I didn’t lose the girl—I bought her.

She turned me down at a masquerade party, then gave herself to someone else.

So when she put herself up for auction, I made sure I was the highest bidder.

I didn’t do it to protect her, I wanted to own her.

To punish her; remind her who she rejected.

I told myself it was a transaction. Nothing more.

But Vivian didn’t respond the way she was supposed to.

She obeyed. She submitted. She smiled like she wasn’t afraid of me—and I hated how much I liked that.

She was never supposed to matter.

Then she walked away.

Now I can’t stop thinking...

I didn’t lose the girl—I bought her.

She turned me down at a masquerade party, then gave herself to someone else.

So when she put herself up for auction, I made sure I was the highest bidder.

I didn’t do it to protect her, I wanted to own her.

To punish her; remind her who she rejected.

I told myself it was a transaction. Nothing more.

But Vivian didn’t respond the way she was supposed to.

She obeyed. She submitted. She smiled like she wasn’t afraid of me—and I hated how much I liked that.

She was never supposed to matter.

Then she walked away.

Now I can’t stop thinking about her. The girl I tried to break is the one who broke me.

And I’ll do whatever it takes to get her back.