02| Betrayed.

Mia Kincaid:

“Oh my gosh, Mia.” Rose gasps in awe. “The gold-plated, diamond-encrusted, moon-shaped pendant at the jeweller's was so beautiful. I regret stepping foot in that damn store because now I want something I’ll never be able to afford for myself.” She mutters with a deep sigh of longing.

I chuckle and shake my head. Rose, my dear sister, who is three years older than I am, is your typical average female who loves bright and shiny things that we don’t have the luxury of affording.

To try to lessen the long-term heartache she will inevitably suffer, I reply, “One day soon, you shall marry a man who will shower you with lavish gifts fit for a queen, Rose, and that pendant will be long forgotten.”

“Ugh, I won’t hold my breath. The men my age still act like hormonal teenage boys.” Disappointment coats her words as she visibly shudders beside me. “But… I bet the man we bumped into at the entrance of the store could give a woman everything she desired. He screamed: money, power, and toe-curling sex...” She whispers as she playfully shoulder-bumps me. “But do tell me if I am wrong. Did my eyes deceive me because I swear there was a moment shared between the two of you?”

“Ha!” I blurt out. “Your eyes well and truly did deceive you, sister. There wasn’t a moment. Plus, he's not my type. He was an arrogant ass, and when I attempted to apologise to him, he cut me off with his hand. If looks could kill, I would have died on the spot by the way he glowered at me.” My cheeks suddenly feel like they are on fire when I recall the intensity of his glare with his hazel-green eyes boring into mine.

His powerful thighs and biceps strained against his grey slacks and white dress shirt that was rolled up to his forearms. Something stirred low and deep inside me, unfurling with desirable heat… Something I’d never admit out loud, let alone to Rose.

There was something about him that drew me to him like a moth to a flame, and it will low-key drive me crazy because there has never been a man who has caught my attention in the sense he did.

I know in reality we are by far from opposite sides of the world, and today, we just happened to cross paths. Plus, there’s no point in obsessing over something that will never happen, right?

“Umm, delusional much? I don’t remember seeing him glare at you, Mia. I think he was more stunned into silence by your beauty. It’s crazy to me how you fail to notice the attention you receive from other men.”

“What’s crazy, my dear sister, is that it’s apparent we have spent too much time in the sun, and you are the one who has become delusional. This whole conversation is moot.”

“Whoa, that was rude,” she replies in a high-pitched tone while displaying a shocked expression on her face.

The moment we round the corner of our street, Rose and I stop giggling like a pair of schoolgirls when we notice two blacked-out SUVs parked along the curb in front of our family home. Four men dressed in black suits stand guard by the front door, and dread instantly fills my veins.

We both grasped each other's hands tightly, our fingers intertwined. “What do you think is going on?” Rose whispers, and I feel a tremor run through her.

“I… I don’t know,” I reply honestly, unable to hide the tremor that courses through me as well.

This is the first time I have seen these men, and even though they are dressed in expensive suits, they scream danger. As we enter the gate to our home, the front door is yanked open, and my mother rushes down the stairs as if it’s suddenly caught on fire. She surprises us both when she roughly rips Rose’s hand from mine. My eyes grow wide as I’m shocked by her actions.

Mother stands before me with an unreadable expression on her face. Reluctantly, I lower my head, waiting for her to yell at me like she usually does. I have quickly realised over the last fifteen years that my mother refuses to express any true love toward me. No matter what I do or how well I excel in school with the hopes of taking care of her and my father in the near future, it’s never enough for her.

Instead, she consistently reminds me of the burden I have forced them to bear with my increasing school debt hanging over their heads. She is the only one who strongly believes that I am wasting my time studying medicine. Every chance she gets, she reminds me how useless I am and that I should be seeking employment to help put food on the table. She also refuses to acknowledge that I am the top student in my class, passing every exam I have taken.

My father and brother Nate, on the other hand, are always in my ear, silently praising me and supporting me in every way they possibly can.

“Mother,” Rose cries out, derailing my train of thought. “What are you doing?” She asks with exasperation, her eyes darting between me and our mother.

Rose despises the way our mother treats me. When our mother is in a bad mood, Rose always takes it upon herself to confront her on my behalf. I’m constantly trying to remind Rose not to get involved, as I don’t want our mother to take her frustration out on her, too. If ensuring my sister's safety necessitates neglecting me, I am prepared to bear the cost.

Pushing Rose towards the house, my mother's gaze never leaves my face. “Get inside and close the door behind you, Rose.” She says through gritted teeth.

“Moth-”

“Now!” Our mother spits out with wide, glassy eyes.

I look at Rose, nodding, as I don’t want her getting into trouble because of me. Lowering my hands to my sides, I swallow thickly the moment Rose enters the house and closes the door behind her.

“Have I done something wrong?” I ask my mother in a whispering tone, hating how vulnerable she makes me feel.

Thrusting her chin forward, “Take her.” My mother says calmly, and I watch with wide eyes as the four men descend the stairs and walk towards me.

“Mother?” Panic fills my voice. “Wh- what is going on?”

Two of the men grab my arms and begin dragging me toward the SUVs. My mother stays rooted where she stands, with a nonchalant expression painted across her face. As they forcefully drag me away from my home, I feel neither panic nor remorse from my family.

“Father! Nate!” My voice breaks along with my heart.

The front door opens, and Nate rushes down the stairs with tears glistening in his eyes and his hands curling at his sides. “Mia!” He bellows, rushing towards me. “Mia! Let her go, you fucking scumbags. Tell your boss to come back and finish what he started with me.” Nate demands with his closed hand beating against his chest.

“No, Nate…” Our mother calls out, wrapping her hands around his body, stilling him. “Let her go. I cannot and will not lose you. She must be our sacrifice.”

Shaking in my mother’s unwelcome embrace, tears escape his brown eyes. “Mia…” He keeps repeating my name in a whisper, looking defeated. “Forgive me…”

“No…” I breathe out, feeling like the weight of the world has suddenly landed on my shoulders. “No, please…” I continue as I am being forced into the back seat of the SUV.

The door slams closed in my face, and I instantly reach for the handle, trying to open it, but it won't budge. Two men occupy the front seats, and I place my hands on the window, pleading with my eyes for my mother or brother to intervene and save me.

Instead, my mother lifts her nose at me before she turns her head to the side, openly disowning me, while Nate lowers his gaze to the ground with shame.

I peer up at the house to see Rose crying hysterically in our father's arms. He slowly shakes his head, with his gaze never leaving mine until we can no longer see each other as I am being driven away from them.

Curling over in my seat, I wrap my arms around my waist as I release a gut-wrenching scream that could wake the dead.

What just happened?

Did my mother willingly give me away to these men, whom I have no idea who they are or where they are taking me.

And why did no one try harder to save me?

Why did they allow me to be dragged away from my home like I'm an intruder?

I have so many questions, and there is no one to answer them for me.

Why?

Why did my family suddenly betray me?