"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.