Milo shook his head quickly. "Thank you, sir. But I’ll stay here."

Alben fell silent for a moment. Was Milo really stupid enough to refuse his offer?

But the young man had just turned it down.

"I must have misheard. You mean you don’t want to stay here, right?"

Milo shook his head again. "No, I want to stay here. I like training with the others. I want to be strong."

Alben opened his mouth, not understanding what kind of foolishness this was. "Milo, sweetheart, you don’t need to be afraid of Salvatore. I’ll protect you from him!"

Milo gulped. He shook his head again. The image from last night, how the man had touched him like a prostitute, made his body shiver.

He was sure Alben would touch and use him every night. Who would offer such a good thing without asking for anything in return?

Alben didn’t give up. "I can give you money. A lot!"

Milo looked at him. He thought about it for exactly one second.

"I’m sorry," he said. "I don’t want it."

Alben smiled, his pride now wounded. He stepped closer. "You don’t even want to think about it?"

"No," Milo said. "Thank you."

He stepped back as Alben reached out to grab his jaw.

The image flashed through Milo’s mind before the touch landed. Salvatore’s voice rang in his head.

I will cut off one of your fingers.

Salvatore had made it clear he’d cut off his finger if he flaunted his body. But who knew if the man would cut off his finger if anyone else touched his body too?

He’d better prevent that.

Milo stepped back and ran quickly through the door.

Alben stayed where he was, amused. He chuckled.

Alben was now truly curious and challenged. He tried six more times over the course of the week, in different ways.

Instead of helping Milo, he seemed to make the young man’s life even more miserable. As Salvatore always trained Milo harder, Alben would come along to make his life worse.

That day, Alben left a small wrapped box outside Milo’s room. Milo came back from lunch and saw it. He read Alben’s name on it.

He just sighed. Three days, that man really hadn’t given up. Now, what was it?

Yesterday, he’d received a big box of chocolate. He’d shared it with everyone. Even the night before, he’d found a large envelope filled with money. He’d ended up taking it to Salvatore.

Now, the box looked like it was from a well-known brand. Milo took it to Roderick.

"Please, sir. I can’t accept this. Why is he giving me things?" Milo asked, confused.

He was so afraid of Salvatore’s threats. What if the man thinks he’s selling his body?

Roderick smiled. "You can keep it. Don’t worry."

Milo shook his head. "Please, help me give it back to Sir Alben."

Roderick nodded. "Well, okay. It seems he’ll come again tomorrow."

"Again? Tomorrow too?" Milo was speechless.

Milo gulped.

"Why?" asked Roderick.

"Sir, you know I didn’t do anything with Sir Alben, right?"

Roderick was a bit confused. "I believe you."

Milo sighed in relief.

The Next Day.

Alben came and took Milo to the dining room at lunchtime. He made it clear to everyone in the mansion that he treated Milo very specially.

He sat next to Milo and leaned in close to talk to him.

Milo sat nervously, looking around to see if Salvatore would come and join them. But it seemed that man wasn’t home.

He was so stiff, ate quickly, and every time Alben asked him a question, he gave short, polite answers until Alben lost interest in the one-sided conversation.

"What kind of clothes do you like? We can go shopping now."

Milo shook his head. "I have enough clothes, sir."

"Oh, come on! It’s just clothes!"

Milo was so scared now, scared of making Alben angry and scared of Salvatore’s threat.

"Sorry, sir. Please, I can’t accept anything. Don’t give me anything, please!" Milo stood up and bowed respectfully.

Alben smirked. He followed Milo and caught up to him in the corridor.

Milo startled, his eyes widening.

"Don’t run away," Alben whispered. He wrapped his arm around Milo’s body, pinning him against the wall.

Milo stepped sideways out from under it without making a scene and kept walking, faster.

Alben chuckled, amused. He grabbed Milo’s arm, trying once more to get close enough to kiss him.

Milo felt his heart was about to explode. He turned his face away quickly. But Alben insisted.

Milo closed his eyes and shielded his face with his hand. "Please, sir, don’t..."

Alben was just teasing him, but he sensed fear in Milo. He was so curious, why?

"Why? Are you afraid of me?"

Milo swallowed hard and shook his head. "I... just don’t want to."

Alben smiled.

Milo thought the man would insist again and force him. But Alben released his grip and stepped back.

"Have some fun. Come on!"

Milo just looked down and didn’t move.

Alben shook his head. But he just walked away with his hands on his neck, seeming not to care at all.

But Milo felt guilty about it.

And that night, Alben pushed Milo too far.

Milo was about to fall asleep when that man came to his bed. He unbuttoned his shirt.

Milo was too shocked to react. He just stayed still.

"Milo, help me take off my clothes."

Milo didn’t move. He was too scared to even breathe. He stood up. Instead of reaching for Alben’s clothes, he ran away. But he realized the door was locked.

The key was hanging there, but he was too panicked to open it.

Alben had already grabbed him and pushed him onto the bed.

Milo’s eyes widened. He couldn’t let Alben touch him, no matter what happened!

If Salvatore saw them, he’d lose his finger. He could lose his life.

Alben stood there now, watching Milo’s reaction, confused as the young man stared at him for a long time.

Then Milo cried. A loud, wretched cry.

"Sir, please don’t do anything to me!" Milo begged.

"What?"

"I won’t show you anything, please let me go!"

Alben didn’t believe Milo was crying, he hadn’t even touched him. "Oh, come on! Why are you crying? Don’t act like I was about to rape you."

Milo crawled to the headboard, curling up like an abandoned kitten.

Alben opened his mouth, truly disbelieving. "Seriously?"

Milo kept crying. "Don’t touch me!"

"No! I won’t!"

"But you will!"

Milo looked so miserable.

Alben really couldn’t hold back his laughter. He laughed so hard.

Milo wiped his tears, but he was still on high alert.

Alben held his stomach, laughing every time he looked at Milo.

He didn’t know what kind of spell Salvatore had cast on Milo to make that boy reject him—the only handsome, kind, and humble person—so fiercely.

Unbelievable.

Milo’s breath caught. He was so scared. He clutched his clothes tightly enough that the man couldn’t touch them even if he tried.

He clenched his fingers, he didn’t want to lose any of them today.

Alben shook his head, still trying to stop his laughter.

But finally he walked away, unlocked the door, and simply walked out.

Milo looked for a second before running to the door and locking it.

Damn... Almost...