Sold
A hard slap landed on my cheek, causing blood to trickle from the corner of my lips. I held my burning cheek while staring into the eyes that were now full of rage. The figure who once protected me with love had turned into a terrifying monster.
"Only a hundred? Did you spend all the money? Hand over your wallet now!"
Seeing me in a helpless state, he grabbed the wallet from my shirt pocket and forcibly opened it, tearing the zipper. I couldn't stop or defend myself because I knew I still needed him as a parent.
"Empty? You must have been slacking off today! Useless child! You need to be taught a lesson!"
I watched as he unbuckled his belt and delivered several lashes to me, while I could only curl up in pain without resistance. This had become a daily routine for me, so it didn't shock me anymore. But believe me, because of this, I truly no longer felt the meaning of living with a family.
"Stop it, Mas! You can't leave any more marks on her body. We already discussed this earlier."
As I closed my eyes to endure the pain, I heard the voice of the wicked woman I despised. The woman who had stolen my father's heart in an instant and made him hate his own daughter.
I didn't expect her to stop my father from hitting me. It wasn't flattering; I feared there was a worse plan behind this.
"Calm your anger; we need to keep this valuable asset intact before we trade her for some money."
I looked at my stepmother's face. She gently held my father's arm, stopping him from whipping me with the belt, and then she chuckled softly at me.
After my father managed to calm his emotions, my stepmother crouched in front of me, stroking the top of my head. For the first time, she showed me this kind of kindness, and I thought she would truly make my life even more miserable after this.
"A fine item like you shouldn't be damaged by trivial matters like this, right?"
My body trembled violently as I began to sense the signs that I was going to be sold.
"From today on, your father and I will treat you very well. You can eat chicken as much as you want, wear beautiful clothes, and not have to work anymore."
My stepmother gently touched my cheek, brushing away the hair to see my face more clearly, then laughed heartily.
"Prepare yourself to be sold, dear. You're our pride."
I pushed my stepmother hard in defiance, stood tall, stared into my father's still-angry eyes, and then quickly ran out of the room. I could endure all this pain, but being sold was inhumane, and I had to escape.
"Miranda!"
I hurried out of the room, ran down the hallway of our house, and quickly reached for the doorknob to get outside. But suddenly, I was stopped in my tracks because Jessica, my stepsister, blocked the door.
"Move out of the way!" I shouted in anger.
Jessica only stood firmer in front of the door. Knowing I would seek another way out, she grabbed my arm tightly and screamed for my father. I struggled to break free from her grip, but it was too late—my father stood in front of me and immediately slapped my face.
I froze, feeling the pain that arose. Tears flowed even more profusely, and my chest tightened.
"How dare you try to run away! Disobedient child! You must obey your parents."
I stood silently, staring at my father's face. This time, I couldn't avoid it.
"She’s just as ill-mannered as her deceased mother—"
I suddenly yanked my stepmother's hair, causing panic in my father and Jessica. I wouldn't let this vile woman sully my mother's good name. Even though my mother was dead, she still lived on in my heart.
"Your mouth is not worthy of defaming a woman as good as my mother!"
I warned her, but it only led to bigger trouble. Without saying much, my father forcibly dragged me into the bathroom and locked it from the outside.
I struggled to be let out, but it was impossible. In such a situation, I cried uncontrollably, hitting my chest due to the tightness. The figure of a father who was supposed to protect me had instead become the one who kept hurting me. After struggling to survive in this condition, I ended up being sold for some money.
After crying and lamenting the situation, an idea came to mind. I looked at the bathroom ventilation, which my mother had designed because my father always got locked inside. I took the initiative to escape through the ventilation. Even though it was small, to my surprise, I managed to squeeze out through it.
I found myself in the backyard, running quickly away from where I had been. I thought I was truly free, but I was wrong—I encountered a group of drunk men who often passed by the back of my house.
It was already dark, and they must have been heavily drunk. I tried to move away and act normal, but one of the drunk men ran towards me and immediately grabbed me. I smelled the strong scent of alcohol as he seemed to try to assault me.
I screamed loudly for help, and then someone came and hit him. I was indeed saved, but the person who came was my father himself. He had been one step ahead of me, waiting in the backyard.
After that incident, my father took me back into the house, then tied both my hands and feet until the designated day arrived. The day when my father would carry out the sale of his daughter.
The next morning, my stepmother untied the ropes that bound my hands and feet. She took me for a ritual bath, then to the salon, and bought me beautiful clothes. She didn’t forget to cook delicious and nutritious food that I had never eaten before.
I looked at myself in the mirror in the luxurious gown that had been bought for me. In the late afternoon, the man who had purchased my body arrived at the house. They came in a luxurious car, accompanied by many bodyguards.
My parents were so enthusiastic, they were more convinced than ever that the money the man would give them would soon be theirs.
"The man who bought you has arrived, hurry up and go meet him."
