The Mob Boss's Discarded Songbird

I was the most pampered songbird by Julian's side. More accurately, I was his most prized bargaining chip. He kept me in luxury for ten whole years, only to hand me over to Adrian like a pawn in a deal. Later on, Julian would grind Adrian’s bloody head under his designer shoe. He said, "Babe, I'm here to take you home." What he never understood was that there was no going back. On my twentieth birthday, Julian rented out the most exclusive rooftop restaurant in the city to celebrate for me. The venue was packed with high-society socialites and the ruthless corporate tycoons I had crossed paths with while running Julian's errands. Amid the clinking champagne flutes, envy and flattery were showered upon me. The women envied Julian’s endless affection, while the men praised me as his most capable right-hand woman. I was genuinely happy. It felt as though all of this proved Julian really loved me. Julian was happy too, admiring what an invaluable asset I had turned out to be. Leaning in, he whispered, "Babe, could you do one more favor for me?" Without a second thought, I agreed. Then I heard him say, "See that man by the door? Starting tomorrow, you belong to him." I was just a stray Julian had scooped off the streets ten years ago. Back then, I was curled up on the curb in the pouring rain, resting my head against a cracked little ivory angel figurine. Julian decided I brought good luck and brought me into his estate. He was eighteen that year. I was ten. Years passed, and Julian became the city's most ruthless, cold-blooded kingpin. Merciless and calculating. I became his favorite caged bird, and his plaything in bed. He was twenty-eight. I was twenty. Having grown up alone, I never truly understood romantic love. I only believed that even if I was just a product, I had to be the most valuable one on the shelf. Only then would I avoid being thrown away. Only then could I survive. Julian appreciated my business acumen more and more, bringing me along to his high-stakes negotiations. Naturally, none of those deals were clean. I became his most loyal attack dog. He laid all his filthy secrets bare in front of me, while I simply asked in a low voice if he wanted another glass of red wine. Yet, even a dog develops feelings after so long. I foolishly believed that as long as I worked hard enough, I could stay by his side forever. "Julian, are you really sending me away?" The moment the words left my mouth, I already knew the answer. "Wait for me, babe. I’ll come get you back." "Julian, don't you want me anymore?" I asked again. Julian looked at me, seemingly wanting to explain, but ended up giving a bitter, dismissive laugh. He was probably thinking: Why on earth do I owe her an explanation? "Babe, I saved your life. You owe me your obedience."Meeting Adrian’s teasing gaze, I walked over and slipped my hand through his arm. "Mr. Cross, it's getting late. Shall we head out?" Adrian raised an eyebrow, not pulling away. He led me straight toward Julian. "I'm taking her. As for that shipment, move it after ten tonight. I guarantee it'll clear customs without a hitch." "Much appreciated, Mr. Cross." Julian leaned lazily against the bar, raising his glass in a casual toast, making no move to stand or say goodbye. So it was all for that shipment. Trading me for millions in illicit cargo was indeed a profitable deal. I gave a self-deprecating smirk. The little orphan girl from the curb really had a hefty price tag. It wasn't until we settled into the stretched Rolls-Royce that Adrian spoke in a slow drawl. "You still have a chance to get out." "No need," I said, exhausted. Adrian scoffed. "Quite the dutiful little lapdog, aren't you?" "A good dog is always loyal. Whoever holds the leash is who she lives for. Besides, your car is far more spacious than Julian's." I smiled. I laughed at my own delusions, at Julian’s cold heart, and at the fact that to these powerful men, I was nothing more than a well-trained pet. Maximum utility. Even when discarded, my remaining value had to be squeezed dry. Whatever I said struck a nerve, because Adrian suddenly lunged forward, pinning me against the seat. His large hand clamped lightly around my throat, instantly cutting off my breath. I simply smiled and let my arms drop limp at my sides. "Why... why aren't you fighting back?" Surprised, Adrian let go. He was stunned by my complete lack of any survival instinct. "I belong to you now. Whatever you choose to do with me is your decision. I'll just comply." Adrian backed off, dropping heavily into his seat, and barked out, annoyed, "Drive." The car pulled up to a massive countryside estate, where a butler opened my door. It was the first time anyone had ever waited on me like that. With Julian, opening doors for others had always been my job. Adrian stayed in the car, merely rolling down the window to tell me, "You aren't a dog. People ought to live for themselves. Everyone does."Adrian drove away. The butler warmly ushered me through the front doors. "Miss Anna, don't mind Mr. Cross looking so cold all the time. Deep down, he's actually a very kind man." Kind? Circling back at this hour meant he was likely smoothing out that shipment for Julian. I knew better than anyone what was hidden in those crates. Aiding a criminal made him cut from the exact same cloth. How could a man like that be called kind? I walked inside, only to find a huge birthday cake sitting right in the middle of the living room. My chest tightened painfully. So he remembered that I hadn't gotten to eat my cake earlier. I ate it anyway. Throwing all etiquette out the window, I sat right in the center of the floor, shoveling huge spoonfuls into my mouth. It wasn't sweet at all. A little salty, actually. Maybe from the tears streaming down my face. The butler couldn't see my front; behind me, he just chuckled warmly, murmuring, "Miss Anna really is adorable." When Adrian returned, I had just finished showering and was heading downstairs for water. Seeing him walk through the door startled me. "You... you live here too?" Adrian spread his hands. "Where else would I live?" "I thought..." "You thought you were a caged bird again, locked away all alone?" Adrian glanced at the demolished cake on the table, his mood noticeably brightening. "Are you dreaming? I paid a fortune to get you. It’d be a total loss if I didn't even get to see you." After Adrian showered, I dutifully grabbed my duvet and padded into his bedroom. Adrian was half-dressed. Turning around and catching sight of me, he yelped, "Whoa! What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?!" I was genuinely confused. "Aren't I supposed to sleep with you?" Adrian slipped on his silk robe, leaving the front loosely open to reveal his toned chest. "Are you that eager to marry me?" "Even without marriage... aren't we supposed to sleep together?" Silence hung in the air for a solid minute. Trained to read every micro-expression, I caught a flicker of raw heartache in Adrian's eyes. I didn't understand what he was pitying, just as I didn't understand why he took such a losing bargain for me in the first place. He was supposed to be a far more terrifying monster than Julian. In our underworld, backstabbing was everyday business, yet nobody ever dared cross Adrian Cross. Even a snake as venomous as Julian had to trade massive favors just to move product right under his nose. After a long pause, he gestured for me to come over. I walked over, climbed onto the bed, and blankly began to spread my legs. The pain I braced for never arrived. Instead, a warm blanket was wrapped snugly around my shoulders. Adrian pulled me into his arms and murmured softly, "Anna, nobody can force you to do anything you don't want to do." Anna. That was the third time tonight I had heard my own name. Before this, it had been ten years since anyone called me that. Julian only ever called me "babe." I even doubted he ever cared to remember what my real name was. Babe, get over here. Babe, again. Babe, get rid of them for me. Babe... The word was always followed by an order. I only had to follow his instructions like a machine. Yet after "Anna," the words were: Nobody can force you to do anything you don't want to do. What kind of feeling was this? It was as though a cold metal machine had sprouted real flesh and blood. For the first time, I felt the warmth of my own pulse.