The Cruel Switch
Smack!
The sharp slap echoed through the silent room. Mia Hart’s head snapped to the side, a burning sting blooming across her cheek. Her vision blurred for a moment, her ears ringing from the force.
"You b***h! What have you ever done for this family?" Mrs. Hart’s voice cut through the air, thick with disgust. "We should have left you to rot in the streets instead of taking you in."
Mia clenched her jaw, her fingers curling into her dress. The familiar words, the same accusations she had heard them all her life.
"You’re the reason everything goes wrong."
Her sister, Wei Hart, stood beside their mother, her lips curled into a cruel smile.
Mia swallowed back the pain. "Mum, it’s not like that. Mr. Smith wanted to......"
Slap!
Another blow sent her staggering.
Mrs Hart's eyes burned with fury. "You should have just done what he asked, you worthless girl."
The taste of iron filled Mia's mouth. Pain pulsed in waves, but she refused to let a single tear fall.
Instead, her lips twitched into a small, unreadable smile.
Wei stepped forward, her voice mocking. "Mum, don’t dirty your hands. I'll take care of her."
Crash!
A wine glass slipped from Wei’s fingers, shattering against the marble floor. The room fell into a thick, suffocating silence.
"Well, sister," Wei whispered, tilting her head, her voice dripping with amusement, "do you understand now? You’ll never be anything more than a burden."
Before Mia could react, Wei shoved her to the ground.
Pain shot through her knees as she hit the cold floor. Then a sharp, unbearable pressure crushed her fingers.
Wei’s foot pressed down, grinding slightly.
"Your biggest mistake," she murmured, her eyes gleaming with sadistic delight, "was thinking you could take my place in this family. You’re nothing but a stray, taking what was never yours."
In her hand, a long cane gleamed under the chandelier light.
She brought it down.
Again and Again
Each strike sent sharp jolts of pain through Mia’s body. Her breath caught, but she refused to cry out.
Ten minutes passed. The beating finally stopped Mrs Hart crouched beside Mia’s trembling form, her voice cutting. “Know your place in this house.”
Mia gasped for breath, her body screaming in pain, but she refused to bow her head.
Just Then, the door creaked open. Mr Hart stepped into the room.
Wei straightened instantly, rushing to his side. “Dad, what’s wrong? Why did you come so suddenly?”
Mr Hart’s gaze swept over the room, landing briefly on Mia’s crumpled form before flicking away, uninterested. Like she was nothing.
"Honey," he turned to his wife, "I need to speak with you and Wei in private."
Mia weakly reached for him, gripping his leg like a drowning person clutching for air.
"Dad… Dad…"
Mr Hart gently pried her fingers away. “Mia, you don’t understand. I need to talk to your mother, okay?”
She watched, frozen, as they walked away.
"Dad," can’t you see I’m in pain?
The words burned inside her, aching in places deeper than her bruises.
Is it because I’m not your daughter? Is that why you don’t care?
No matter what she did, no matter how hard she tried,she would never be enough.
The Deal with the Devil
Mia pressed her back against the wall, heart pounding.
Through the thin walls, she could hear their voices.
Mr Hart’s voice was low but firm. “The Kane family and the Zhao family have sent a marriage proposal for our first daughter. We cannot afford to offend the Kanes.”
Wei scoffed. “Dad, stop it! Everyone knows the first master of the Kane family is ruthless. There are rumors,some say he despises women, others claim he has a terrifying temper. No one even knows if he or his brother will inherit the family empire.”
Her mother’s voice turned sly. “Wei has always loved the second master of the Zhao family. Why not let her marry into the Zhao family instead? Mia can take her place in the Kane family.”
Mr Hart hesitated. “But." they asked for the first daughter.”
Mrs Hart scoffed. “They don’t even know her face. We’ll give Mia the identity of the first daughter instead.”
Mia’s breath caught in her throat. They were planning to sell her off.
Heart hammering, she burst through the door. “What do you mean?!”
Mrs Hart turned to her, unimpressed. “Shut up, Mia. This is for your own good.”
Mia’s pulse roared in her ears. “Dad, what if I refuse?”
Mr Hart’s voice hardened. “You don’t get to decide anything without me.”
Mia’s throat went dry. “I don’t love him! I don’t even know him!”
Mrs Hart sneered. “Pathetic excuse for a human.”
Mr Hart’s voice was final. “As long as I’m alive, you’ll do as I say. And once you’re married.then, and only then, will I let you off the hook.”
Mia’s hands curled into fists.
They thought she would obey.
They thought she had no fight left in her.
If they wanted to throw her to the wolves…
Then she’d make sure the wolves feared her name.
