Return My Heart, Keep Your Regret

On the night of my 18th birthday, Enzo Vitale holds me by the waist as he coaxes me to take off my underwear.

"Good girl. You have a beautiful body, Isabella. Let me take a good look at you."

But just when I'm about to reach my climax, the spotlight is turned on. The floor-to-ceiling mirror in front of me becomes a see-through one-way mirror.

On the other side of the mirror shows the faces of all the guests who are here to attend my birthday party.

Soon, the racy video of my lustful side is spread all over Newlyn. My reputation gets flushed down the drain overnight, and yet Enzo's reputation remains unaffected.

On the night we break up, he leaves me a message.

"Your brother had watched my sister getting kidnapped by others back then. Now, it's your turn to have a taste of what it feels like, Isabella. You owe me this much."

My older brother, Marco Rossi, is enraged, to say the least. When he tries to demand an explanation from Enzo, he gets his legs broken by Enzo's bodyguards instead.

Marco drags his broken legs home. But on his way home, he gets into a car crash due to severe pain and blood loss, reducing him to a vegetable.

In order to afford the daily eight-thousand-dollar ICU bill, I become the most famous stripper in Newlyn. For the next three years, I flit between various nightclubs in Newlyn as well as various men's beds. I've been trading my pride and body in exchange for checks.

Three years later, I knock on a hotel room's door as usual.

The door opens, revealing a man wearing a custom-ordered dark gray suit. It's Enzo.

He's thinner now, and his cheekbones protrude even more. His eyes are as glacial as frozen lakes.

I smile brightly at him. "Sir, would you like any special services?"

"What's your pick—nurse or maid?"

Holding the roleplay outfit, I shot Enzo Vitale a teasing smile from the doorway. He glared at me. The disgust in his eyes was so strong it was almost palpable.

"I recommend the nurse outfit, sir. It's way more exciting." I drawled sweetly.

Enzo seized my wrist and yanked me into the room, slamming the door and locking it. He shoved me hard against the entryway wall.

"It's been three years since we last saw each other. I hear you've become Newlyn's most famous whore, huh?" He gripped my chin hard, forcing the words through gritted teeth.

I ignored the pain and maintained a professional smile. "Sir, I'm here to make money."

Enzo shook off my hand in disgust, as if he had touched something filthy. He pulled out a wet wipe and scrubbed his fingers hard.

"I'd heard of a Newlyn whore who'd do anything for money. I thought that was disgusting and didn't bother finding out who she was.

"Two days ago, I went to Luca's place to discuss business. He was bragging to me that you'd left this hairclip in his entryway."

Enzo flung a familiar pearl hair clip at my feet. It struck the tile floor, and two pearls broke off.

I looked at it briefly before kicking it aside carelessly with the tip of my heel. "It's just a normal hair clip. I'm surprised you still remember that thing, Mr. Vitale."

A vein throbbed in his temple. "A normal hair clip, huh? Isabella, I gave that to you when I was 18…"

"Mr. Vitale, let's not dwell on the past." I interrupted him without hesitation and pulled out a revealing piece of black lace from a black paper bag.

"You still haven't told me which one you want."

I brushed the outfit lightly against his chest. "Oh, right. I have an angel outfit, but that one costs extra."

Enzo slapped me hard. My head snapped to the side, and my ears rang.

"You have no shame, whore!" Enzo yelled at me. His body was shaking with anger.

I was still looking away, dazed for a moment.

In the past, even if I accidentally scraped my knee, he would tear up. He would hold my knee and gently blow on it all day.

Now, Enzo was probably dying to strangle me.

I wiped the blood away from the corner of my lips. I flashed him a smile and reached into my handbag.

"If that's what you're into, that works for me, Mr. Vitale."

I pulled out a short black leather whip and shoved it into his hands. "That'll cost you extra."

Enzo glared at the leather whip in his hand and let out a harsh laugh.

"Alright. Fine. Fine." He spat the words out through gritted teeth.

"Are you really that desperate? So you'd do anything for money, huh? Fine!"

Enzo whipped out his phone, opened a group chat, and started a video call. The call went through instantly, and chaos erupted.

"Hey, Enzo! What's up? Going live this late for us, huh?"

"Who's that next to you? She's got a great body!"

Enzo shoved the phone into my face. The camera was pointed directly at me. He pulled out a checkbook from his inner suit pocket, scribbled out an amount, and slapped it against my chest.

"Here you go. One million dollars."

He pointed at the maid's outfit on the floor and a leather collar with a chain attached.

"Wear that outfit, and put the collar on too. Then get on the floor and crawl to the camera. I want you to bark."

When the men on the video call recognized my face, they erupted into chaos.

"Isn't that the whore, Isabella?"

"That woman has no shame. She'll do anything you ask. Come on. Let's hear it!"

I looked down at the million-dollar check on the carpet. That was enough to cover six months of ICU care for my brother, Marco Rossi.

I didn't even hesitate and knelt down. I picked up the check, folded it, and carefully tucked it into my bra.

Expressionless, I looked at the camera and slowly took off my coat. I picked up the leather collar, opened it, and fastened it around my neck.

On all fours, I slowly crawled toward Enzo's feet.

"That's enough!" Shoving me aside, he turned and hurled his phone to the ground, smashing it to pieces.

"Do you enjoy humiliating yourself like that?"

I merely shot him a faint smile. "As long as it makes you happy, sir."