Chapter 38: Her Painful Past
"You're my..."
I couldn't finish what I was about to say as I felt weaker. My body was weak, but my mind was still functioning.
Now I understand why mom used to tell me to stay away from Mason and Ash before. If she had only told me everything back then, the situation would be better than it is now. As much as I wanted to fight, I was too weak to do so, and this wasn't even my territory.
My vision started to blacken, but before I completely lost consciousness, I heard his final words.
"Kidnapper, Jade," he said, finishing my statement. "I was the one who took you away from home before."
Suddenly, I remembered something about my past-The day I found out my father was in a restaurant with another woman.
"Dad..." I muttered, seeing how my father kissed the woman torridly, which isn't my mom.
They weren't even embarrassed by the people around them at that moment. And even though my dad saw me staring at them from across the street, he didn't stop what he was doing. "I thought... you loved us?" I asked in a low tone.
I wanted to ask him that, but at the same time, I was afraid of what his answer would be. I wanted to be like him, but seeing this now, my respect for him was slowly fading away.
I was still in junior high school when I started noticing his red flags. He threatened mom and did bad things to her. I didn't speak up because I thought it would hurt my mom more if I interfered.
I thought that was normal in a relationship, but now I realize that pain and abuse should not be normalized, even in married life as they have.
Dad came to me, and looked me in the eye. He took out his wallet and counted his money in front of me. "I won't go home tonight, so tell that to your mother."
I immediately frowned at the money he was holding. We barely had any food left at home, but now it seems we actually have money. Where did he get it from? "Did you get it from my piggy bank?" My brows furrowed.
It was for my college expenses. I wanted to attend a university where only the wealthy could enroll. I believed that if I could graduate from there, my life would have a better chance of improving.
"Stop asking so many questions. Go home and don't cause trouble here," he coldly said before walking past me as if we didn't know each other.
AFTER that, I quickly went home to see if my suspicion was correct, and I almost fell to the floor when I saw my piggy bank split in half on the floor of my room.
I wanted to cry and rage out of anger, but all I could do was stare at my piggy bank while clenching my fists.
I didn't do all those part-time jobs and side hustles just for him to gamble it away. Sometimes, Mom even added to it when she had extra, but now all of it is gone.
"Mom, let's leave this place. Please?" I weakly and tearfully said to my mom, who had just entered my room.
I closed my eyes when I saw that she had another bruise on her face and arm. I don't know what happened to dad. Why did he suddenly become like this?
"Sweetie, I tried to..." She sat in front of me and wiped my tears with her fingers, but they kept flowing. "I tried to stop him from taking the money, b-but..."
I held both of her hands on my cheeks. "I'll work to help you. I'll stop going to school if necessary, just so our expenses won't be too much. Mom, I don't want to stay here anymore."
I thought she would agree to what I said. I was willing to do anything to get her out of here. Even if I had to make a huge sacrifice, I didn't care as long as we could leave.
But I didn't expect her response.
"I love your dad."
It was a word of love, but not for me. My heart instantly shattered because of what she said.
"And let's just let what he did pass for now. He's only human and makes mistakes, sweetie. Just endure it a little longer, okay?"
I could only curse before harshly removing her hands from my face.
"If you love Dad more than me, there's nothing I can do about that," I said before leaving the house.
But ver thought something else happened that day.
I was walking on the street alone with nowhere to go. When I was to take another step, a black van pulled up in front of me.
"It's nice to see you, Jade," an old man wearing a blue suit said.
And before I could run away, he already put a handkerchief with a sedative over my mouth, and I lost consciousness.
"WAKE up. You need to wake up."
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That was the first thing I heard. I also felt him lightly slapping my cheek, so I stood up... Only for my head to ache so badly.
"Ugh," I groaned as I closed my eyes, trying to breathe.Belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
When I opened my eyes again, I saw a man wearing a simple black shirt, faded jeans, and sneakers. He looked kind on the outside, but I knew deep down that I was wrong to think that because if he were kind, I wouldn't be here right now. "Who are you?" I asked.
"I'm Mason," he introduced himself to me.
I thought that was the end of it, but I was surprised when he held both of my hands and looked at me with an emotion I couldn't quite figure out.
"I'll get you out of here. I'll find a way to get you out."
I frowned at what he said, but he just smiled at me. There was fear in his eyes, but it seemed like he was forcing himself to be strong because I was in front of him.
He placed his hand on my head and gently caressed it. "You don't belong here, Jade, and you shouldn't even be here."
"IS THAT what you've got?" an older man irritably said while watching me punch the punching bag in front of me.
What's been happening these past few days wasn't what I was expecting. Some guys are teaching me how to punch properly while Mason and the older man are watching me intently.
I don't know why they're making me do this. They taught me how to fight using my hands, feet, and head. As much as it piqued my interest because it was my first time experiencing it, I couldn't let my guard down.
But I was so tired. I've been doing this all day. I was using all my energy to fight. I hadn't even eaten yet, and it was already afternoon.