Chapter 3

I stumbled back into the storage room, dazed.

My whole body trembled as if plunged into an ice bath.

Seraphina had heard the commotion outside and had been peeking through the door crack.

She rushed to bandage my hand, her expression frantic.

When she grasped my wrist, she visibly flinched.

My arm was so thin, just bone.

And my outstretched hands were dark and calloused, covered in rough skin and festering frostbite.

From outside, I heard my parents' and Willow's conversation:

"The snow is so pretty, I want to take pictures!"

"Okay, okay, but baby, you need to dress warmly so you don't catch a cold."

"Where's Riley? She grew up in the mountains, let her guide us."

"Why bother with her? That child isn't close to us, it's awkward to have her around."

Seraphina's face fell.

"Those are your parents?"

"I guess so," I mumbled, then mechanically walked back out.

After repeating the day's chores, I didn't forget to sneak some food for the two in the storage room.

That night, Seraphina refused to sleep on the bed with Matteus.

Instead, she lay down on the floor with me.

She felt my forehead and found it burning hot. She quickly took off her down jacket and wrapped it around me.

An unprecedented scent and warmth enveloped me.

I froze for a moment, and then tears fell first.

I instinctively wanted to call her "Mom," but I held back.

Perhaps it was the fever, but my heart felt warm that night.

When I woke up the next day, it was already bright outside.

Grandma Elsie was yelling in the yard, and I scrambled to my feet out of habit.

"I overslept, no, I—"

Seraphina and Matteus also heard the commotion and tried to stop me.

But they watched as I staggered out, falling right in front of Grandma Elsie.

"You worthless piece of garbage, getting lazier and lazier, aren't you?"

She gave a mocking laugh, tugging my hair and dragging me over.

With one hand, she snatched up the snow shovel nearby and slammed it hard onto my back.

I gasped, doubled over in pain, breathing heavily.

"I'm so bored, Grandma Elsie, I want to build a snowman."

Willow, beside her, acted as if she hadn't seen Grandma Elsie's furious beating.

A sly look crossed her face, and she pointed at me.

"Let Riley be the snowman."

She scooped up a ball of snow and smeared it on my face. Then she innocently called out to Mom and Dad,

"Mom and Dad, come play!"

My parents walked over, completely ignoring me, barely clinging to life on the ground, and dotingly helped Willow put on her gloves.

"Be careful, sweetie, don't catch a cold."

Willow giggled, shoveling snow and piling it on top of me.

Icy snowflakes slid down my collar.

My face was pale with cold, and I couldn't stop trembling.

But my parents' scolding reached my ears:

"It's just a little snow, can't you cooperate with your sister?"

Suddenly, a voice cut in:

"You don't want to raise this child, do you? I'll take her. How much do you want? Name your price."