My One-Sided Love

8. Swamp

As Lily Black made her way out of the villa, she noticed Johnny Lu standing before her, his gaze deep and filled with panic. He had just returned and found her there. A beautiful smile adorned Lily's face as she looked at him.

"Johnny," she said warmly. Johnny sighed, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

"Did you come to finalize the wedding date?" he asked sarcastically. Lily Black swallowed her retort, maintaining her gaze locked with his intense eyes.

"It seems he's still ignoring the marriage," Johnny snorted sarcastically.

"If he continues to neglect our marriage, he will undoubtedly lose his position as the president of Lu Corporation."

Johnny Lu regarded her seriously.

"I have no regrets about his position. If he loses this company, you will have the opportunity, and I will marry you." She said.

Johnny gritted his teeth in panic, astonished by Lily's audacity. How could she think in such a way?

"This is reality, Lily. Life isn't just a business transaction," he stated earnestly. Lily Black could see a flicker of fire in his eyes, but she was determined to overlook everything in pursuit of money, wealth, and power. If she became San Lu's wife, she would have dominion over the entire country.

"Power eclipses everything, Johnny," she proclaimed proudly.

"Don't soar too high, Lily. Wings can be clipped before you know it," he said with a stoic expression before turning and heading back into the villa.

Lily Black watched his retreating figure, her gaze fixed on him for a long moment. She had no regrets about her sinful actions; she only yearned to be the most powerful and affluent. This was the only path she saw. With a sarcastic smile, Lily Black departed from the villa, filled with an overwhelming sense of pride.

…

Mona Daly rose from the couch and made her way towards San Lu, who was smoking on the balcony. Quietly, she enveloped him from behind, taking a deep sigh. San Lu exhaled a plume of smoke and let out a subtle sigh of his own.

"I want to know more about you," she murmured in a suppressed voice.

"Since the first day, I haven't been with another man. I can honestly say that you've kept me from being with anyone else. Even though we haven't had s*x, you've paid me for it. To be honest, I don't even dare to be with another man. When I see you in the evening, my heart is at ease, knowing that I'll spend the night with you. You're really something. But... who are you?" She spoke in one breath.

San Lu flicked his cigarette and turned to face her. Gently, he cupped her face in his warm palm and peered deeply into her eyes.

"Listen to me carefully," he began, his voice unwavering.

She blinked innocently, attentively waiting for his words.

"From now on, you won't wait for me outside that bar," he stated, causing her delighted expression to turn pale, replaced by a hint of sadness. Was he asking her not to be with him?

"Even if I can't come, you'll come here every evening. You'll receive your p*****t, whether I meet you or not."

"You..." She couldn't fathom the true meaning behind his words.

"Listen closely. If any man lays a hand on you, I’ll kill him," he declared, his eyes dark and his voice low and resonant.

"How can you say such a thing?" She was shocked by his declaration.

"Mona, from now on, you're only with me," he asserted firmly.

"But who are you?" she inquired, her voice trembling.

"It doesn't matter who I am. You just need to follow what I've told you," he responded, his eyes filled with passion.

"Why are you doing all this?" Tears welled up in her eyes, her heart filled with questions.

"I want to pull you out of this mire. And you have to give me some time," he said resolutely.

"That can never happen. Those people are extremely dangerous. Every girl who tries to escape ends up dead," she confessed, her heart pounding, struck with fear.

"Whoever those people are, I don't care. All I know is that I have to save you from that swamp, and you need to come out alive," he declared, his passionate gaze brimming with confidence.

"You... you... you know my real name... how did you find out?" She realized that he had called her by her true name.

"Mona, just tell me why, when, and how you got caught in this quagmire. Who are those people, and where can I find them?" He held her face firmly, his gaze intense as he delved into her eyes.

"This is impossible. If they find out that I've revealed anything about myself or them to you, then they..." She trembled, her voice faltering.

"Look at me. You don't have to be afraid. Just do as I ask," he reassured her. Mona Daly clung to him tightly, her body trembling slightly. He was unbelievable. How could he even think about freeing her from that filthy and perilous existence? She had witnessed the fate of those poor girls who tried to escape, only to meet their demise at the hands of their captors. That's why she had resigned herself to the reality of enduring nightly encounters with different men, earning for them while living for herself.

San Lu held her tightly in his arms and let her feel the warmth and the sense of security.

“Don’t do this. They are dangerous.”

“Don’t worry about me. Just tell me everything.”

After hearing his firm and deep voice filled, she raised her head and looked at him with tears in her eyes.

“Can you trust me?” He asked in his deep and low voice.

Mona Daly found herself wanting to trust him. His courageous eyes and firm voice resonated with her heart. It wasn't that her heart denied the possibility of his success, but the danger presented by the ruthless individuals they faced was undeniable. She had witnessed firsthand the fate that befell those who dared to escape, the girls who were mercilessly killed. Watson, the leader, and Mac, his menacing right-hand, had made it clear to her that escape was futile. Mac, despite his occasional care, would never release his grip on her. The odds seemed insurmountable, yet the presence of courage in San Lu's deep gaze weakened her resolve.

"Mona Daly," his voice, deep and passionate, broke through her thoughts, and she nodded slowly. San Lu let out a profound sigh, pulling her closer in an embrace. She could feel the joyous rhythm of his heavy heartbeats. He held her hand firmly, leading her towards the couch, where they sat down. San Lu refused to release her hand, gazing deeply into her eyes.

"Tell me everything," he urged.

Mona Daly looked at their tightly interlocked hands and swallowed, preparing to reveal her harrowing story.

"Yes, I’m Mona Daly," she began, her voice trembling. "I wasn't born a prostitute. I had parents who loved me dearly, and I was their only child. They provided me with a childhood every parent dreams of giving their child. I went to school, just like any other child. And like every girl, there was a boy in my life who meant more to me than a friend. He cared for me deeply."

San Lu observed her quivering lips, his gaze unwavering.

"But everything changed when he completed his studies and went abroad for further education. We were never able to meet again. He was much older than me, and I can't even remember his face. Since his departure, my life has been plagued by a scarcity of happiness."

"After my parents died in a car accident, my maternal cousin attempted to assault me," Mona Daly revealed, her voice choked with tears. "I managed to escape his clutches and began wandering from one city to another, searching for shelter. I was a vulnerable teenager, alone in the world. Eventually, I was taken in by a woman who made me a maid in her house. As I grew older, she sold me without warning. Little did I know, my life was about to take a dark turn. The buyers had acquired several other girls, and together we were thrust into a world of prostitution. We soon discovered the cruel reality of our situation during the training we were subjected to. Some girls attempted to escape, but their acts of defiance were met with brutal torture and ultimately, death.” Mona Daly covered her mouth and sobbed.

Trembling and suppressing her sobs, she confessed, "I couldn't bear the thought of dying in agony, so I accepted my fate as a prostitute." Tears streamed down her face as she raised her eyes to him, pleading for salvation. With a broken voice, she continued, "I don't want to be like this anymore. Please, save me." Her head bowed in despair, and San Lu held her tightly, resting his chin on her head.

"He meant everything to me. He never wanted to see me in this state. He wanted me to pursue higher education and become a confident and accomplished person, someone he could be proud of. I always hoped that one day, he would meet me, but now, even if he does, I won't be able to face him. Never."

San Lu clung to her, his arms enveloping her tightly, and closed his eyes with a heavy sigh. She wept in his embrace, and he felt a deep ache in his heart, unable to find the right words to console her.

After a while, he realized that she had fallen asleep in his arms. Gently, he carried her to the bed, tucking her in and gazing at her innocent face.