Chapter 2
The Price She Paid
The house felt heavy.
Like the walls knew something.
Jay stood in the middle of the hall.
Confused.
Uneasy.
"Papa… you called me?"
Jasfer didn't look at her.
"Come here."
His voice was rough.
Jay walked slowly.
Something felt wrong.
"Sit."
She didn't sit.
"Is something wrong?"
Jasfer's patience snapped.
"I said sit."
Jay flinched.
She sat down quietly.
Her fingers clenched together.
"What happened?"
Silence.
Then—
"You're getting married."
Jay blinked.
"What…?"
Her voice barely came out.
"I'm not asking."
Flat.
Cold.
"I already decided."
Jay shook her head.
"No… no, I don't even know who—"
"You don't need to know."
Her heart started racing.
"Papa… I don't want this…"
Jasfer's eyes darkened.
"You don't want?"
He stood up.
Jay instinctively stepped back.
"I raised you."
Step.
"I fed you."
Step.
"I gave you a life."
Step.
"And now you're saying you don't want?"
Jay's eyes filled.
"I didn't ask for this… please… don't do this…"
Silence.
A dangerous silence.
Then—
Slap.
Her head snapped to the side.
The sound echoed.
Jay froze.
Her cheek burned.
Her ears rang.
And just like that—
Everything came rushing back.
The fear.
The shouting.
The nights she stayed quiet.
The way she learned—
Not to speak.
Not to argue.
Not to exist loudly.
After her mother died…
Nothing was the same.
No warmth.
No protection.
Just cold words.
Cold eyes.
And a house that never felt like home again.
Jay slowly looked back at him.
Tears falling silently.
"I'm not… an object…"
Her voice shook.
"I'm your daughter…"
Jasfer laughed.
A dry, cruel laugh.
"Daughter?"
He stepped closer.
"You're my responsibility."
Pause.
"And now you're my solution."
Jay's heart shattered quietly.
"What do you mean…?"
Jasfer looked at her like she was nothing.
"I cleared my debt."
Her breath stopped.
"…what?"
"I gave you."
Simple.
Like it meant nothing.
Jay stared at him.
Not understanding.
Not accepting.
"I sold you."
The world went silent.
Jay couldn't hear anything anymore.
Just those words.
Over and over.
Sold.
Sold.
Sold.
Her legs felt weak.
"You're lying…"
A whisper.
"You have no right—"
"Enough."
Sharp.
"You'll go where I tell you."
Jay shook her head.
"No… no, I won't… you can't do this…"
Jasfer grabbed her arm tightly.
"You don't get to decide."
His grip hurt.
"You belong where I place you."
Jay tried to pull back.
"I'm not going—"
His grip tightened.
"Do you want another slap?"
Silence.
Jay went still.
That fear—
It never left her.
It was always there.
Waiting.
She slowly stopped struggling.
Tears kept falling.
Her voice disappeared.
Just like always.
Jasfer let go.
"Be ready."
Cold.
"They'll come for you."
He walked away.
Like nothing happened.
Leaving her behind—
Broken.
Breathing.
But not living.