Chapter 3

I couldn't make sense of the floating words. What male lead? What tragic heroine?

Seeing I wasn't budging, my uncle and aunt's patience started to wear thin.

"Erika! I'm talking to you!" she snapped.

Were the relatives mentioned in the subtitles referring to my uncle and aunt?

Would they really sell me off one day?

My hesitation grew, and I couldn't make up my mind.

Before I could decide, my uncle clapped his hands, as if settling the matter for me.

"Just take Erika away. I'll talk to Leah about this."

Ignoring my protests, my aunt grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the door.

Feeling helpless, I burst into tears.

My stepmother, clearly irritated, got to her feet.

"What's this? Trying to snatch a child from my house?"

Desperate, I broke free from my aunt's grip and ran toward my stepmother like she was a lifeline.

Before I could touch her sleeve, she recoiled in disgust.

Fidgeting with my fingers, I finally stammered, "Mom... I don't want to go with them."

It was the first time I had called her "Mom."

A flash of surprise crossed her face, and for a moment, she seemed at a loss for words. "You..."

My uncle yanked my arm and turned to my stepmother.

"She's just being difficult. Once she's with us, she'll be fine."

He glared at me, his voice turning harsh.

"Your parents are gone. I'm the only family you have now. Who else are you going to rely on?

"Stop causing trouble and come with us."

At that moment, I started to believe the strange subtitles.

Maybe they were telling the truth. Maybe they really would take me away and sell me.

I looked up at my stepmother, pleading silently. She was my last hope.

Ignoring my uncle's words, she gazed down at me with an air of authority.

"Think carefully. If you stay, you'll be my daughter from now on.

"And that means you'll take care of me when I'm old."

I hesitated, then nodded slowly.

My stepmother cast a cold glance at my uncle. "See that? She doesn't want to go with you."

Forcing a dry laugh, my uncle tried to reason with her. "You're still young. You can have your own children in the future.

"This kid's skinny and not too bright. Keeping her will only cause you trouble."

My stepmother let out a disdainful chuckle. "I know what you're really after. I'm her legal guardian now, and without my permission, none of you can take her."

Seeing her firm stance and the bodyguards stationed by the door, my uncle knew better than to try anything forceful.

He shifted tactics and asked tentatively, "Well, her father left a considerable inheritance, didn't he? We could help manage it and make sure she doesn't waste it."

My stepmother nodded exaggeratedly. "Oh, yes, so much money."

When she saw their eyes light up with greed, she added, "But it's none of your business."

That remark finally broke their patience. Just as my uncle started to lunge forward, the bodyguards stepped in and carried them out.

As they were dragged away, another wave of subtitles appeared.

[Wait, what's going on? Is the wicked stepmother actually planning to raise the heroine?]

[But what about the male lead? The heroine was supposed to meet him after being sold off to a remote village!]

[Maybe the stepmother is plotting to sell her later. Let's wait and see.]