Chapter 4

At that moment, I felt all the blood in my body freeze.

My birth mother not only wanted to sell me to a vagrant to settle a debt, but she also wanted to drain every last penny of value from my life after selling me.

She wanted me to die in that desolate wilderness.

"What are you looking at? Sign it quickly! Derek is still waiting outside for the receipt!"

Rachel impatiently slapped the table, her tone vicious.

I took a deep breath and showed a miserable smile.

"Okay. I'll sign."

I wrote my name stroke by stroke.

Rachel snatched the contract away, a flash of wild joy in her eyes, then immediately locked it in a drawer.

That evening, Lydia snuck into my room, her tone imperious.

"I've prepared everything. I'll go in your place at dawn tomorrow."

"Remember, you need to hide at a friend's place for the next two weeks. Don't let Mom find out. When I come back, I'll be the goddess who cleansed her soul."

I looked at that face written with greed and stupidity, pretending concern as I grabbed her hand.

"Lydia, it's really hard out there, and Derek has a bad temper. You can still change your mind."

"Change my mind? I think you just can't bear to part with those antique treasures!"

Lydia shook off my hand and snorted coldly.

"Mom said Derek is cold on the outside but warm inside, and very knowledgeable."

"I even prepared a basic phone. Mom said for complete immersive wandering, I can't bring a smartphone or GPS. Aria, just wait and watch me become famous!"

I sneered inwardly.

To prevent me from calling the police for help, Rachel would make up any excuse.

"Fine. Take this burlap sack and don't blow your cover."

At three in the morning, the sky was dark as ink.

Rachel was clanking around in the kitchen making noodles.

Lydia wrapped herself up tightly, wearing a thick mask and wide-brimmed hat, carrying that worn burlap sack.

"Derek, take her away. If this child throws a tantrum on the road, discipline her as you see fit."

Rachel lowered her voice.

Her tone held no reluctance whatsoever—instead, it carried the relief of shedding a burden.

Derek's nauseating voice sounded outside the door.

"Hehe, Ms. Lane, just wait for good news."

I hid behind the second-floor curtains, watching Derek roughly shove Lydia.

Lydia clearly hadn't realized the danger yet. She even turned and waved toward the window, thinking she was heading toward poetry and distant places.

Derek stuffed her into the back bed of that dilapidated RV.

It was a cargo area welded shut with wire mesh, like a mobile cage.

"Click"—the rusty padlock was locked.

The broken RV emitted a harsh roar and disappeared into the thick fog.

I stood in the darkness, watching that broken taillight completely extinguish.

"Lydia, don't blame me. This is the growth opportunity you begged for yourself."

I whispered to the empty room.

Just then, Rachel's relieved sigh came from the living room.

"Finally got rid of that jinx. Lydia, Mom's counting on you for the rest of my life."

I coldly curled my lips.

My dear mother, the Lydia you're counting on is now sitting in the express train to hell.

I opened my phone and called Grandma's attending physician.

"Doctor, I've gathered the surgery fees. I'll pay first thing tomorrow morning. Please arrange the surgery as soon as possible."

Mom, since you want to play, I'll play with you to the end.

When the first rays of morning sunlight entered the living room, Rachel was happily drinking soy milk.

She saw me walking down the stairs.

The cup in her hand crashed to the floor with a clang, milk splashing everywhere.

"You... why are you here?"