I noticed Sarah’s hands trembling, something that made me uneasy, so I pressed on.

"Sarah, how old are you now? Where do you work?"

"She’s twenty-one," Margaret cut in before Sarah could speak. "She got married last year—to Mike Johnson from the next rural community. I found her a good match!" Her voice was raised with pride.

Then her tone darkened as she turned to Sarah.

"It’s rare for you to come home, and you show up empty-handed. And that long face—who’s it for? If you’re not going to eat, get back to your husband’s house!"

Sarah suddenly lifted her head and forced a smile that made my chest tighten.

She was only twenty-one, just three years older than me, but she looked like a woman in her forties or fifties.

When she looked up, I saw more than the bruise on her forehead—her face was covered in marks.

These weren’t from a fall. They were from being hit.

"Sarah, what happened to your face?" I couldn’t hold back the question.

She glanced at Margaret, then quickly shook her head, saying nothing, though tears slipped down her cheeks.

Margaret slammed her bowl on the table and glared at her.

"Crying again? You’ll cry away whatever blessings you have left! Sure, Mike’s temper is a little hot, but if you behaved yourself, would he lay a hand on you?"

"It’s been a year since you married and still no baby. You eat for free every day—if you were my wife, I’d hit you too!"

"If you’re not going to eat, get back and take care of your husband. Don’t sit here being an eyesore, you bring bad luck!"

"Mom, how can you talk like that?!" I cut in, horrified, and looked at Sarah with concern.

She covered her face and cried, then stood and ran outside.

I made to follow her, but Margaret yanked me back.

"Don’t chase her—women shouldn’t be spoiled."

After Sarah left, Robert and Margaret kept chatting with me cheerfully, but I’d lost all interest.

Jacob was stuffing meat into his mouth so greedily that his lips shone with grease, and the sight made me queasy.

When the meal finally ended, Rachel, Lily, Jacob, and I followed our parents outside, but Sophie stayed behind.

I saw her deftly clearing the dishes, her small frame moving with practiced motions that made my heart ache.

I stood up. "Mom, I’ll help Sophie wash the dishes."

"No need!" Margaret pulled me toward the couch.

"A girl needs to learn housework from a young age, or her husband’s family will look down on her later."

I gave an awkward smile and turned to glance at Lily and Rachel, who were sitting quietly nearby.

They had hardly spoken during the meal, and I hadn’t gotten the chance to talk to them.

Now that I was looking, my gaze locked on Rachel.

She looked exhausted—her face pale, dark circles under her eyes like someone with a chronic illness.

Sarah was twenty-one, but Rachel was my age. How could her health already be so poor?

"Rachel, are you feeling unwell? Are you working now or still in school?"

She forced a small smile, her eyes growing red as she looked at me.

"I’m not in school anymore. I work out of town. When I heard you were coming, I took time off. I’ll head back the day after tomorrow."

"I’m fine, thank you for caring."

"She’s a busy one," Margaret interrupted again, her voice full of pride but devoid of concern.

"She works at a garment factory during the day and as a server at the weekend street fair in the evenings. Our whole family relies on her."

I froze—Rachel’s health clearly couldn’t handle such a load.

"Two jobs? Rachel, you already look unwell. Why don’t you come home and rest for a while?"

"She’s just naturally frail. Don’t worry about her," Margaret replied flatly.

Margaret peeled me an orange. "Your brother’s about to start middle school. You think tuition and tutoring fees are free? Your father and I can’t dig gold out of our tiny patch of land. If Rachel doesn’t go out to earn money, the whole family will be starving."

At her words, Rachel lowered her head and twisted her fingers.

I couldn’t see her face, but I saw her dry, thin hands covered in cracks.

"But—"

"No buts."

This time it was Robert who spoke, puffing on his pipe until the corner was thick with smoke.

"You think everyone’s as lucky as you, getting adopted by rich people? Rachel’s not a kid anymore. I raised her this far—shouldn’t she make some money for her parents?"

He glanced at Rachel, his tone casual.

"If you don’t want to work, fine. I’ve found you a good match. In a small town east of here, there’s a man whose wife just died. He’s willing to pay ten thousand dollars as a dowry payment."

Rachel’s eyes widened in fear, and she shook her head violently. "Dad, I don’t want to get married. I’ll work!"

Hearing them speak and seeing her reaction sent a chill down my spine.

This was nothing like the home I’d imagined.

While I sat there stunned, Lily, who had been quiet the whole time, finally spoke up.

Her voice was timid, as if she had gathered all her courage.

"Dad, Mom… the day after tomorrow, I don’t want to go work with Rachel. I want to keep studying…"

"Studying?"

Margaret let out a cold laugh. "What’s the point of a girl studying so much? Just wasting the money your brother needs to get married! I’m telling you—day after tomorrow, you’re going to the factory with Rachel, no arguments."

"I won’t…"

Her voice broke into sobs. "My grades are good. My teacher says I can get into a top high school, and then maybe a good university!"

"Easy for you to say!"

Margaret shot to her feet and grabbed Lily’s face hard. "Is that why I let you study this long? So you could learn to talk back to your parents?!"

Lily cried out in pain but still refused to lower her head.

Robert picked up a wooden stick from the side and raised it toward her back.

My heart lurched. I rushed forward, pulling her into my arms.

"Dad, Mom, let’s talk about this! Lily’s doing so well in school—let her keep studying. If she graduates from college, she can get a good job and help support the family."

Robert lowered the stick, and Margaret sat back on the couch, though her expression was still dark.

"That’s all well and good, but you see our situation. How can we afford her high school tuition and boarding fees? That’s a lot of money."

At the mention of money, their expressions changed instantly, and they looked at me expectantly.

I knew this moment was coming.

Robert rubbed his hands together and sat down beside me.

"Did your parents send anything for us? Or… did you bring us a gift?"

Margaret jumped in quickly.

"Yes—look at this old house. It’s long overdue for rebuilding. And your brother will need money for college, a job, a house, a wedding… You’ll have to help us out a lot."

"Your parents are so rich—even if they just give us a tiny bit, it’d be enough for us to live on for the rest of our lives."

Even though I’d braced myself, their words still chilled me.

So all that affection and warmth earlier had come with conditions.

There was no guilt, no love—only calculation.

If I hadn’t been adopted by William and Elizabeth, I’d be living Sarah’s and Rachel’s lives right now.

I took a deep breath, my voice hardening.

"Dad, Mom… I can’t help you. I don’t have a single cent."

Just as I finished speaking, Jacob, who had been holed up in his room the whole time, piped up.

"Dad, Mom, how come there’s no gold or cash in Emily’s suitcase—just clothes?"

Robert and Margaret’s faces changed instantly, their eyes darting to me in disbelief.

"What did you say? You don’t have money?"

I nodded, avoiding their gaze.

"My adoptive parents didn’t want me reconnecting with you, but I insisted. They got so angry they cut ties with me."

With every word I spoke, their expressions grew darker.

"They kicked me out, took back all my bank cards, and told me never to come back."

"Cut ties?!"

Robert shot to his feet, pointing a finger at me.

"Are you insane? All that money—you couldn’t fight for it? You couldn’t cause a scene?!"

Margaret’s expression twisted, the earlier friendliness gone.

"Are you stupid? Go back right now and ask them for more money before you come back! Otherwise, you can die out there for all I care!"

Her last sentence stabbed me right in the heart.

Tears welled in my eyes as I looked at her quietly.

"Mom… are you not happy I came back? Is money the only reason you’d want to see me? And… was I really taken by human traffickers back then?"

She didn’t even flinch, grabbing my arm and yanking me toward the door.

"Get out! I thought I could get something out of you—wasted a whole meal on you for nothing!"

I stumbled after her, trying to pull back.

"Mom, it’s already dark out. I really have nowhere to go."

"Not my problem!" She spat the words at me.

"You think you can keep freeloading here? Get out and stay out!"

Rachel and my two younger sisters rushed over, crying and begging Margaret not to throw me out.

But Robert picked up the wooden stick again, and they fell silent, red-eyed but unable to help.

My gaze swept over them, then fixed on my parents’ twisted faces.

"I’m your biological daughter. Can you really throw me out like this? At night? I don’t know my way around here—what if there are wild animals in the mountains?"

They were unmoved. My heart turned cold.

"Fine. I’ll go."

I packed my things and walked to the door without a word.

But just as I stepped outside, Margaret’s voice stopped me.

"Wait—you can stay."

Relief flickered in my chest, but her next words shoved me straight into hell again.

"Didn’t you say that man was willing to pay ten thousand to marry one of our girls? This one’s young and pretty—should be worth more."

Goosebumps crawled over my skin, and I instinctively tried to run.

But Robert was faster. He grabbed me and tied me up.

"Good thinking, Margaret—almost lost a gold mine."

My blood ran cold.

"Dad, Mom, are you really going to do this? I gave up everything to find you."

"That widower’s fifty, sure, but he’s got a bit of money."

Robert tied me to a wooden post as he spoke. "You’ll live a good life with him."

"I’m not marrying him!" I trembled all over. "He’s old enough to be my father!"

"It’s not your choice!"

He yanked the rope hard, making me cry out in pain.

Suddenly, Rachel ran forward and grabbed his arm, her voice shaking.

"Dad, let Emily go. I’ll marry him instead."

But Robert shoved her away in disgust.

"Don’t meddle. Just get back to work."