“In a few days, we will have all the money we need, and she will be one less problem for us to worry about.”

 

***

 

The rain was beating down on me, and the pain in my body from pushing myself hard was agonizing. The burning in my lungs was becoming too much and my legs were cramping, but I knew I was in for far more pain if I didn’t make it on time.

 

Last time I was late by only two minutes, and I got beaten so hard that I couldn’t lay down for a week.

 

I only slowed down as I got closer to my father’s office, panting to catch my breath. The voice of my stepmother drew my attention.

 

“Harland, sweetie…In a few days, she won’t be our problem anymore.” The subtle smugness and malice in my stepmother’s tone made me instinctively aware that they were talking about me.

 

What did she mean?

 

My heart was pounding from the running and from what I had just heard, but I couldn’t help but quieten my footfalls as I listened.

 

I knew I shouldn’t be eavesdropping—anything I did without permission would come back to bite me. But her words made me stop in my tracks. I had to know more.

 

“…they’ll take her, and we’ll have the money.”

 

My eyes widened and my body began to shake uncontrollably.

 

What was she talking about?!

 

“Tick tock, Rosalie. You’re late again,” said a voice behind me.

 

I snapped my head around and came face to face with Derek’s sinister smile.

 

My stepbrother’s gray eyes were looking me up and down in my drenched clothes, as if he wanted to peel them off with his gaze.

 

Ever since he first met me when I was fourteen, he had been trying to lay his hands on me. I didn’t even want to know what he would’ve done had my stepmother not forced him to leave me alone—only because I was the one who had been making money for the family.

 

I tried my best to avoid Derek, and that no doubt angered him. That was probably why he got sick pleasure from seeing me chastised by my father or stepmother.

 

But at this point, Derek wasn’t my greatest concern.

 

I noticed that the voices in the office had fallen silent. They had heard what Derek said.

 

“Rosalie!”

 

My father’s voice set my nerves on edge. I was done for. I almost tried to flee, but I knew Derek would stop me.

 

Nothing like a good beating to end the night.

 

Gloating, Derek moved around me and pushed open the door.

 

deep breath, suppressing my fear, not daring to look up

 

“Father…” my voice trembled.

 

told you she was a troublemaker, hiding and eavesdropping like a mouse,” My stepmother said with a

 

on us?” my father

 

tremble uncontrollably. I knew how

 

my head, afraid to look him in

 

his attention. “Here’s

 

Her voice was

 

crime with just a few bucks? Not only are you late, you’re also eavesdropping… Looks like someone needs a little

 

raised his

 

reflex, I lifted mine to cover my head. Trembling, I bit my lips so that I

 

two seconds… the

 

felt my wallet being

 

father with money in hand, gloomily surveying me. Instead of feeling

 

me that

 

one hand

 

whispered, “It’s raining hard today, so not many customers came to

 

Slap!

 

knocking me backward

 

ground, hearing my father’s angry roar faintly over the ringing in

 

you saying that I’m dependent on you

 

my head and back like a heavy

 

arms and cried out, “No, I am sorry… So

 

me in a trance, and

 

“Father… please stop…”

 

voice sounded like it was coming from a very far away place. “Harland… Sweetie, remember… That pretty face and voice of hers are her biggest assets. We don’t want to ruin things, do

 

I used to be happy that my father found someone after my mother died, and she seemed to make him happy. I used to

 

 

isn’t working hard enough! This

was expecting. Why did the moon goddess give her such

 

my father in fear, afraid

 

what the plan is for her. In a few days, we’ll have all our financial

 

drunk expression turned from anger to amusement. There was something sinister lurking in his eyes, giving me

 

seem confused, daughter.” My stepmother looked back at me with a subtle smile. “Do tell her, Harland. I bet she will be excited about the

 

had me terrified. If she was happy at this moment…

 

backwards in fear. He raised his hand and pressed it

 

a big job for me. In fact,

 

was pounding with fear, but I

 

Drogomor. It seems he is in need of

 

I gasped in disbelief.

 

sold me, as if I was

 

was terrified, shocked, and

 

stood up. The look on Isis’s

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