I pursed my lips. Seeing her resentful expression, I felt complicated, not knowing how to console her. Yet, it didn’t seem like she needed my consolation either.
After a while, I spoke up, “I totally understand how you feel, and I empathize with you, but this is just your side of the story. Besides, I shouldn’t stir up trouble in this place.”
Hearing that, she sneered, “Whatever! I know it’s just your excuse. It’s fine if you’re unwilling to help me out, but I will never marry him. I am the master of my fate; no one gets to decide my future for me.”
It was late already, and my phone almost ran out of battery. I left the cowshed, with Amy following suit as she locked it.
After hesitating for a while, I asked, “Isn’t there anything to eat at home? Why didn’t you prepare some food for your sister?”
The little girl replied, “Nope, there’s nothing to eat. We don’t even have leftovers if my mom doesn’t prepare food for Ann, so she could only starve.”
Back in the room, I couldn’t seem to sleep.
Ann’s words kept playing in my mind. No wonder Brandon was so familiar with this village. It turned out that it was not his first time visiting this place. I wondered how many children had died at this man’s hand.
That night, I didn’t manage to sleep well. At dawn, when I almost drifted off to sleep, I was awakened by the sound of people quarreling noisily from outside.
Ronald and the children were not in the house. After getting out of bed, I smoothed out my clothes and saw that wet shoes were dried by the fireplace. Just then, Amy came rushing in with her tear-stricken face. She dragged me out of the house though I was still putting on my shoes. “Ms. Stovall, please save my sister. She’s almost beaten to death by my mom.”
In my daze, I followed Amy out to find Ann sprawling on the ground outside the cowshed. The cow dung soiled her shabby clothes. The poor young lady was rolling over the ground as her mother hit her with an iron rod. Since it rained yesterday, there were blackish water puddles of rainwater mixed with coal all over the ground. It seemed like Ann was injured; her already scruffy clothes were smeared with blood.
“You’re a burden to the family! It’s a waste of food to feed you. You should be grateful when we let you live until now. How dare you injure your brother! I’ll beat you to death! That will teach you a lesson!” The woman, who behaved meek and submissive yesterday, unhesitatingly struck her daughter with the iron rod.
Amy was pleading with me earnestly, and it was heartbreaking to see Ann whimpering in pain. I wanted to stop that woman, yet Boris halted me. He slightly shook his head at me, signaling me not to stir up trouble for myself.
Ann was in a terrible condition, yet Ronald, the man who was supposed to be here to stop his wife, was nowhere to be seen. I crouched down before Amy and asked, “Amy, tell me what happened? Where is your father?”
The latter was crying her heart out seeing her sister being beaten up. “Ann injured my brother. My dad just sent him to the hospital. My mom said she is going to kill Ann if anything happens to my brother. Ms. Stovall, please save her!” she choked out.
At that moment, I was stumped, for it was not my place to meddle in the siblings’ conflict. Fortunately, that woman grew tired of beating Ann. Pointing at the young lady, she scolded, “If you weren’t worth some money. I would’ve beaten you to death. Don’t you ever try to run away from the village! If anyone dares help you escape, I will chop them with a cleaver. I have accepted the dowry from the Leeroy family, so you have no choice but to marry their son!”
Ann glared at her mother, her eyes full of hatred and hostility. “I won’t let you ruin my life! I’d rather die than marry that retard! And also, I never regret injuring your son because he deserves it! He has always bullied me. I won’t let you use the dowry for his university fees. He is nothing but a useless prick, and he will never succeed in life! I’ll wait and see you guys rot in this slum!”
“You little b*tch!” the woman cursed. “How dare you curse my son! Do you really think you could change your fate just because you’ve received an education? Dream on! You only deserve to be someone else’s maid. I know you’re very ambitious, but don’t you ever dream of abandoning us for the city! And you even dare to curse my son! Hmph! I will make sure you live a miserable life!”
I was at a loss seeing how the mother was swearing like a trooper at her daughter. Despite having blood ties, the two were at daggers drawn. That woman was treating her daughter like her enemy.
I thought every parent would love their children and wish for the best for them. Yet, this woman in front of me didn’t even deserve to be a mother.
