Prologue

Alison's POV

I gazed absently across the mirror at my own reflection...an empty girl, ashen broken and alone. I couldn't help but replay the moments in my mind, how my life changed for the worse, in just one month. I couldn't help but recount on how i lost both my parents, our family mansion, wealth and how i nearly lost the only family i had left....my twin brother, Riley....just within a month?! Now he was in the hospital, fighting for his life.

   A knock on the door shook me from my deep thoughts, i could feel the anxiety rising from deep within me. I knew exactly who it was. The door slid open, i glanced up to see a man, middle age, average height, he wore dark sunglasses and a mocking grin plastered on his face. He slammed the door shut and advanced towards me. I hastily rose up and wiped every trace of tear on my face with hardened resolve.

   "W-why are you here?", I mustered, inwardly cursing myself for stuttering.. I had to be strong for Riley's sake

   "I don't have to answer your question miss palmier", he smirked, "but nevertheless, i just wanted to see if you were doing alright. You don't look so good".

    "Spare me the fake concern", i rolled my eyes. "I know fully well you don't give a damn about my well being. All you care about is body and how it's gonna make money for you".

   " That's why I'm here to warn you", his smirk faded and was replaced with a cold icy voice that made me very uncomfortable. He approached me, making me feel small under his piercing gaze. He didn't stop until our faces were just a few inches from each other, i could feel his alcohol washed breath on my face, i held back the vomit threatening to come up

  " This is your adorable twin's life on the line".

My eyes narrowed at the reference to my brother "You better not mess up" he warned.

  I tried to create distance between us but before i could make a move, he grabbed my wrists and pulled me closer until i could very much feel his heavy breath down my neck making me uncomfortable and unable to keep a straight face without faltering.

His eyes scanned me from head to toe giving me chills, "you have a very nice body, your beauty is breathtaking, people will pay good money just to see you dance for them".

I clenched my fists, "don't forget your other end of the deal", Trying to make my voice sound firm made him frown. 

  "I won't, as long as you do what is required of you ". He pushed me with so much force i hit the cupboard behind me, a sharp pain traveled through my spine as Ifoughtthe urge to sink to the floor and cry.

"Act like the fuckin wore that you are". He spat before turning and casually walking out of the room like nothing ever happened.

The door slammed shut making me flinch as I grabbed the chair for support, feeling dazed.

I wasn't a wore. Just a victim of life's unfair treatment . I thought, slowly letting myself slide to the floor as I felt a few tears fall freely down my cheeks, I didn't bother to clean it.

   The memories came played in my head over and over again

The day my life began to crumble.... the day everything changed....It happened on a cold winter morning.. ironic right?!. I remember at standing by the floor to ceiling mirror in my room, awaiting my best friend, Kaira's arrival. We had planned the day before to go shopping for the end if school year dance happening the following Friday. The news had warned of an upcoming blizzard.. I was starting to wonder if our plans would have to be canceled because of it. My mind went to my parents, they went on a business trip and were meant to have arrived the night before but still no word from them since then, i was starting to get worried and the blizzard wasn't making things easier. I set my phone down on my vanity table and walked to the door, i needed to see Riley, talking to him would make me feel better. But then the my phone started to ring making me stop in my  tracks... Could be kaira or even my parents...I thought exicted as I hurried to it.

   "Hello?"

"Good day..", there was a short pause, "Are you Alison palmier?". That didn't sound like my parents or kaira or anyone i knew. It was a lady's voice.

  "Yes. Is everything alright?", My voice sounded unsteady.

There was dead silence for a few seconds, the atmosphere suddenly became heavy as i awaited her response, then there was a sound of rustling of papers from the other line. After what felt like a minute had gone by I heard her voice again, this time gravely low, "Your parents, Henry palmier and Emily Palmier passed away last night in an automobile accident".

No... That simply can't be true, my parents can't be dead, i couldn't bring myself to believe that I shook my head, I couldn't believe that, this had to be a joke. I thought about these Cell phone pranks teenagers played on random people, that made me clench my fists in anger.

"You're joking. Is this some kind of sick game to you??" I heard myself say, rage filling me, "What the hell is wrong with you?".

Still, the voice on the other line remained as calm as ever, "this might come as a shock to you and I understand, you're in denial, it's totally normal, I'll let you think about it. I'm so sorry for your loss".

The call ended. My mind was blink for a while as I sat down in silence.

Then the realization set in

My parents were dead...this couldn't be possible, i talked with them just yesterday, they sounded fine. They can't be dead.

I lost my grip on the phone and let it fall to the ground with a loud thud and like my heart, it shattered to pieces.

  Almost immediately the door opened, Riley hurried in, I glanced at him, was he really the only family i had left, his face was a mixture of shock and hardened resolve,

"Alison..are you alright?".

Judging from the grave look he gave me, i could tell he already knew about my parents long ago.

He looked down, guilt clouded his expression, "They passed away yesterday, car accident". He was unable to meet my gaze, "I'm sorry,".

I didn't know i was crying until he embraced me tightly, I Burst into tears, crying into his warm embrace, they were gone.. "Why? Why did it have to be them?" I sobbed. He remained silent, slowly caressing my hair, I knew he was doing all he could to stay strong for me, I had to do that too...stay strong for myself and Riley and from then on, that was what I decided to do.

That was a month ago.

3 days ago, Riley was hit by a speeding car, it was a hit and run case, he's been in a coma ever since.

24 hours ago, I lost my parents property, wealth, business, our family house along with the rest of our mansions to a cruel business tycoon. His identity wasn't known to me, but Riley knew him.

All my friends deserted me, all except kaira and Jayden, my best friend since....well forever, we grew up together and we're inseparable as kids..our parents even joked about getting the both of us married, but we were just best friends, we preferred it that way. Kaira and Jay stood by me through everything, Kaira offered me a place to stay in her apartment, wasn't as big as my mansion, but it was perfect. Jayden offered financial support, for I and Riley's wellbeing, I wished I could repay the favor somehow, although he declined all my efforts to do that saying he wasn't doing me a favor. I knew that.

  Now the hospital demanded for a huge sum of money, for Riley's surgery and the only thing that could save his life. Jayden wanted to pay but i refused, it would take a toll on him coughing out money like that, he's done enough as it is. I was done being a burden. The only way i could get that amount of money in time was to accept the deal with a rich, influential owner of a hotel, to be a stripper and entertain men for that night, it seemed unreasonable and something i would never do, but at this point, I'd do anything for Riley. It was my only chance.

My whole life was falling apart.

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