate in this world.
"…Thank you, sir."
The moment Seth finished speaking, a powerful hand seized his slender ankle. With the speed and leverage of a predator, Adam lunged, pinning him down and sealing off every escape route.
"What are you doing?!" Seth cried out in sheer panic.
"I'm doing exactly what I paid for," Adam replied flatly, his voice devoid of emotion yet harboring a repulsive streak of malice.
"No! No! Please… don't!" Seth shook his head frantically, his hands pushing against the heavy chest above him, but it was like trying to move a wall of steel.
"Why not?!" Adam roared, the sound vibrating through Seth's trembling frame. "Your father sold you for fifty million! Did you think just having you would be enough to break even? Huh?!"
Adam's sharp eyes raked over the shivering boy with disdain, driving the point home with words that sliced through Seth's heart.
"So… you better start making yourself worth fifty million!"
With that command, a savage hunger consumed Adam. He leaned down, his mouth and teeth claiming Seth's pale neck with a violent intensity, asserting his ownership over the 'object' he had rightfully acquired.
That was the moment Seth truly learned the meaning of 'torment.' His body shuddered under the rhythm of a harsh, unyielding force. The tears of pain that had once flowed freely now ran dry. His screams for mercy, once loud, faded into hollow whimpers swallowed by his throat. There was only a vast, dark ache gnawing at his heart and body… slowly, but utterly, destroying him.