Chapter two

Tessa’s POV;

I have spent my last two birthdays with Vivian, and they all went the exact same way. She would gather the whole family—me excluded—and they would all go out to have fun while she would give me multiple chores to do at home.

I knew she was doing this intentionally to make me feel sad, and it always worked, but not today. Today, nothing would make me happier than watching her and the whole family go out to have fun while they left only me behind because today was the day I escaped this life.

With everybody gone, this would offer the perfect chance for Benjamin to gain access to the house, and allow us to easily run away together. That was the plan. But for some reason, things weren't playing out as they were supposed to.

Vivian and the rest of the family were still home, and it didn't seem like they were planning on going out anytime soon. Time was beginning to run out, and Benjamin was already waiting outside to see them drive away so he could come in.

“Fuck!” I heard Noah curse from outside my room. “These damn chickens and their poop.”

Noah? Why was he here? 

Noah never came close to the backyard where the henhouse was unless he absolutely had to. He hated the smell and thought of this area disgusted him.

Then I heard a banging on the door. “Tessa,” he yelled, the irritation of his surroundings registering in his voice. “Get your ass out here, fast. I can't stand this place.”

I stood up from the mat where I was spawned and opened the door. “Mom says she wants to see you now.” I could tell he had blocked his nostril with his hand by how breathy his voice sounded.

As soon as he had delivered his message, he bolted out from the backyard at full speed.

Were they finally heading out? I sighed in relief. She must be calling me to give me instructions on the chores I had to do as always.

I quickly put on my footwear, which had holes all around it, and ran after Noah into the living room. 

I was expecting to hear the clicking sounds of Vivian’s expensive heels, which she spent more than half of Dad’s earnings on. But instead I was met with a deafening silence.

As soon as she noticed my presence, she stood up and walked over to me. “Oh, my sweet Tessa,” she wrapped me in a partial hug, visibly trying to avoid her clothes touching mine. 

I just stood frozen with shock, appalled by what was happening. In the whole three years I had lived with Vivian, she had never called me dear. Scratch that; she had never even called me by my name before. It was always brat or wench or names like that that she used.

She took my hands in hers and patted them lovingly. “Honey, I need you to go take a shower. I also bought a pretty gown you can change into when you’re done.” She said sweetly, and I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable at her display of altruism.

Why was the woman who couldn’t go a day without slapping me suddenly treating me so nicely? 

Something was definitely fishy, and I knew it was something I wouldn’t like, especially seeing how she was forcing herself to act so nice to me even though it was obvious to even a blind girl she was faking it.

I drew my hand out of hers and took a few steps back. “What is going on?” I questioned, confusion etched on my face. I couldn’t bear to take another second of this act; it was better when she was her usual mean self. 

“What do you mean?” She moved closer to me again, covering the distance I had placed between us. “Can’t I be nice to my…stepdaughter?” She gulped hard at the mention of the last word.

“Okay Eww! I can’t do this,” she confessed, stepping away from me to go sit on the couch. “But Mum, we need her to get the money.” Noah whined, trying to convince his mom not to drop the act.

The money? What money were they talking about?

“It’s better we tell her the truth; it’s not like she has a choice anyways. If she tries to refuse, we would just force her.” Vivian replied, the threat strong in her voice if I dared to disobey what she was about to ask of me.

“What is going on?” I cut in, reminding them the person they were talking about was still in the room with them and was getting more confused by the minute. 

“Look, brat,” her tone returned back to her usual hostile tone. “Your dad’s liver disease has gotten worse, and he might actually die.” She threw out the words so casually and devoid of any kind of emotion that you’d think she was talking about a stranger she randomly met on the street and not her husband.

“What? I…didn't know things were that bad,” my voice croaked as tears began to form in my eyes.

My father was a chronic drinker and smoker. It didn’t take long for him to get a liver disease, but it had always been something that we could maintain. Something his teacher’s salary could afford to cater for as long as he stopped drinking, but obviously it seemed he didn’t stop and now the consequences had caught up with him.

As much as I tried to act just as passively toward my dad as he did toward me, I couldn’t. He was the only true family I had left after all, and I didn’t want him to die.

“What can be done?” I asked through sobs, my heart desperate to save my father. My mom was already dead; I couldn’t risk losing him too.

Vivian cleared her throat before she spoke, “The hospital says he needs to go in for surgery at the latest by this week, but the money they’re asking for is huge. We don’t have that kind of money.”

The situation sounded even more dire than I thought. Then I remembered Dad was one of the top teachers at the city’s high school; in fact, it was because I was his daughter that the school started the blind program that had allowed me to attend the school before I was made to drop out. 

“Why don’t we ask the school for help?” They valued Dad as a member of their staff, so I was sure they’d be willing to chip in something.

Noah chuckled, “We already did, and Mum spent it all on designer bags and shoes.” 

“Like I didn’t get you those ridiculously expensive sneakers you have been asking for with the money too.” She threw back at him.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. These people took money that was meant for Dad’s treatment and spent it all on shoes? And designer bags? While Dad was struggling for his life in the hospital. I was dumbfounded.

“But we have found a solution,” Vivian’s voice drew me out of my thoughts. “And we need your help. You’re the only one who can save your father now.” She stated, her voice turning serious.

There was no use crying over spilled milk; they had spent the money the school had given, but if there was still another way to raise the money for the hospital bill then I was in. “What is the solution?” I asked, skeptically.

“Well you see a certain man has graciously decided to give us all the money that we need,” Vivian revealed.

“Honestly a whole lot more that we actually need.” Noah added.

“Omg! That’s good news,” I gushed, happy that we had found a kind benefactor. 

“But,” Vivian cut in, stopping my celebration midway.

“But?”

“But he has asked for you in return.” 

My body stood still as I tried to assimilate what I just heard. “Asked for me in return? I don’t understand.” It was sounding like they were selling me out for money or something.

“Tessa, this isn’t time for you to be selfish.” Vivian walked over to me again, her voice sounding sharper after each word. “This is a small sacrifice to save your father’s life. Are you really going to let him die?” 

Her words weighed heavy on my heart like boulders. The choice I made now would determine if my father got to live or die. This situation was putting me at a crossroad; I could either choose myself by refusing this ridiculous offer to literally be sold off in order to save my father and instead continue with my escape plan with Benjamin, who was right outside, or I could choose to save my dad’s life and accept being sold off.

The choice was clear.

“Who even is the person who is willing to pay such a crazy amount for a blind girl?” I asked after concluding in my mind to choose my father. I couldn’t bear his death being my fault. I just would never be able to forgive me.

“Emm…,” I could hear the hesitation in Noah’s voice as he tried to reveal the person’s name.

Why didn’t he want to reveal who the person was? I knew the person who would pay for a blind girl had to be crazy, but how crazy could the person be?

“It’s Lucian Moonstone.” He finally said it, knocking the wind out of me. 

I staggered backward, flinching at the name. “Lucian Moonstone!! The same man who lives in the estate on the mountain tops that is known for his cruelty, disfigurement and madness?”