Chapter 28 The Bastard Man

Cassandra’s POV

I might have to crown this week as the most chaotic week of my life.

However, it turns out there’s still one more mess waiting for me in the daylight when I had just stepped out of my room to refill my glass with water.

“Mom, I think we need to go to the doctor.” I looked at my mother with worry as I noticed her face growing even paler, her breathing becoming heavier.

Among all the problems I have, I have to admit that the hardest one for me is seeing my mother suffer from her illness while I can’t do much.

“I am fine, Cassie.” My mother closed her eyes and squeezed my hand. “We don’t have much money lately, so you need to be more frugal.”

“How could I think about being frugal when you’re sick?” I looked at her in frustration.

I found out that my father still hadn’t sent me any money even though he was supposed to, according to our agreement.

That man… he must be doing this on purpose, just like he always does.

“I know you’re in trouble now, which is why you’re not working.” My mother took another breath, struggling to do so. “I don’t want to make things harder for you.”

I shook my head.

If not me, then who will take care of her treatment? And if not my mother, who will always be there for me during my worst times?

“Wait a moment, Mom. I will find a way to get you the treatment you need.” I said while wiping away my tears.

I didn’t understand why everything had to happen at once. Yesterday, I had just discovered a shocking fact about myself, and this morning, I decided to resign from the office because I couldn’t bear to stay there any longer.

I had no money at all because I hadn’t received my salary there, and now my mother’s condition was getting worse.

Oh God, why is all of this happening to me?

***

I looked around the tables filled with men and women who seemed to be having fun with their drinks and cigarettes. I couldn’t deny that they were probably also bringing drugs to their gambling tables.

I didn’t care what they were doing. What I needed right now was to meet my father and leave this damned place as quickly as I could. I couldn’t let my mother wait any longer.

“What are you doing here?” My father looked surprised when he saw me coming to his workplace.

The last time I met this man was a few days ago. He was at home, but he hadn’t sent any money to my mother, even though he was supposed to because this week was the week my mother was supposed to go to the hospital. I had forgotten about the schedule because I was busy with work, and now this is what happened.

“Mom is sick,” I said quickly because I didn’t want to waste time with all of this place. “I need money to take her to the hospital.”

The man furrowed his brow, then lit a cigarette in his hand. He sat back casually as if what I was saying didn’t surprise him at all. Or at least it didn’t make him worry.

“I’m begging you, give me the money this time because I really need it.”

“Money?” He glanced at me with a displeased look.

“Yes, I need to take her to the hospital. You should have already sent the money to her so she could go on her own. Now she’s in bad condition, and I need it quickly.” I said everything without a pause because I didn’t want to waste any more time.

“You know what?” He exhaled smoke from his lips and looked around for a moment. “I have debts, too, and I need money. Should I come to you and ask for your money when I don’t have any?”

I frowned in disbelief. “Dad, you promised me that you would pay for Mom’s treatment if I agreed to marry that man!” I raised my voice.

I knew my father didn’t like it when anyone spoke loudly to him. He didn’t like it, but he always did it to me and my mother.

“So, why don’t you just ask him?”

I couldn’t believe all of this. “I didn’t make this deal with him. I made it with you, damn it!” I slammed my hand on the table, causing some people to turn their heads in surprise.

I could see my father’s face harden and anger taking over him.

I might have made a mistake doing that, but I couldn’t take it back.

“I could break your arm right now, Cassie. But I won’t do that because I know I’ll get something else from you if I can control my anger now.” He said with a sly smile.

I looked at him with caution. He may be my father, but what could I expect from a man who once forced me to marry a man I didn’t know just to pay off his debts?

“I’m just asking for money for my mother’s treatment, but why are you making it so hard for me?” I almost cried as I said that. I couldn’t deny that this man was my biggest disappointment. He didn’t even care that I had been having a terrible week. “If you can’t do this, then don’t call yourself a man, Dad. You’re a coward and a disgrace.” I said as I stood up.

I knew coming here was a waste of time. I wouldn’t do it again.

“Where do you think you’re going, bitch?!” He raised his voice and called me in a way I never thought he would call his own daughter.

“Looking for help from someone else who isn’t a coward like you!”

I didn’t know where I got the courage from. But I had been holding in my emotions for the past week, and this was the last straw I could offer.

“Well, you should know how to speak to me properly, Cassie. But you chose to ignore it and make me very angry.”

“That’s because you ignored me when I came and begged you!” I retorted fiercely.

“Then don’t blame me if I do this to you.” He smiled wickedly and gave a signal to some men sitting not far from him—his people. “Grab her,” he said casually.

I widened my eyes as two men walked quickly toward me and gripped my arms tightly. A bad feeling told me this wasn’t going to end well.

“Let go of me!” I screamed in panic.

“I warned you before, but you ignored me and were rude.” My father walked closer and grabbed my face with his alcohol-scented hand. From such a close distance, I could clearly see his eyes—eyes that he passed on to me, eyes that made me want to gouge them out every morning. “Didn’t I tell you that I also have debts and need money?”

“You’ve sold me before and forced me to marry a man I didn’t know. Now, what do you want?!” I stared at him with pure anger.

This was a trap.

I knew he intentionally made me come here, luring me into his trap again.

“I sold your status and made you the wife of a man who beat me at gambling. But this time, I owe the brothel, so I want you to pay it off with your body.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Are you insane?!”

He slapped me right after I shouted at him loudly.

“You still haven’t learned how to speak properly!” He said with evident rage. “Take her to Monica, Danny. I want to know how much they’ll value her body. Maybe if they bid high enough, I can pay off my debt to that damn woman.”

I was even more shocked as I heard what he said.

“Dad, you can’t do this, can you?!” I still tried to break free, though it didn’t change anything.

“Sadly, you don’t really know me, Cassie.” He gave me a mocking smile. “Let’s see how much they value your body!”

Oh God… this can’t be happening, can it?

***

I opened my eyes and felt a painful dizziness.

The last thing I remembered was when the two men, who were my father’s people, dragged me into a car, and then they hit my head with their arms because I screamed and tried to break free.

“Are you awake?” A woman came toward me and stared at me with an intense, almost examining look as if she were inspecting me thoroughly.

I looked around and realized I was in an unfamiliar room that wasn’t very spacious. There was just a neatly arranged bed and a cabinet on the right side. I was sitting on a sofa not far from the bed.

Aside from the exotic-skinned woman with long black hair cascading down her back, there was a big man standing in front of the door, seemingly blocking it in case I tried to escape.

“They hit you hard, didn’t they?” The woman squinted her eyes while checking my face.

“Where am I now?”

“A brothel,” the woman replied casually. “Did you know that you’re about to be auctioned? If not, I’ll tell you now. So, get ready. The auction starts at 9 PM, and we don’t have much time since you fainted for a long time. I almost delayed your schedule and moved you to the auction next week. I hold these auctions once a week here. But luckily, you woke up.”

As the woman in front of me gave her long explanation, the only thing I could do was widen my eyes in shock.

“No, no, no!” I shook my head. “You can’t do this to me because I’m not responsible for anything my father has done!” I looked at her in panic.

“So, that man is your father?” The woman in front of me shook her head sadly. “He’s the worst man I’ve ever met.”

“Yes, so please let me go. My mother is sick, and I can’t stay here too long. I need to take her to the hospital, Ma’am.” I continued to plead with her.

If my father had no mercy, I hoped this woman would understand the suffering of another woman.

“Listen, I don’t make money if I’m soft-hearted.” She looked at me scornfully. “That asshole has to pay at least half of his debt to me. He slept with my prostitute, but he doesn’t want to spend a penny.”

I shook my head. “Then you should capture him, not me!”

“I don’t auction men here.” The woman laughed, “The only thing I can take is you. If you’re sold for a high price, it’ll be profitable for both of us. At least I’ll be kind enough to give you a few hundred dollars so you can take your mother to the hospital.”

I kept shaking my head. “I won’t do that! Please let me go, Ma’am. I shouldn’t be responsible for this, should I?”

“Yes, it’s not your fault. However, he gave you to me, and I don’t want my business to stop just because of that stupid man.” The woman pulled something out of the cabinet and threw it at me. “Quick, put this on!” She ordered.

I stared at the lingerie in my lap with disgust. “I won’t do it!” I began raising my voice. “This isn’t right! I’m married, and I shouldn’t be here!”

“You’re married?” The woman frowned. “Damn, Andreas lied to me, saying you were a virgin.”

I felt that I had one chance now. “I’m married, and I have a husband. Please let me go now, and I’ll help you get the debt paid for my father.”

“How much do you have?” The woman laughed—mocking me.

“How much is the debt?” I could feel my body tremble when I asked, knowing I wouldn’t have that amount of money.

“100 thousand dollars,” she said.

I shook my head in disbelief.

“You don’t have that much money, do you?” The woman could easily read my mind.

“I... I can make installments.” I tried to make an offer, even though I knew I was probably only leading myself into another pit of destruction.

“How long could you do that?” The woman snorted. “From tonight’s auction, I might make a few thousand dollars. The minimum bid for a virgin woman is 20 thousand. But since you’re not a girl anymore, I might consider you as my prostitute if you can’t even get half of that amount.”

“Please don’t do this to me.”

“I won’t do it if you manage to get 20 thousand dollars.” The woman walked closer to me, the sound of her high heels echoing throughout the silent room. “Here’s the deal. Since I feel a bit sorry for you, who seems to be another victim of Andreas like me, I’ll make a deal with you. If you manage to get 20 thousand dollars, I’ll release you after the auction. You only need to meet your customer once, and then you can go back home. I’ll take care of the rest of the payment with Andreas and make sure that asshole pays with his life.” She said with determination.

I shook my head.

20 thousand dollars? How could I possibly get that? Besides, I couldn’t imagine... having to sleep with a stranger and doing it consciously. I couldn’t bear to do that.

“You’re very beautiful, and I want to curse Andreas for having a daughter as beautiful as you.” The woman pulled my hair up and then let it fall in front of my face. “Consider this as me being kind. So, will you take the deal?”