A Hurt So Sweet Volume One (Elite of Eden Falls Prep 1)

“Thank you,” I snarl. “Thank you for your mercy.”

“Thank you for your mercy, Sir.”

“Sir?” I repeat the word.

He’s barely a year older. He’s not even twenty-one. But his twisted face tells me he’s not going to let me get away without saying it the way he wants to hear it.

“Thank you for your mercy, Sir.”

“See? You can be such a good little toy when you actually try to please me.” He kneels next to me, letting his fingers wander over my lips. “I’m going to have so much fun torturing you.”

Then he smirks, walking away from me and leaving me to tremble on the floor, my gown ruined, and my pussy wet as fuck.

“Oh.” He turns around, smirking at my trembling body on the ground. “I almost forgot. Welcome to Eden Falls, toy.”

Three

Pandora

Dexter Booth isn’t the kind of boy who gets bored of his toys.

He’s the kind of monster who breaks them on purpose.

I ponder this as I walk through the garden, exchanging polite smiles with people who pretend to care about me. They're too afraid of my father not to, but I can see the secret contempt behind their eyes. They all hate me. But I don't care. I don't plan on sticking around for long, anyway.

"Daughter!"

It takes me a moment to realize the voice is calling out for me. I’m too late to react, regretting my belated response as my eyes meet my father's. Guiltily, I look back down at the ground and make my way to stand by him.

"I'd like you to meet my business associate, Mr. Hawthorne. This is his son, Steven." He points to an older gentleman and his younger carbon copy. "They're from out of town and came to meet you especially."

I narrow my eyes at the man. I’ve heard that name before countless times.

“Any relation to Estella Hawthorne?” I ask, and the man smirks.

I’m so desperate for a connection with my old life, I’d even take this piece of shit over nothing.

“Her father is my brother,” he explains. “Though we don’t really keep in touch.”

“You need to tell me how she’s doing,” I beg him. “Please. Do you know anything?”

Hawthorne laughs in my face, glancing at my father as if to check if he’ll let me get away with this. He seems none too pleased with my behavior, and he digs his fingers into my hip as he forces the next words out of me.

"Pleased to meet you.”

I don't smile, just nod my head in acknowledgement. I’m desperate to ask about Estella again, but I’m too scared.

The two men watch me closely, their scrutinizing eyes drinking in my muddy dress and the tendrils now escaping my expert updo. My father seems to notice the disarray I'm in at the same moment they do, and his mouth pulls down in a sneer.

"Well, she's not much of a looker, is she?" the older man laughs, and I feel a blush creeping into my cheeks. "But she's got a nice body. She should do well for you, Oakes. Very well indeed, as long as you prime her well for what her purpose is."

I glare at him, hating how he's reduced me to an object before spending even five minutes in my company.

The girl that came before me – Andromeda's real sister – had it so much better than I did. Then again, she's the one who decided to take her own life, unable to bear the thought of being separated from her luxurious lifestyle. I need to be stronger than she was. I need to learn from her mistakes and make sure these people don't get to me like they got to her.

"Oh yes, I know how important appearances are around these parts," I tell Hawthorne sweetly. "Even for people at an advanced age, like you, Mr. Hawthorne.”

A shocked silence falls on our little group, and Hawthorne glares at me as if I've just slapped his face.