Jason looked annoyed, waving me off. “Alright, whatever. Mom said to get ready. She wants you to go out with her later.”
I froze for a moment but managed to keep my tone steady. “Got it. I’ll change and head out.”
After he left, I locked the door behind him and moved the letter to a new hiding spot. I wasn’t taking any chances this time.
Sure enough, when my mom called me to leave the house, it was exactly as I had expected.
She was dragging me to meet one of the middle–aged bachelors in town. A “nice man,” she’d called him. Someone who’d pay $30,000 for the privilege of marrying me.
In my last life, I’d been naive enough to wear my best dress, hoping to make a good impression. That man had chosen me on the spot, sealing the deal with a handshake and a “gift” of a delicate wristwatch.
I’d been too foolish to realize the watch was part of the dowry–the first payment in the transaction that would sell me off like livestock.
This time, I clenched my fists and took a deep breath, forcing my anger to settle before it boiled over.
“Mom, most of my clothes have been chewed up by mice. I’m going to borrow something from Karen to wear,” I said nonchalantly, walking past her as she sat peeling cotton in the yard.
She looked up briefly, narrowing her eyes. “Fine, but hurry back. And I’ll put some rat poison in your room later.”
I froze for a split second but forced myself to keep walking, smiling faintly. “No need, Mom. I already set some traps earlier.”
She waved me off, turning back to her work.
Karen was in her yard washing clothes when I arrived.
Her family’s situation wasn’t much better than mine. She had an older sister who’d been married off at 18 for a hefty dowry, and a younger brother who was the golden child of the family. In our deeply patriarchal village, having a son was everything. Women were just a means to an
4:52 PM
<
“Sophie? What brings you here?” Karen asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
I walked toward her, pretending to hesitate. “I… didn’t get into college,” I said softly. “My mom’s introducing me to someone. There’s a $30,000 dowry involved.
Karen’s eyes immediately lit up.
“My good dresses have all been ruined by mice, though, I continued, feigning embarrassment. “I was hoping to borrow something nice from
you.”
Karen’s hands froze mid–wash, and she swallowed hard. “Thirty thousand dollars? And he’s okay with you retaking the entrance exams next
year?”
I nodded shyly, lowering my voice. “Yeah, he’s older, but he seems like a good guy. My mom says I should dress up to make a good impression.“.
Karen’s curiosity turned into outright greed. “What’s he like? Have you met him yet?”
I propped my chin in my hands, pretending to daydream. “Not yet. I’m meeting him soon.”
Karen stared at me, her excitement barely contained. “You know,” she said after a moment, “I’ve got some free time today. Why don’t I come
with you? Just to make sure everything’s… you know, okay.”
Bingo.
I smiled inwardly. “Really? That’d be great.”
In my last life, Karen’s mother had been just as dismissive of her education as mine.
But Karen had been resourceful. She’d found herself an older, married man from a neighboring village who sent her money every month, enough to pay her college tuition.
The moment she graduated, she dumped him and set her sights on a rich guy from the city.
This time, though, I wasn’t going to make it so easy for her.
5
I was smaller than Karen, so her clothes didn’t fit me well at all.
She had “carefully chosen” a bright orange dress for me, one that clashed horribly with my sun–tanned skin and made me look even darker.
Meanwhile, Karen had dressed herself to impress. She wore a fitted black V–neck top that hinted at her cleavage, paired with a cream–colored pleated skirt that showed off her slim, pale legs.
The more polished and elegant she looked, the happier I felt.
Because only I knew the truth–the man we were meeting was a lecherous creep.
Standing side by side, it was obvious who he’d pick. And it wouldn’t be me.
When we returned to my house, my mom gave me a quick once–over, She hesitated for a second, probably annoyed by how plain I looked, but with Karen standing there, she didn’t say anything.
“Karen, you look so grown–up now! Definitely like a college student,” my mom said with a smile, her eyes lighting up as she admired Karen.
Karen blushed modestly and grabbed my hand. “Oh no, Auntie, Sophie’s way smarter than me. It’s such a shame she didn’t get in.”
“If she got in, I wouldn’t have let her go anyway,” my mom said matter–of–factly. “Her brother’s about to get married. Where would we get the money for her tuition?”
I’d heard it all before. I should’ve been numb to it by now, but it still hurt.
<
As we walked to the meeting spot, my mind raced, plotting my next move.
Karen suddenly raised her voice, “My dad said someone from the village got into a really good college.”
She turned to my mom. “Auntie, could it be Sophie? I mean, her grades were always so good.”
Then she glanced back at me, a sly smile on her face. “Sophie, who do you think it is?”
My heart skipped a beat. Did her dad see me when I picked up my acceptance letter?
I stayed quiet for a moment before replying, “How would I know? There are so many people in the village.”
Karen raised her finger and wagged it playfully in front of me.
“My dad saw who it was,” she said.
A chill ran down my spine.
Damn it.
She knew.
Become SVIP: Read all SVIP stones
“Sophie, why are you so nervous?” Karen asked, her voice dripping with mock concern. “You’re sweating.”
Her smile sent shivers down my spine.
Maybe it was because in my previous life, I’d trusted her completely, only for her to stab me in the back when I needed her the most.
I could still remember the pain of having my legs broken, the utter despair of being abandoned by everyone. Even now, after being reborn, the memory haunted me.
I wiped the sweat from my face and turned to my mom.
“Mom, are we almost there? Can we take a break? My stomach doesn’t feel so good,” I said, clutching my belly for effect.
My mom frowned and waved me off impatiently. “Fine, but make it quick.”
I grabbed Karen’s hand and pulled her behind a large tree.
Karen yanked her hand away. “You’re the one who got into that fancy college, aren’t you? My dad saw it and told me,” she accused, narrowing her eyes.
I nodded slowly.
In my previous life, I had begged Karen not to tell my mom about my acceptance. But she’d betrayed me anyway, dragging my mom to stop me just as I was about to leave the village. That betrayal had cost me everything–my freedom, my dreams, my legs.
This time, though, I wasn’t going to beg. This time, I’d make her pay.
“You’re planning to use this guy to pay for your college, aren’t you?” Karen sneered, leaning in as if she’d caught me in some grand scheme.
I lowered my head, pretending to hesitate, then nodded again.
“But he hasn’t even met me yet,” I said softly. “What if he doesn’t like me, Karen? Will you help me?”
Karen patted my shoulder, her eyes gleaming with greed.
“I heard he’s looking for a college–educated wife,” she said, her tone almost conspiratorial.
“Karen,” I said hesitantly, “do you think I should tell him I got into a top university?”
4:52 PM
<
Her face darkened, a flash of calculation crossing her features. “No way!”
