"It's all that jinx's fault! If she hadn't sold the slot, would my son have ended up like this?"
My parents had never seen anything like this. They wanted to find me, but I'd already vanished without a trace.
With no other choice, they went to find Jade. After all, she was their only hope now. And even though the Quinn she'd married was poor, at least he had strong arms.
That day, Quinn was forcing Jade up the mountain to haul rocks. Her hands—once fair and soft—were now covered in blood blisters.
The moment my parents saw her, they demanded money without so much as a greeting.
"Jade, your sister—that bitch who deserves to be cut to pieces—ran off! The village chief's going to tear down our house! Hurry up and give us some money!"
Jade almost laughed from the sheer absurdity.
"Money? Do I look like I have money?"
She pointed at the drafty roof, then at the torn cotton jacket on her body. "I can't even eat my fill, and you're coming to me for money?"