Chapter 3

When my parents returned from town, they demanded to know why I'd ruined the family gathering.

I told them about Jack's malicious obsession with Lily.

They began to tremble with rage. How could their beloved granddaughter become a mere "item" to be demanded and claimed?

My parents ignored my pleas and insisted on going to Aunt Carol's house to demand an explanation.

I couldn't stop them, and I really didn't feel safe leaving Sarah and Lily alone at the motel, so I could only let them go, my heart in my throat.

However, the sheer shamelessness and deceit of Jack's family once again exceeded my imagination.

About an hour later, my parents returned.

My father had a bruise on his cheekbone, and my mother's eyes were red-rimmed.

Instead of receiving an apology, my parents had been slandered.

Aunt Carol's family turned the tables on them, accusing us of having a daughter just to "bewitch" Jack.

They even cursed our entire family, wishing us "divine retribution and a terrible end."

My father, unable to stomach their lies, argued back, only to be beaten by Carol's family.

"Honey... look at my phone." Sarah held her screen out to me.

I tapped open our family Facebook group. What I saw instantly made my blood boil: furious insults from Aunt Carol's family.

"It's our kindness to even consider taking your daughter! Filthy vermin, how dare you slander Jack!"

"Look at how you've raised your daughter!"

"Only useless people have daughters!!"

A surge of brutal fury shot through me.

I turned, grabbed a kitchen knife from the motel kitchenette, and lunged for the door.

In that moment, I just wanted to shut them up for good.

My parents, horrified, quickly held me back, tightly.

"If you go to jail, what will happen to Lily?!" Dad pressed down on my shoulders.

Lily's cries came from the bedroom. Gradually, I loosened my grip, humiliation burning in my chest, making me feel as though I would vomit blood.

If reason wouldn't work, and I couldn't fight these villains, couldn't we at least escape them?

"Dad, Mom," I took a deep breath, "come back to New York with us. I can't leave you here and be at peace. Think of it as... spending the rest of Christmas break at our place."

"But in this weather, flights are probably canceled..." Mom said worriedly.

"We'll drive back," I said, feeling guilty. "The road conditions might be bad, and it'll be tough on you."

My parents nodded, weary and heavy-hearted.

"That's the only option for now."