Page 15 of The Alpha's Sold Pregnant Mate

“Is that so?” Her eyebrows rose, and he nodded, unable to stop smiling. “Well, I define it as acquiring something by means of transaction—a trade or an exchange. How do you define it?”

He laughed, “If you put it that way, it makes me look like a…”

“Human trafficker?” she interjected.

A part of her was enjoying his reaction to the way she was hitting him with questions and intercepting his words.

He exhaled slowly. “I guess I sort of deserved that.” Asher continued, “Esme, I am so sorry for how I…” He choked on his words. No matter how he tried to paint it, she was right.

“Bought me? Is that what's too hard for you to say? Just admit it already; he sold me… And you bought me.”

He chortled. “Be that as it may, I don't believe in buying people or taking them against their will. So, you might as well just turn back now and return to him if that's what you truly want,” he replied, his tone revealing his subtle resistance to letting her return despite his words.

Esme thought for a moment. She had nothing to go back to, anyway. The villagers never liked her, and her father had always been cruel. He had just sold her off, telling her never to return. She had no reason to go back, even though she had no idea where this Asher guy was planning on taking her.

This wasn't how she imagined leaving this wretched place, but beggars couldn't be choosers. Her chance to leave was now. She would rather take her chances with this strange man who had been nothing but nice to her than go back. She could not continue to live like that, to endure all the bullshit she'd endured all her life. It didn't make sense.

Esme sighed heavily, knowing her life was taking yet another turn. That was scary because she had no idea what to expect, but she had made up her mind to embrace this change.

“Where are we going?” she asked, swallowing her little pride.

“We?” His cheeks turned red with excitement, “Does this mean you're coming?”

He clearly wanted her to come with him, which was yet another reason for her to be scared. He wouldn't be excited that she agreed to go with him unless, of course, he had something to gain.

What's in it for him? Why is he so excited?

That fear returned immediately, and her knees slightly quaked at the uncertainty of what would await her if she went with him.

“What'll happen to me if I go with you?” she asked.

He was quiet for some time, probably thinking of a lie to feed her.

“Mr. Grey, what will happen to me if I eventually go with you?” she repeated, a lot more seriously this time.

He grinned widely, “You'll be treated better. You'll have clean clothes to wear and good food to eat.”

She didn't completely believe what he was saying because it felt like he was holding something back—like he wasn't telling her the real deal.

He seemed worried, though. Behind those charming blacks was a man with a heavy heart, maybe in need of help.

“You're not going to hurt me?” she asked, regardless of how juvenile it sounded.

“No, Esme. I'm not.”

She was still weighing her options: to run away or to follow him. Despite her fears, Esme still didn't see any need to fear Asher, and for some very weird reason, she believed that there was something weighing him down. She could see it in his eyes.

“So, are you coming?” he asked.

She hesitated for a second. “You just want me to say it, don't you?”

“Would you blame me?” He shrugged his shoulders and waited in anticipation for her response.

“Fine.” Esme rolled her eyeballs, “I'm coming with you.”

“That wasn't so hard, was it?” He beamed at her and turned to pick up his pace.

“Jerk,” she muttered to herself.

---