Chapter 1

I tried to send one more text, but the old woman who'd tricked me here snatched my phone.

She whipped my back with a thorny switch. Pain punched the air from my lungs.

"You brat! How dare you steal a phone!"

I curled against a pile of firewood, hurting so bad I almost blacked out.

Her son with an intellectual disability grabbed my phone and giggled.

"A healthy baby boy. Her mom wants us to have a healthy baby boy."

When the old woman finally wore herself out, she stood there panting. Then she read the chat, and her frown got worse.

"This is really your mother?"

She scrolled through our old texts, staring like she couldn't believe what she was reading.

The lines between her brows dug even deeper.

"So she knows you were kidnapped, and she still wants you to give us a baby boy." She snorted. "Guess you're not that precious after all. Just some unwanted girl your family couldn't wait to dump. Even your own mom treats you like garbage. We didn't even ask your family for a dime to take you. You should be thanking us."

She drove her foot into my chest.

Tears slipped down my face and soaked into the dirt.

"Yeah," I whispered. "She's my mom."

It was just that, to her, good deeds mattered more than I ever did.

When I was little, I stole a pack of gum from the grocery store because I wanted it so bad. Mom found out and locked me in the basement with no food or water.

Every day, she checked my waste until there wasn't a trace of sweetener left. Only then did she let me out.

After that, "do one good deed every day" became our family's rule before dinner.

I didn't get to eat until I'd done one.

Mom was scared I'd lie, so she made the people I helped sign little notes to prove it.

Soon, everyone thought I only helped them to get something. No one wanted to be my friend anymore.

Even now, when the old woman asked me to show her the way, my first instinct was to say no.

Then Mom texted again.

[Don't come home unless you've done a good deed. I don't have a daughter as heartless as you!]

The old woman opened her mouth to mock me, but her idiot son kicked her hard in the waist.

"I want to sleep with my wife. Have a healthy baby boy. Get out!"

She winced, then instantly forced a smile.

"Okay, okay. I'll make you something good to eat. Just give me a grandson."

Then she turned and shot me a vicious look.

"Listen to your mom and quit thinking about running. Benny will take good care of you. As long as he eats, you eat."

The door slammed shut.

Benny flashed a goofy grin and shuffled toward me.

"Hehe... sleep. Make babies."

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted my phone on the floor.

I bit down on my lip and forced myself to stay calm.

"I'll have your baby... but let's play a game first."

Benny squeezed his eyes shut and started counting.

I rushed over, snatched up my phone, and called Mom.

She finally picked up right as he reached ten.

Before I could get a word out, she clicked her tongue.

"Did you do your good deed today?"

My eyes burned with tears.

"Mom, I really was kidnapped. I'm in the village closest to our apartment. It's five minutes away. Please... come with Dad and save me!"

She went quiet.

Then she laughed. "Kaia Keene, first you refuse to do your good deeds, and now you're making up lies."

"I'm not lying! I ran out of money and got a part-time job. I met this old woman, and she wants me to give her a grandson—"

I rushed to explain, desperate to make her believe me.

She cut me off.

"Then have the baby. Give them a healthy boy, and I'll count it as ten years' worth of good deeds. You won't have to worry about your daily good deed anymore."

The call disconnected.

I stared at the phone, stunned.

She actually hung up.

"What are you doing?!"

I looked up.

The next second, Benny's hands locked around my throat, his bloodshot eyes glaring at me.

"I hate liars. Die!"