"Dad, how could you do this to me? Liu Yifei said with tears in her eyes.
A while ago, when she was being treated very strangely and sweetly at her home, she was confused and knew that there was definitely some selfish motive behind these dramas. But she did not expect that these selfish people would never think about her life even once for their own benefit and would sell her in the name of marriage just because of greed.
Yes, this is called selling, her father has decided to sell her to a man who is paralyzed just because their business is running in loss. And if this marriage happens, her father will get a lot of money from it, not only that, but he will also get a chance to contract and do business with China's richest businessman.
Liu Yifei had never once questioned her father.
After her mother's death, her stepmother treated her cruelly, yet she endured it all. As long as her father was happy with his new family, she convinced herself that she could be happy too.
But after his second marriage, her father slowly began to change. That change had hurt her deeply, though she never spoke of it.
And today, after hearing the decision he had made for her, Liu Yifei felt something inside her shatter.
For the first time, she couldn't help but wonder — Could this man truly be her biological father?
Liu Yifei's heart was breaking at the thought of this.
Dad, I am your biological daughter, have you forgotten that? I never questioned anything you did to me till date. But today you have crossed all limits, this is a question of my life, how can you arrange my marriage with a paralyzed man?
Today, at the age of 20, Liu Yifei spoke aloud to her father for the first time. Because she was tired, upset, and very sad, she questioned God as to why her life was so bad. Her entire body was trembling with grief and anger towards her father. The branded clothes she was wearing were now soaked with sweat. She didn't care about that, she just wanted an answer from her father today as to why he did this to her.
"Slap."
Liu Yifei, who had been standing there, still hoping for an answer from her father, didn't have to wait any longer.
In the vast, luxurious living room, the sharp sound of a slap suddenly echoed through the air. Her small face snapped to the side from the force.
The imprint of his fingers was left clearly on her cheek, burning against her skin. The blow was so hard that she could no longer feel anything on the left side of her face,, only a numbing emptiness spreading through her senses.
"You useless girl!" His voice thundered through the room.
"How dare you question me? How dare you raise your voice at me?" He stepped closer, his eyes cold and merciless.
"Have you forgotten whose house you are standing in?" Have you forgotten whose clothes you wear, whose food you eat?"
His words cut deeper with every sentence.
Have you already forgotten who raised you? You owe me a debt.
"Instead of repaying what you owe me, you stand there and questioning me?"
A cruel sneer twisted his lips.
"What expectations could I possibly have of you?" You are just like your mother — shameless and worthless."
Liu Jian's eyes were bloodshot. He didn't stop there.
Stepping forward, he grabbed Liu Yifei's cheeks harshly, forcing her head up until she had no choice but to look at him. His grip was painful, unforgiving.
"You shameless girl," he snarled.
"Tell me the truth."
"Are you having an affair with any other guy?
"Is that why you are refusing this marriage?"
At her father's words, the tears Liu Yifei had been holding back finally spilled over.
The earlier slap had already left her hair disheveled. Now, with the red imprint of five fingers glaring against her cheek and sweat clinging to her skin, she looked utterly miserable — pitiful and broken.
Liu Yifei had never, not even in her worst nightmares, imagined that her own father would one day point fingers at her and her mother's character" disgracing them with such filthy accusations.
Though her fragile body trembled from fear and grief, something else was slowly taking shape within her. A deep, burning hatred toward her father — one so overwhelming that she couldn't even put it into words.
Standing right there in the living room, Li Mengya watched the entire spectacle unfold,, and she couldn't stop the smile that curved her lips. Beside her stood her two sons and her daughter, all of them relaxed, all of them quietly enjoying the scene as if it were nothing more than entertainment.
Even Liu Yifei's grandmother was present.
Watching her own son treat that "useless girl" so harshly, the old woman smiled in satisfaction.
To them, this was nothing unusual.
Whenever they pleased, they bullied Liu Yifei, scolded her, even struck her "it had long become routine.
But seeing Liu Jian behave this way toward his daughter was something new. And strangely enough, they found pleasure in watching it.
Truthfully, Liu Jian had never been someone who constantly beat or abused his daughter.
Yet he had never once stood up for her either.
Every time the members of this family tormented Liu Yifei, he chose silence — A silence that hurt her far more than their cruelty ever could.
When Liu Jian received nothing from Liu Yifei except a soft, trembling "no," his expression darkened instantly. With a sudden, violent jerk, he shoved her away.
The force was so strong that Liu Yifei couldn't steady herself. Her weak body staggered backward before she lost balance completely and collapsed onto the cold floor with a dull thud.
With that, no one else remained in the living room. One by one, they all turned away and returned to their own rooms, as if nothing had happened.
Everyone — except one person.
Liu Ziyu, the youngest daughter of Li Mengya and Liu Jian. She was only a year younger than Liu Yifei.
Ziyu hurried toward her, her steps anxious. Kneeling down beside Liu Yifei, she gently took her hand, her grip warm and careful.
Her voice was soft, filled with concern.
"Big sister… are you okay?"