"Go on, call his name. See if he comes to save you."
That night, I cried until I had no more tears left.
From then on, I never mentioned Dylan's name again.
It was as if I had erased him from my memory.
My aunt raised a bamboo stick to hit me. However, my cousin rushed in with Isaac, an old bachelor from the village.
"Mom, stop hitting her.
"The Phillips family sent someone. They're outside. You should go handle it. Isaac has some business to take care of here.
"Alright."
My aunt's face lit up when she saw Isaac slip some cash to my cousin.
As soon as she left, Isaac couldn't wait to pounce on me, tearing at my clothes.
I instinctively tried to dodge, but Isaac grabbed me by the throat.
"You wretched woman. I paid for this. Don't think you can act tough just because the Phillips family sent someone. I'll kill you right now if I have to."
I stopped struggling.
I numbly closed my eyes.
Before I went to meet the steward, my aunt made me change into my old clothes. They barely covered the scars and marks all over my body.
She gripped my arm tightly, hissing threats into my ear.