“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.
my fear, not daring to
“Father…” my voice trembled.
and eavesdropping like a mouse,” My stepmother said with a smirk. “Who knows what she’ll
on us?” my
of alcohol and began to tremble uncontrollably. I knew how horrible my father could be
lowered my head, afraid to look him in
attention. “Here’s the money I
Her voice was like
are you late, you’re also eavesdropping… Looks like someone needs a little
father raised
cover my head. Trembling, I bit my lips so that I would not scream out—screaming
seconds… the expected
wallet being pulled out of
in hand, gloomily surveying me. Instead of feeling relieved, I felt even more
me that
the wallet in one
today, so not many customers
Slap!
knocking me backward and
to the ground, hearing my father’s angry roar faintly over the ringing
Are you saying that I’m dependent on you for support? How dare you
fall down on my head
my arms and cried out, “No, I am
put me in a trance, and
“Father… please stop…”
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
and she seemed to make him happy. I used to wish I could make her happy, too. I had naively hoped that, one day,
obviously isn’t working hard enough! This
the moon goddess give her such
against the wall and cowered on the floor, looking at my father in fear, afraid he
You know what the plan is for her. In a few days, we’ll have all
to amusement. There was something sinister
subtle smile. “Do tell her, Harland. I bet she will be excited about the news. I know
If she was happy at this moment… it wasn’t
father squatted down to my level, and I couldn’t help but flinch backwards in fear. He raised his hand
do a big job for me. In fact,
pounding with fear, but I remained silent waiting for my
in need of a… maid, and
I gasped in disbelief.
but he sold me, as if I was just
and
forth between Isis and my father as he stood up. The look on Isis’s face showed nothing but
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