The Warmth Not in the Deal

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My name is Fiona Jones. Clutching the faded corner of my clothes, I stood in the grand, resplendent villa living room, the faint scent of cedar in the air sharply at odds with the life I had lived for the past eighteen years.

Fiona Jones, correct? The man's deep voice carried an unyielding authority.

I looked up, meeting a pair of deep, penetrating eyes.

He sat on the sofa, his black suit emphasizing a tall, upright figure, fingertips holding an unlit cigarthis was Felix Green, my so-called 'new master.'

"Yes." My voice trembled slightlynot from fear, but from instinctive vigilance.

Dylan Lynn gently pushed my back, his expression complicated. "Mr. Green, this girl is very obedient. You can rest assured."

Felix Green didn't look at him; his gaze remained fixed on me, as if appraising an object. "I have reviewed her files."

He stood and walked over to me, looking down from above. "From today onward, you will live here and follow my rules."

I bit my lip and said nothing.

"Any objections?" He raised an eyebrow, his fingertip lightly tracing my chin. The touch was gentle but carried a pressing weight.

"No." I turned my head aside, avoiding him. "I just want to know what I need to do."

Dylan Lynn spoke first, "Fiona, you just need to take good care of Mr. Green; nothing else is your concern."

"Take care?" Felix Green chuckled softly, "I'm not in need of servants here."

My heart sank, and I instinctively stepped back. "Then why did you buy me?"

"What I say is not for you to question." Felix Green interrupted Dylan Lynn, his tone instantly cold. "The money has already been transferred to your account. You may leave now."

Dylan Lynn glanced at me, his lips moving slightly before he finally turned and left.

The heavy door closed, isolating me from the outside world and trapping me inside.

"Amy, take her to the room on the east side of the second floor." Felix Green commanded.

The middle-aged woman in maid's attire answered and made a beckoning gesture for me to follow.

"My rules are simple." Felix Green's voice came from behind, "Don't ask what you shouldn't, don't do what you shouldn't, and be ready whenever you are called."

I stopped and turned around. "What about my freedom?"

He seemed to find this amusing. Stepping in front of me, he gripped my wrist and said, "From the moment you were sold, your freedom no longer belonged to you."

My wrist was squeezed painfully. I struggled, but he gripped it even tighter.

"It hurts." I said, frowning.

He paused briefly, then loosened his grip, his fingertip gently tracing the red mark on my wrist. "Don't make me angry."

Back in the room, I lay on the soft, large bed, my thoughts drifting back twelve years.

That year, I was six, crouching beside a trash bin, picking up food.

"What's your name?" A clear voice sounded overhead.

I looked up to see a boy about my age, wearing a clean school uniform, holding a piece of bread. "My name is Dylan Lynn. Come home with me. My mother will cook for you."

At that time, Dylan Lynn was the first ray of light to break through my dark life.

I followed him home. His mother bathed me and prepared a hot meal. "From now on, you will be called Fiona Jones."

But I never expected that, at eighteen, the person who gave me my name would sell me to someone else.

Knock, knock, knockthe sound of knocking came.

"Come in," I said.

Amy entered carrying a bowl of soup. "Ms. Jones, this soup was prepared by the kitchen at Mr. Green's request. Please drink it while it's hot."

"Where is Mr. Green?" I asked.

"Mr. Green is attending to official matters in the study." Amy placed the soup on the bedside table. "Ms. Jones, don't be afraid. Mr. Green isn't a bad person; he just has a bit of a temper."

I remained silent and watched her leave.

Not a bad person? Someone who treats others like commodities to be bought and sold can hardly be good.

At ten o'clock at night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep, then got up to go downstairs for a drink of water.

Passing by the study, I heard Felix Green's voice from inside: "Keep a close watch on Dylan Lynn."

"I don't care what he does with that money; just stop bothering Fiona Jones."

My footsteps stalled, a flicker of doubt rising in my mind.

Why is he so fixated on Dylan Lynn?

"Mr. Green, are you perhaps" the assistant's voice began.

"Don't ask what shouldn't be asked." Felix Green interrupted him, "Finish the tasks I assigned as soon as possible."

I slipped away quietly and returned to my room.

Felix Green is even more complex than I had imagined.

The next morning, I was awakened by the noise downstairs.

Felix Green sat at the dining table having breakfast, with a second set of utensils placed opposite him. "Awake? Come eat."

I walked over and sat down. Amy immediately served me porridge.

"Today, I'll take you to buy some clothes." Felix Green put down his knife and fork. "Wearing those clothes out would embarrass me."

"I don't need them." I said coldly.

He raised an eyebrow. "What? Sulking at me?"

"I just don't want to owe you too much." I put down the spoon. "How much did you spend to buy me? I'll pay you back eventually."

Felix Green smiled, a trace of mockery in his voice. "You? Do you know how much Dylan Lynn sold you for?"

I looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"Five million." He said, "When do you think you can earn five million?"

Five million hit me like a massive stone crushing my heart.

I knew Dylan Lynn was in urgent need of money recently, but I never expected he would sell me for five million.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Felix Green reached out as if to touch my hair.

I suddenly stood up and stepped back. "Don't touch me."

His hand froze mid-air, his expression darkened. "Fiona Jones, don't test my patience."

"I am not your pet, nor your possession." I looked him in the eyes. "Even if you spent five million, you can't control my life."

Felix Green stared at me for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. "Interesting."

He stood up and approached me. "I'll give you a chance. If you can earn five hundred thousand within a year, I'll grant you your freedom."

Five hundred thousand was still an astronomical sum, but at least there was hope.

"It's a deal?" I asked.

"I, Felix Green, never make empty promises." He extended his hand. "Shall we shake on it?"

I hesitated for a moment but still reached out and shook his hand.

His palm was large and warm, a stark contrast to his cold tone.

"Two o'clock in the afternoon. Be downstairs waiting for me." He released my hand and turned to leave the dining room.

I watched his back silently, vowing to earn at least 500,000 to reclaim the freedom that rightfully belongs to me.

That afternoon, sitting in Felix Green's car and watching the cityscape speed by outside the window, my thoughts drifted back to my childhood.

When Dylan Lynn first brought me home, I was shy and often hid in corners.

"Fiona Jones, look what I've brought back for you." Dylan Lynn ran over holding an old rag doll, its one eye missing and clothes torn.

"Is this for me?" I asked softly.

"Of course it is." He pressed the rag doll into my hand and said, "From now on, it will keep you company, so you won't be lonely."

I hugged the rag doll, smiling for the first time.

Dylan Lynn's father died when he was very young; he and his mother depended on each other, and their life was far from affluent.

Because my background was unknown, the neighbors often whispered about me, and mischievous children would bully me.

"Wild child, a wild child that no one wants." Several boys surrounded me and threw stones.

I crouched on the ground holding my head, too scared to resist.

"What are you doing!" Dylan Lynn rushed over and stood in front of me. "Don't bully her!"

"Dylan, this is between us and her. It's none of your concern." The boy in charge said.

"She's my sister, so it's my concern." Dylan clenched his fists. "If you keep bullying her, I won't show you any mercy."

The boys showed no fear; they swarmed him and pinned Dylan to the ground, beating him.

"Stop! Stop beating him!" I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around Dylan's back. "I'll go with you. Just don't hit him anymore."

"Fiona, don't worry about me." Dylan pushed me aside, "Run quickly!"

At that moment, Mrs. Lynn arrived. She chased the boys away and held the injured Dylan, crying, "Dylan, why are you so reckless?"

"Mom, I can't let them bully Fiona Jones." Dylan gritted his teeth and said, "She is my sister."

I stood to the side, tears falling uncontrollably.

"Fiona, don't cry." Mrs. Lynn took my hand, saying, "With us here, no one will ever dare to bully you again."

Since then, Dylan has never left my side.

Once, I had a fever, and in a haze, I felt someone constantly wiping my sweat and giving me water.

When I woke up, I saw Dylan lying asleep by my bedside, with dark circles under his eyes.

"Dylan." I gently nudged him.

He woke up immediately and jumped up happily. "Fiona Jones, you're finally awake! I'll go get my mother."

Mrs. Lynn came over and touched my forehead. "It's good the fever has subsided."

"Mom, Fiona Jones is awake. Can we boil an egg for her now?" Dylan Lynn tugged at Mrs. Lynn's sleeve and asked.

I only found out that to pay for my treatment, Mrs. Lynn had sold the family's only hen that laid eggs.

"Dylan, thank you." I held his hand and said,

"We're family; you don't need to say thank you." Dylan Lynn smiled, "When I grow up, I will definitely earn a lot of money to take all of you away from here and live a good life."

"Really?" My eyes lit up.

"Of course it's true." He patted his chest, "I promise you."

"What are you thinking about?" Felix Green's voice pulled me back to reality.

I came back to my senses and realized the car had stopped in front of a luxury boutique. "It's nothingjust reminded me of the past."

Felix Green didn't ask further. He got out of the car and opened the door for me. "Let's go inside."

The waiter inside immediately greeted us warmly. "Mr. Green, you're here."

"Pick out a few suitable outfits for her, along with shoes and bags." Felix Green pointed at me.

"Understood, Mr. Green." The waiter brought several outfits. "Miss, you may try this set first."

"I don't need any of these." I said to the waiter.

The waiter was momentarily stunned and looked toward Felix Green.

"If I say try, then try." Felix Green spoke with a hint of impatience, "Don't waste my time."

"These clothes are too expensive; I'm not accustomed to wearing them." I insisted.

Felix Green stepped in front of me, lowering his voice: "Fiona Jones, you are mine now. Your appearance reflects on me."

"If you don't want to wear it, fine. Just don't appear in front of me."

I took the clothes into the dressing room and changed into a white dress.

When I stepped out of the dressing room, Felix Green was looking at his phone. Hearing the noise, he looked up, his gaze lingering on me for a few seconds.

"I'll take this one." He said to the waiter, "Also, wrap up the sets we picked earlier."

"Felix Green, I really don't need this many clothes." I said quietly.

"If I say you need them, then you do." After paying, he took the bags. "Let's go."

Sitting in the car on the way back, I looked at the shopping bags on the front passenger seat. "The cost of these clothes will be included in that five million."

Felix Green smiled faintly. "As you wish."

"Why are you helping me?" I couldn't help but ask, "You spent five million on mewhat exactly is your purpose?"

He glanced at me. "You'll understand in time."

Back at the villa, I put my clothes into the wardrobe, feeling hollow inside.

None of this is what I want.

That evening, I was reading in my room when Felix Green knocked and entered, "Tomorrow, you will come with me to a banquet."

"I won't go." I refused without a second thought.

"This is not open for discussion." He approached me, "Tomorrow night at seven, Amy will help you get ready."

"I don't want to attend that kind of event." I closed the book. "I'm not from the same world as those people."

"You belong to Felix Green now; you must adapt to my world." His tone left no room for argument. "Besides, there will be many business elites at the banquet. It will help you earn five hundred thousand."

His words struck a tender spot within me.

"What do I need to do?" I asked.

"You don't need to do anything, just stay by my side." He said, "Remember, speak less, smile more."

I nodded.

He turned to leave, stopped at the door, and said, "Fiona Jones, let the past stay in the past."

I watched his back silently.

The past doesn't fade away that easily.

Dylan Lynn's betrayal is like a thorn piercing my heart.

The night before the banquet, I couldn't sleep, thinking of the day Dylan received his acceptance letter.

I was fifteen then, and the summer sun was especially harsh.

Dylan Lynn, clutching a red envelope, ran home like a maniac: "Mom! Fiona Jones! I got admitted to J City University!"

Mrs. Lynn and I rushed out, overwhelmed with emotion as we saw the admission letter, and we cried.

"Dylan, you're incredible!" Mrs. Lynn embraced him, tears streaming down her face. "If your father could see this from above, he'd be so proud."

"Fiona, look!" Dylan raised the notice and rushed over to me. "Soon we'll be in J City, and we'll finally have a good life!"

"I always knew you could do it." I smiled through my tears.

That day, Mrs. Lynn prepared a table full of delicious dishes; the three of us were as lively and joyful as if it were New Year's.

"Fiona, once I arrive in J City, I will study hard to earn a scholarship." Dylan Lynn picked up a piece of meat for me. "When you graduate from high school, try to enter a university in J City too, so we can work hard together."

"Mm." I nodded firmly.

On the day Dylan Lynn left for university in J City, Mrs. Lynn and I went to see him off.

As the train began to move, he pressed his face against the window and shouted, "Mom, Fiona, wait for me! I will definitely come back to get you both!"

After arriving in J City, Dylan Lynn called me every day, sharing interesting stories about university and his studies.

"Fiona Jones, our school's library is quite large. When you arrive, I'll take you there."

"Fiona Jones, there's a girl in our class who is exceptionally beautiful and also a strong student."

"Fiona Jones, I've been awarded a Scholarship and have sent you a gift."

However, as time went by, Dylan Lynn called less frequently, and his tone grew increasingly indifferent.

"Fiona Jones, I'm a bit busy right now. I'll have to hang up."

"Fiona Jones, exams are coming up, so I don't have time to call."

I thought he was truly busyuntil one time I called and a girl answered: "Hello, who are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for Dylan Lynn." I said.

"Dylan is taking a shower. If you have anything to say, I can pass the message along," the girl said. The girl said.

My heart sank suddenly, and I almost dropped the phone: "No need, thank you."

The next day, Dylan called me back: "Fiona Jones, sorry about yesterday. I left my phone in the dorm; it was my girlfriend who answered."

"Girlfriend?" My voice trembled. "When did you get a girlfriend?"

"Just this semester. She's the campus belle of our department; her name is Stella Scott." Dylan sounded boastful. "Fiona, once you come to J City, I'll introduce you to her."

"Dylan, you promised me. You said we would work hard together in J City." Tears fell from my eyes. "You said you would give me a good life."

"Fiona, I know I promised you, but matters of the heart can't be forced." Dylan's tone was somewhat impatient. "Stella's family is very wealthy and can help me a lot. Being with her will save me ten years of struggle."

"So, you just forgot about me?" I asked.

"I haven't forgotten you. You will always be my little sister." Dylan said.

I hung up the phone, my heart completely chilled.

After graduating from high school, I wasn't admitted to a university in J City and remained at a local ordinary university.

I no longer want to rely on Dylan Lynn; I want to support myself through my own efforts.

During university, I worked many part-time jobs.

Once, while working as a waiter in a restaurant, I encountered a difficult customer.

"Waiter, why does this dish taste so bad? Is it expired?" The customer slammed the table and shouted.

"Sir, I apologize. This dish was freshly prepared today; perhaps it is not to your taste. I will replace it for you." I responded politely.

"Replace it? Is it truly that simple?" The customer grabbed my wrist. "Do you know who I am? If you waste my time, can you afford the consequences?"

"Sir, please let go." I struggled as I spoke.

"Let go? I won't." The guest sneered, "Only if you have a drink with me."

At that moment, the restaurant manager came over, not to help me but to scold, "Fiona Jones, what's going on? Apologize to the guest immediately."

"He was the one who started it." I said miserably.

"No excuses, apologize!" The manager shot me a cold glare.

That day, I was fired without receiving my wages.

Walking alone down the street, I felt utterly unnecessary.

Just then, Dylan Lynn called me urgently: "Fiona Jones, where are you now? I have something to tell you."

I thought he had come out of concern for me, and a flicker of warmth stirred within me. Yet I never foresaw that it was the start of him driving me into the abyss.