Chapter 01

Chapter 01

Verity was carrying a bag of expired food that she had just taken from the supermarket at her part-time job. Items were destined for disposal, but she asked the supermarket owner to take them back, so she could save some money on food. These foods could last for another three days, and Verity lived frugally to the point where her only desire was to continue attending school.

She had grown accustomed to the dark and gloomy nights upon returning home, standing before the dilapidated, crumbling, and damp house, sighing softly. A gentle push on the door allowed it to swing open effortlessly, as poverty had prevented her from spending money on a lock.

"Dad?… Is Dad still awake?" Verity spoke softly, but the only response she received was a heavy silence. Despite the lack of electricity, she navigated skillfully past the scattered bottles of liquor and beer lying on the floor.

The man she referred to as 'Dad' lay sprawled, his hand clutching a bottle of liquor, muttering nonsensical things with closed, squinting eyes.

Verity had long grown accustomed to this scene, entering the closed-off room silently to avoid making any noise. To save on electricity, Verity didn't turn on the lights while eating the acquired food in the darkness. The remaining portion of the food was reserved for breakfast the next day, and she made sure not to consume it all.

The streetlight cast its glow onto Verity's small study table as she began her homework. The assignments in front of her served as the greatest solace during these challenging times.

Verity could only manage to sleep for three hours a day. Initially, waking up was difficult, but now she not only got used to it but found herself unable to sleep through a whole night.

"Dad… I'm going to school. I've cooked some food… Dad?" Verity looked at her father, still immersed in his drunken stupor. His hazy gaze met hers, making her feel tired and reluctant to say more.

However, as Verity was about to leave the house, she heard her father muttering something. Yet, with a father who spent every day asleep with a bottle, what sensible words could be expected? Regardless, Verity no longer trusted her father because her life had been too harsh.

The school bell rang, and Verity still hadn't taken her seat; she merely stood staring at the desk in front of her until the teacher entered, and only then did she sit down. She tried to conceal the ugly, scrawled insults on her desk, all of which cursed at her. However, she had become accustomed to this.

No one cared, whether at school or at home, which equated to Verity being unable to rely on anyone; all she could do was endure.

For Verity, whether at school or at home, it was a living hell. She used to think that hell awaited only after death, but now she understood that there was no hell after death because the place she was living was hell itself. Hell on Earth.

At the end of a school day, Verity returned home to put away her belongings and headed to her part-time job. As usual, her father was not at home, and she no longer cared about him. However, today, something felt different, and an unsettling noise outside caught her attention.

"Dad? Where did Dad go?" Verity stepped out of her room, and upon seeing the figures before her, her face turned pale. Trembling, she looked at her father, who was kneeling on the floor, his eyes pleading.

"Dad, what's happening? Who allowed these people to enter my house? Get out of here immediately, or I'll call the police!" Though her tone was forceful, her limbs were trembling, and she could barely stand.

The tall men, with scars on their faces and intimidating tattoos exposed on their bodies, seemed to be debt collectors here to collect from Verity's father. However, her father had been without money for a long time.

"Dad..."

"Little girl, your Dad borrowed a significant amount from us, and it's been overdue for six months now. The principal and interest have become substantial, my dear." One of the men, a tall figure, spoke, taking a worn-out chair.

Her father continued to kneel on the floor, continuously pleading, clasping his hands in supplication. "Please, spare me… give me a few more days… just three days, I will repay you."

"Three days? Three months ago, you said the same thing. But it's fine; we already discussed this before coming to your house. Judging by your daughter's expression, she probably doesn't know anything, right?" The man sneered, looking at Verity with disdain and lust.

Verity's entire body went limp with fear. She turned anxiously to her father, "Dad, what are they talking about? What have you discussed with them? Dad! Please tell me. What's going on? Dad! Tell me quickly." These strangers suddenly appeared, saying strange things to her father, and looking at her with those eyes. Fear overwhelmed her, and she couldn't bear to look directly at them. A sense of helplessness spread throughout her body, making it difficult for her to breathe.

When Verity touched her father's hand, he pushed her away and exclaimed loudly, "That's right, I've sold you to pay off my debts. You're a girl, no need for education, it just costs more money. Instead of going to school, you should help me repay my debts. After I have the money, I'll redeem you. I am your father, you must help me. It's only natural, isn't it?"

In his eyes, there was a sense of panic, and now he had reached a dead end, with no other option but to sacrifice his own daughter to escape.

Verity felt as if she had fallen into an icy abyss upon hearing her father's words. Could these words really come from a father? The man she called 'Dad' wanted to sell her to pay off his debts. She could endure being beaten by her father, endure poverty without a proper meal, endure the humiliation and mockery from others, but she could not bear being betrayed by her own family in such a cruel manner.

She did not know from when, tears started streaming down her face uncontrollably. She trembled and desperately held her father's hand, pleading, "Dad... what are you talking about? Please don't joke, I'm scared... you can't abandon me like this."

Verity did not want her life to end like this, but the response she received was...

"Stay quiet. I've already said that once I have the money, I'll redeem you. You're my daughter, helping me is your duty." The man forcefully pushed Verity away, indifferent to her tears and pain. He turned to the unfamiliar faces around him and implored, "Look, as soon as you clear my debt, my daughter belongs to you. She's a girl, and she will definitely earn you a lot of money. Please forgive me and release me from this debt."

"Dad!" Verity felt like she was going insane. She looked at her father and then at the unfamiliar men. She knew they were not joking, and she did not want her fate to end like this. For a long time, she had been trying to earn money to avoid this outcome.

A tall man grabbed Verity, covering her mouth to prevent her from escaping or saying anything. The man in front of her father smirked, "Indeed, the warmth between father and daughter. Alright, as promised, I will clear your debt. See?" He took out a ledger and crossed out something in it. Verity's father was overjoyed, thanking the man as if he had bestowed great kindness upon him.

Verity felt like she was losing her mind. She bit the hand of the person restraining her and screamed, "My Dad owes you whatever amount it is; let him repay it. If he can't, I will work and pay you. Don't take me, don't take me. I don't want to die!"

The person restraining her winced in pain from the bite, and in anger, he slapped her hard across the face. "You whore! Daring to bite me. Do you believe I'll break your teeth?" Verity, however, was no longer afraid of anyone's threats. She only knew that being taken away by these people meant her death, and her father would never redeem her as he promised. If her own father could sell her, how could she trust that he would ever save her?

Despite being mercilessly beaten, Verity's face was bruised and swollen, but she continued to struggle and cry out. The leader spoke, "This wretched girl is too troublesome. Do something to shut her up. Don't waste time in this filthy place any longer, it's disgusting."

After the leader's words, Verity felt an intense pain in the back of her neck, and her vision darkened. The man carrying her over his shoulder and his accomplices left the ruined house.

The leader seemed to have a thought and turned back, saying, "Actually, if you need another loan, just come to me. This time, I'll extend the repayment period for you." Verity's father was even more delighted, immediately forgetting about his daughter who had been handed over to those loan sharks.

"What a good father." The leader chuckled. Using family members as collateral was not uncommon in their line of work, and he had encountered many cases, but not everyone could do it like this.

For those who couldn't repay their debts like Verity's father, they would force the debtor to repay through labor, using their physical strength, blood, and internal organs. If someone else took over, the debtor wouldn't have to endure such pain anymore.

"Didn't expect that old man to have a daughter. Look at that girl, she's quite pretty. She's wearing a school uniform, probably sixteen or seventeen. This type of merchandise will surely fetch a high price." One man laughed heartily.

"But her face is already bruised. Before taking her to the brothel, we need to treat her injuries first." The man who had slapped Verity shrugged. "If I don't beat her, she'll cause even more trouble. A few hits, and she's still struggling. I know where to stop, so she won't be too seriously injured. It'll take about a week to recover."

Verity, after who knows how long, woke up to find herself kneeling in a very strange place. The surroundings were extravagant and dazzling. Curious about the large room, Verity was pushed harshly by someone next to her, who issued a stern warning.

"Stay still, don't look around. If you keep looking, I'll gouge your eyes out."

Verity immediately lowered her head, not daring to look anywhere else. She trembled and did not dare to breathe loudly. She had been knocked unconscious and thrown into the trunk of a car, and now she was here.