"You can marry her! Pauline Winter screamed. Everyone's attention snapped towards her with an inquisitive gaze.
You can go ahead and marry! Just marry to be your wife" she said persistently, pointing at Scarlet who stood some distance away from them; her voice trembling with fear.
She hoped Boss will consider her offer and let them go. It doesn't matter what happens later, as long as she can be set free, as long as the Boss won't hold her and her family accountable every other things is fine.
Scarlet's breath caught in her throat. "What?!" Her voice coming out in a trembling fury as her head snapped toward Pauline, her eyes widening in horror.
She dare not believe she heard her mother's voice suggest such thing.
The room went eerily silent for a second before the leader chuckled, his amusement sending chills down Scarlet's spine. He tilted his head, considering the offer while looking at her intently taking note of what use she might be for him.
"What did you just say?"Scarlet asked, finding her voice, her heart writhing in pain and anger. She can't believe it, she wished she heard it wrongly.
But then it is clear as day, she is the scapegoat. She is the one who can be sacrificed for the good all other person. She is meant to always bear the burden of this pathetic home. A mocking laugh escaping her lips. "Of what profit does she gain for making them her family for holding onto hope that they will change.
"They have always been parasitic in nature, always leeching of her sweat and blood. She has to always look up to them to vying for the love, for their acknowledgment but it is now clear, she can never make their heart beat for her", she mused.
"Scarlet, you have to understand the situation and help your parents", Pauline said, her face stained with tears.
"I know you are a good girl and wouldn't want to see your parents suffer humiliation and still lose their life when you can just solve it". She said holding her gaze.
Her father, seeing the flicker of interest in the man's eyes, quickly nodded. "Yes," he added, his tone more determined. "She's young, healthy… She'll be of use to you."
Scarlet's heart skipped a beat. She could feel the pressure building, the walls closing in. She had nothing left, her parents (no her adoptive parents are ready to sacrifice her for their greater good. It's unbelievable. She prayed silently that it wouldn't come to that, that the man will not take the bait or accept their terms.
The leader slowly stood up, walking step by step towards her while toying with a cigarette between his fingers while she continuously steps back. Her heart beating against her rib cage threatening to find its way out. Scarlet has never felt life so miserable until at this moment. "Sir, please I ...I ..", she tried to speak but voice could barely obey her.
Her body shivered and shut her eyes as the man lifted his hand filled with gold and silver rings to touch her cheek. She felt fear, pain, nauseous and disgust as the calloused hand slowly wiped the tears streaming down her face.
"Beauty, there is no need to cry", the man said in a calm tone.
Mr Winters, are you saying I can take her as my wife?", his voice boomed. Pauline, Scarlet's adoptive mother, trembled beside her husband. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her dress, her eyes darting between the loan sharks and Scarlet, she has noticed how his eyes had rested on her since she came in. It is clear, he is only looking for the confirmation to what she has said. "Why will she have to renounce her words when it is for the best.
A slow, cunning smile crept onto her lips.
"You can marry her, she will make a good wife for you" Pauline said, her voice carrying a desperate eagerness.
Scarlet felt the blood drain from her face. She tried to speak, to protest, but the words lodged in her throat. They were selling her off. Just like that.
The leader turned slowly toward her, his shadow stretching over her, his eyes gleaming with interest as he continuously sized her up. The more he look at her, the more pleased he is.
Scarlet's stomach twisted violently. This can't be happening. Her heart drowning in despair and frustration. She had done everything for them, borne their burden yet she is plotted for the use of debt settlement.
She turned to her adoptive parents, desperation flaring in her voice. "You can't be serious! You're handing me over like some object?!"
Pauline's expression hardened. "Don't be ungrateful, Scarlet," she snapped. "Do you want to see us dead? This is your chance to pay us back for raising you."
Scarlet's chest heaved. " Pay you back? After all I have been through because of you, because of this family?" She never expected that a day will come when she will be sold off in settlement of debt.
The boss looked at her, a calculating coldness in his gaze. He made a quick decision, his voice cutting through the tension. "You come to the marriage registry tomorrow at 8 AM to sign the marriage certificate. And if you try to run, I'll make sure you never see the light of day."
The weight of his words slammed into Scarlet, her heart thudding violently against her chest. She felt her body go numb, her mind racing, desperately searching for a way out.
"You'll do this for the family, Scarlet. It's the only way."
"No, this can't be possible. I am not marrying. Besides I am not your only daughter. What about Ruby?" She shrieked.
"Scarlet, Ruby is our only biological daughter and she had just gotten admitted, her future will be on the line. But you can do it?"
Scarlet didn't listen again to whatever they want to say. It is clearer now. She is adopted, she can be sold, she is strong. All the while it has been all about themselves.
Scarlet felt like a fool, she blamed herself for coming back at the receipt of the message, she blamed for been softhearted.
A surge of defiance bubbled inside her, but it was quickly crushed by the threat looming over her. Her hands trembled, and she clenched them into fists, her breath shallow.
The boss, seeing her hesitation, leaned closer, his expression hardening. "Don't make me repeat myself. You'll be there, or I'll make your life a living hell."
A cold shiver ran down Scarlet's spine, and she fought to steady her breathing. "You can't do this," she whispered, but her voice wavered, lacking the strength she so desperately needed.
The man's lips curled into a cruel smile. "You'll find out that I can. If you value your life at all, you'll show up tomorrow or you can dare me."
She felt her legs weaken beneath her, her body drained of all energy. Her adoptive parents, who had always used her, had now pushed her into a corner where there was no way out.
The men looked at the family once again. "You better keep the promise, otherwise should you fail it then I will be back and believe me that is the end." His voice like a harbinger of death.
Slowly the filed out of the house, Scarlet followed them out to the sitting room, she has to leave but her dream shattered at their word. Life is nothing to them.
She crouched down in the living room, her hands covering her face as sobs wracked her body. The weight of her reality pressed down on her chest, choking her. Her adoptive parents stood a few feet away, each one with a look of frustration and impatience on their faces, but also a sense of determination.
"Scarlet, stop crying," her adoptive father's voice was stern, yet there was a hint of desperation behind it. "This is the only way out of this mess."
She couldn't bear to look at them, her heart broken by the coldness they displayed. She had always been their cash cow, the one to clean up their mess, but this was too much.
Her mother, Pauline, walked over to her, kneeling down in front of her. "We don't want to force you into this, but you know how serious things are. The debts, the loan sharks—they won't stop until they get what's owed to them."
Tears streamed down Scarlet's face, her chest heaving with the weight of it all. "Am I the debt you owe? Why must it always be me sacrificing?" she sobbed.
Pauline averted her gaze, there is no regret or empathy in her eyes. Given the same situation again, she will still make the same choices.
Pauline sighed heavily, You know you have your potentials. The boss must have seen something in you to make him willing to have you as wife.
Her adoptive father, who had been standing off to the side, stepped forward. His expression was unreadable, but his tone was calm, almost too calm. "Listen, Scarlet. We've been through this. The unpaid loans, the threats—we can't keep running. You're the one who can fix this, and this marriage, though it may not seem like it, is the best option we have."
"Isn't that your gambling debt? I have been paying for it in years and finally you have decided to sell me off for it. It's okay, I believe the next debt you will owe you might sell your wife or your daughter off because there will be no adopted daughter to sell. "
She made a decision, no more shedding of the tears, she slowly stood up, picked her bag. "I am marrying tomorrow, I need to rest to be in my best form. But your actions today, you will regret", she said with coldness.
Pauline, her husband and Ruby glanced at each other as fear and trepidation took root but Pauline believing Scarlet to be soft hearted dismissed it. "Scarlet, we are still family. You only temporarily marrying out."