"At first, Nathan and I wanted to sell you off quickly," Grace admitted, her voice trembling slightly, as if recalling something terrifying.
"But the thing around your neck was too conspicuous—no buyer dared take you."
"Your jade pendant glowed, and there were words engraved on the back."
Not 'fortune' or 'wealth'—but the word: Soul.
"Who would dare take something like that?"
"I even consulted an old incense reader in the village," Grace shuddered. "He said that the item around your neck came from deep underground—it was filled with ominous energy."
"He warned us to get rid of it as soon as possible. And get rid of you too."
"If we kept you any longer, the entire village would face destruction."
"Nathan and I were too afraid to raise you, so we sold the pendant to Mr. Whitlock, a j
