Ch3 - I’ll marry him

Violet never thought Lilia’s illness had gotten this bad. The rare genetic disorder was eating her alive—muscle weakness, trouble breathing, hooked up to a ventilator, pulled out of school just to survive day by day in the hospital.

Benny and Polly had already sold the car, even remortgaged the house for treatment. Violet had handed over her savings too. Now none of them had a cent left—she was broke just like they were. 

She’d been working herself to the bone lately to scrape together whatever she could for Lilia. So when they said there was a high-paying “job” for her yesterday, she didn’t hesitate. She went.

And look how that turned out.

“You should’ve told me about Lilia earlier,” Violet said, voice tight. “We should’ve figured it out together.”

Benny dropped his face into his hands. Just saying her cousin’s name broke him. “And then what? You got two hundred grand lying around? ’Cause we sure as hell don’t.”

“But you can’t just decide for me and throw me to some man!” Violet snapped, her chest aching with both fear and grief. Yes, she loved Lilia, but that didn’t mean she was theirs to sell.

Polly rubbed at her temples, trying to keep her cool. “We know… we know we messed up. Yell at us all you want. We’re sorry.”

She even tugged at Benny’s sleeve until he mumbled an apology too.

But the words rang hollow. They didn’t make Violet feel better. The only thing in the room was the sound of their sighs. She looked at them—wrinkled faces, gray hair, worn down by years of struggle. 

Just two parents desperate to buy a little more time for their daughter. And her heart, damn it, it wavered. She’d lived with them since she was ten. Was she really going to cut ties completely?

She opened her mouth, ready to tell them the truth—that last night someone had pulled her out, that she hadn’t actually been with Mr. Hill at all.

But then Polly lifted her gaze, eyes soft, almost pleading. “What’s done is done. The money’s already gone to the hospital. Could you… could you just get along with Mr. Hill, so he won’t take it back?”

Violet’s stomach dropped.

Benny piled on, voice smoother now. “We’re not saying you gotta… do anything. Just have a few dinners with him, act like you like the guy. That’s all. It’d make life easier for all of us.”

Violet froze, face stiff, pupils blown wide. “WHAT… what did you just say? Do you even hear yourselves? Have you ever respected me, even once?”

So that was it. The nice words, the softer tone—it was all a ploy. Not remorse. Not regret. Just another trick to squeeze her dry. Even their apologies had been lies, wrapped in sweet words to keep her pliant.

She wanted nothing more than to run—away from this house, away from these so-called family.

Her chest burned with rage and betrayal until she could barely breathe. Without thinking, she staggered back, then spun and bolted upstairs to her room.

From below, Benny’s voice roared after her. “It’s just a few f***ing dinners! You act like it’s the end of the world. With that money, Lilia gets better treatment, and we finally catch a break. Why the hell are you overreacting?”

Polly’s voice rose too, arguing with him in a muffled hiss, but Violet didn’t care what they were saying anymore.

Her hands shook as she yanked the old suitcase from under her bed, anything within reach—she shoved them in without thinking. Wrapped in her clothes was a frame with the last photo she had of her parents. Her movements felt mechanical, like her body already knew: she had to get out.

Downstairs, Polly yanked at Benny’s arm, hissing, “SHUT UP. You keep yelling like that and she’ll bolt. Didn’t we agree we’d play nice with her?”

Benny lowered his voice but didn’t let it go. He swung his anger toward Polly instead. “Told you from the start not to spoil her. She’s grown now, doesn’t listen to us anyway. After all we’ve done, raising her all these years, she just storms upstairs like that? What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

“Enough,” Polly snapped, “arguing won’t fix anything. Mr. Hill made it clear—if Violet marries him, he’ll cover Lilia’s treatments. That’s what matters.”

Benny threw his hands wide. “And how? She won’t even have dinner with the guy, you think she’s gonna marry him?”

Their bickering stopped dead at the sound of footsteps on the stairs.

“What’s going on? Violet—why’re you carrying a suitcase?” Polly rushed over the second she saw her.

Violet’s brows knotted. “We all need some space. I’m leaving for a while.”

Her thoughts were still chaos. She planned to crash at her best friend’s place—anywhere but here. At least for a few days, she couldn’t stand to see Benny or Polly.

“YOU’re not going anywhere without our say-so.” Benny shoved his bulk between her and Polly, blocking the stairwell, chin tipped high in defiance.

“Why the hell not? I’m an adult. I can leave if I want,” Violet shot back.

“You know what shape we’re in,” Benny snapped, his voice dripping with contempt. “Running off now? That’s cold, Violet. Heartless.”

“I already went through enough last night because of you,” she hissed, clutching the banister so hard her knuckles turned white. “WHAT more do you want from me?”

“UNLESS you pay back every damn cent we spent raising you! If it wasn’t for us, you’d be rotting in the ground with your parents!”

Polly tried to push him aside, failing. “Stop it, what are you saying? Calm down, please.”

She turned to Violet, stepping in like a peacemaker. “He didn’t mean it. He’s just desperate for Lilia. If you could just… say a few kind words about us to Mr. Hill, maybe lean on him a little—he knows so many doctors—”

But Violet’s eyes were red, burning. Before Polly could finish, she ducked past them, dragging her suitcase toward the door.

Her hand closed around the doorknob—then the suitcase was ripped out of her grip. Benny wrenched it from her and slammed it to the ground. The crack echoed through the house as the old case split open, spilling her belongings across the floor.

Violet froze in horror as the photo frame rolled out, hit a corner, then landed face-down. The sharp crack of shattering glass split the air.

She lunged for it—but Benny was faster. He snatched it up, slid the photo free, and held it high above her head.

“GIVE IT BACK!” Violet screamed.

“You know what we want,” Benny sneered, waving the picture just out of reach.

Her chest heaved, fury consuming her, but nothing in the world mattered more than that photo—the only picture she had left of her parents.

Polly’s eyes darted nervously, torn.

Violet’s throat burned. “If I agree to your terms… you’ll give it back?” Her voice cracked, her eyes bloodshot.

“As long as you keep seeing Mr. Hill,” Benny said coldly. “We’re not forcing you to marry him—yet. But you’ll stay close to him, you’ll keep him happy. If my daughter doesn’t get her chance to live, then this worthless photo burns with her.” 

He gripped the edges of the picture like he might tear it in two.

“NO!” Violet’s scream was raw, desperate. “Fine—I’ll do it! I’ll marry him!”