But she didn’t dare fight back—instead, she kept begging Jacob to forgive her.
Even though she’d just been humiliated, while Margaret fussed over Jacob, Sophie slipped me a small ball of white rice.
It must have been saved from her own meal.
"Thank you," I whispered, my throat tight.
She didn’t respond, just hurried away.
Robert soon returned with the man. The moment his eyes landed on me, they lit up.
"Pretty girl—worth the price. Well? If you agree, I’ll take her with me now."
Margaret’s gaze locked on the money he held out.
"Deal!"
While they went inside to count the cash, Sarah came back.
She strode straight into the house.
"Dad, Mom, you can’t do something this heartless! Wasn’t selling me off enough? Why push Emily into the same pit?"
A loud, sharp slap rang out from inside.
Rachel arrived next, dropping her hoe and rushing in.
"Dad, Mom, don’t sell her. I’ll take her with me to work and earn you the money, okay?"
"Earn my ass!" Robert’s voice barked from inside.
"If she runs, are you going to pay me back?!"
While they argued, Lily and Sophie ran to me and began sawing at the rope around my wrists with a knife.