Ditched the Zero, Got a Hero

Cold rain hammered my face as I crouched by the roadside, my suitcase knocked over beside me. "Nicole Scott! Your dad owes thirty million. Today, you have to pay part of it!" The bald man kicked me in the side. I held my side, voice shaking, "I really don't have the money. Just give me a few more days—I'll figure something out." "No time! No money? Then go sell drinks at the club!" The tall, thin guy yanked my hair. I scrambled back in panic but slipped and fell to the ground. The bald man crouched, grinding his foot into the back of my hand. "Playing innocent? The Scott Family's ruined, and you still act like some spoiled princess?" Just as I was about to cry from the pain, a cold male voice cut through: "Let her go!" A black luxury car pulled up at the curb, and a man holding a black umbrella stepped out. I looked up, blood instantly running cold: "Bruce Green?" He was my high school deskmate, the guy who used to look out for me. But now, his eyes were only cold and distant. The bald man's face changed sharply: "Mr. Green? What are you doing here?" Bruce ignored him, tilting the umbrella to shield me: "How much do they want?" The bald guy quickly replied, "Thirty million—that's the money Nicole Scott's dad owes for the goods." Bruce Green pulled out his phone and tapped a few times, "Transfer fifty million to the bald guy's account." Once the bald guy confirmed the payment, he and his men slunk away. I propped myself up on the ground, trying to stand, but collapsed back down again. I looked at him, my throat tightening. "Thank you..." "No need to thank me." Bruce crouched down. "I'm not doing this for free." My heart sank. "What do you want?" He pulled out a contract. "Be my lover, for three years." For the next three years, I'll help you pay off the debt and cover your mom's medical bills. After that, we're even. "Lover?" My pupils constricted sharply. "Bruce Green, what do you think I am?" He let out a soft laugh. "A tool to pay off debt." Nicole Scott, do you honestly have any choice right now? Mom's in the hospital, Dad's missing, thirty million in debt... I sniffled, my voice breaking, "I don't have a choice, do I?" He handed me a pen. "Sign here, and you'll get the first chunk of medical money immediately." My fingertips trembled as I signed my name. His bodyguard helped me into the car. The car's heater was warm, and Bruce Green kept his eyes on the road. "Starting today, you'll be living at J Villa." "Remember who you are. Don't ask questions you shouldn't, don't do things you shouldn't." I didn't say a word and turned to look out the window. The car stopped in front of the villa. He tossed over, "Your room's at the far end of the second floor. Stay put." He said nothing else, strode straight into the study, and slammed the door shut.