Ch2 - Sell off

For a long while after leaving Julian, Violet’s mind was nothing but fog. He’d told her to think carefully about what he’d said—and to give him an answer within two days. Then he’d sent her home with a driver.

It wasn’t until the driver’s voice broke through—“Miss, we’re here”—that she realized they’d arrived. The whole ride, her thoughts had been circling endlessly. 

But the moment she stepped out and saw the house she’d lived in for years, all her old memories came flooding back. Despite everything, she still wanted to hear it from Polly’s own mouth—what really happened.

Before she could even close the car door, Polly and Uncle Benny had flung open the front door. Their eyes went straight past her, locking onto the luxury car idling at the curb. The quick exchange of glances, the flicker of shock—and then the greedy little spark of delight—they couldn’t hide it.

Polly rushed forward, grabbing Violet’s hand, her gaze darting up and down as if assessing her. “I heard Mr. Hill treats girls well. Sure, there’s an age gap, but if he’s good to you, isn’t that what matters?”

Silence thickened like smoke. The remark hung in the air, heavy, ugly. Polly gave an awkward laugh, elbowing her husband. “Right, dear?”

Benny forced a laugh too. “Of course. We asked around, made sure of his character before agreeing to send you.”

Violet’s lifeless eyes stared at them—people she once thought were family, now strangers wearing masks. Their smiles were stiff, brittle… except when they glanced at the car outside. That was the only time their joy looked genuine.

She swallowed back the wave of nausea, her voice cold. “So it’s true. You really took the two hundred grand?”

Polly’s pupils shrank. That was all the answer Violet needed. In that moment it felt like her heart sank into a bottomless lake. She yanked her hand free. “Fine. You took the money, you pay it back. I won’t.”

She turned sharply and headed inside.

“WAIT!” Polly’s voice rose, panicked. They hurried in after her, Polly latching onto her arm again with a bruising grip. “What do you mean, pay it back? Did you tell Mr. Hill we’d return the money?”

Violet glared at her. “You used me to take that money. I didn’t see a cent. Why the hell should I be the one to pay it back?”

The absurdity of it made her chest tighten until she could barely breathe.

Polly’s voice shot up, shrill. “That money’s gone! We’ve already spent it—every last dollar! Do you really want to watch us die? You know our situation. How could we ever pay that kind of money back?”

Violet’s brow knotted; she twisted against Polly’s grip but couldn’t break free. Taking a breath, she bit out, “Then why did you do it in the first place? You sold me off to a stranger—did you even think, for one second, about what might happen to me? What if he’d been a monster? What if he’d raped me, killed me, cut me into pieces—would that have been fine with you too?”

The cold emptiness inside her was worse than the nausea now. From the moment she’d saw them to now, not once had they asked if she was safe, if she was hurt. The only time their faces came alive was when money entered the conversation.

“That’s—don’t be ridiculous. Nothing like that was ever going to happen,” Polly stammered, her eyes darting, her voice shaky. “They promised us. They said they’d treat you gently, that they wouldn’t force you.”

“Exactly!” Benny jumped in, his face tight, his tone turning sharp. “How could you say we sold you? At worst, it was like… like setting up a match. How is introducing you to a wealthy man such a crime?”

Violet’s whole body trembled, her shoulders shaking with anger. “So you did know what he wanted. I didn’t come home all night and you didn’t even bother to call me? You knew he drugged my drink—didn’t you?”

The room went deathly quiet. Polly and Benny both froze, their faces stiff.

It took Polly a long moment before she finally whispered, “Drugged? Are you serious?”

Violet’s chest rose and fell sharply. Deep down, she wanted them to say they were sorry. To admit it was desperation, a mistake, to beg her forgiveness. If they did… maybe she could forgive. They were, after all, the only family she had left in this world. She didn’t want to lose them too.

Polly slowly let go of her hand. There was guilt in her eyes at first, her brows drawn tight—but just as quickly she smoothed it away, her tone cautious, probing. “But… nothing happened to you, right? You even came back in his car. Doesn’t that mean it wasn’t so bad?”

“What?” Violet’s voice cracked into a near scream. “You feel no remorse? God, I regret ever calling you family!”

Benny’s face darkened. He jabbed a finger at her, furious. “What did you just say? We raised you all these years, and that’s how you talk to us? If I’d known you’d grow up this ungrateful, I never would’ve let Polly bring you into this house!”

The words cut like knives. Violet had overheard him say something similar when she was a child—that taking in another mouth had made their struggling household harder. She’d forced herself to ignore it back then, clinging to the scraps of kindness they showed her. But now, to hear him spit it openly—her heart shattered. It was like a blade driven straight through her chest.

Polly’s face turned pale; she quickly yanked her husband aside, hissing under her breath, “Think about Lilia. Just hold it in.”

Then she stepped forward again, her voice syrupy with false warmth. “You know Benny didn’t mean it. We’ve always treated you like our own daughter.”

Violet flinched back. The closer Polly moved, the farther she retreated. She didn’t want them touching her ever again.

With a sigh, Polly stopped. “I know you’re angry. But listen—your cousin Lilia’s condition is getting worse. She’s close to losing the ability to walk. We had no choice but to take desperate measures.”

Violet’s pupils constricted. “What? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? You said she was getting better! The last time I saw her, she could still walk a few steps. She was only a little out of breath!”

Polly shook her head, tears welling. “She lied to us. She forced herself to look fine, to walk a few steps just so we wouldn’t worry. But her body’s been failing day by day.”

Her voice broke into sobs, tears spilling over. “We heard about an enzyme replacement therapy—ERT. It can help her, but each treatment costs two hundred thousand. 

And then Mr. Hill came with his request… he said if you agreed to see him a few times, he’d cover the cost, no strings attached. That’s why we sent you to him last night. We just wanted to save Lilia.”

“Please, Violet—help us save her.”