Chapter 3

Miles Hamilton had just lain down in bed and hadn't had a chance to close her eyes when she heard a loud thud from the next room, like someone had fallen. Her heart tightened, and she quickly ran out, pounding on Samuel Coleman's door, "Uncle! What's wrong with you? Open up!"The front door was unlocked, and Miles Hamilton twisted it open with a gentle flick. The room was in disarray, with wine bottles scattered across the floor. Samuel Coleman lay sprawled on the ground, bloodied at the forehead, his pair of crimson eyes fixed on her, their intensity making her skin crawl.“Uncle, are you okay? I’ll help you up.” Miles Hamilton suppressed the fear in his heart, carefully avoiding the wine bottles on the ground, reaching out to help him.Samuel Coleman suddenly raised his hand, grabbed her wrist with surprising force, and violently threw her onto the hard wooden bed. Miles Hamilton groaned in pain, just as he tried to struggle up, Samuel Coleman's bulky body pressed down on him, the strong smell of alcohol hitting his face, causing his stomach to churn.“Miles, Uncle has raised you for so many years, shouldn't you repay Uncle?” Samuel Coleman’s hands weren't still on her, his tone ambiguous and disgusting.Miles Hamilton instantly understood his intentions, fear washed over her like a tide, she struggled desperately, her voice trembling with tears: “Uncle, don’t do this! I’m Miles! Let me go!”Samuel Coleman remained unfazed, still pressing her down firmly, his hand already reaching her waistband. Miles Hamilton despaired, glancing around, his gaze landing on the ashtray on the bedside table. She used every ounce of her strength, reached out and grabbed the ashtray, and swung it hard at Samuel Coleman's forehead.With a loud crack, blood gushed out instantly, flowing down Samuel Coleman's forehead and dripping onto Miles Hamilton's collarbone, spreading a dazzling red stain.Samuel Coleman froze, staring at Miles Hamilton in disbelief, pointing at her, unable to form a complete sentence: "You... you dare hit me?"Miles Hamilton trembled all over, taking advantage of his dazed moment, he pushed him away, didn't even have time to put on his shoes, and ran out of the room barefoot. She didn't dare to look back, desperately running in the pitch-black night, tears blurring her vision, humiliation and fear pricked at her heart like needles.The uncle she respected for five years, relied on for five years, the one she thought was family, actually did such despicable things to her. Reed was still lying in the hospital, and Uncle Bai treated her like this again; her world completely collapsed.After running for an unknown amount of time, Miles Hamilton finally couldn't keep going. She leaned against the wall, panting heavily, her clothes still stained with patches of blood, her bare feet raw from the stones. She found a small embankment by the roadside to sit down, hugging her knees, burying her head in her arms, and crying silently.She missed Reid so much, missed his gentle smile, missed the way he protected her. If Reid were awake, he would never let her suffer such injustice, he would never let her face all this alone. But now, she had nothing left, only endless despair.The evening wind grew colder, chilling her to the bone, and just as she was about to get up and find a place to rest temporarily, a cold, large hand suddenly grabbed her neck, followed by a square cloth soaked in a drug being pressed over her nose and lips.A pungent smell filled her nostrils, and Miles Hamilton's consciousness gradually blurred. She struggled desperately, but felt powerless, and eventually her vision blacked out, losing consciousness completely.The night was thick as syrup, two black-clad men placing the unconscious Miles Hamilton into a large burlap sack, carrying the sack, and quickly disappearing into the darkness, leaving not a trace.In the alley, Samuel Coleman pressed his bleeding forehead with his hand, slowly climbing to his feet, his eyes fierce and terrifying. "Bitch, you actually dared to hit me, just wait and see!" He spat, turned towards the highway, flagged down a taxi, and went to the clinic to get his wound bandaged.Samuel Coleman bandaged the wound and touched the bank card in his pocket, a greedy smile appearing on his face. There was still $500,000 in the card, enough for him to splurge for a few days. He looked at the distant luxurious club, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes—since Miles Hamilton had already fled, why not sell her to the debt collectors? It could settle the debt and even make some profit. As for Miles Hamilton's life or death, what did it have to do with him?Samuel Coleman hummed a tune, walking toward the clubhouse, completely unaware that his actions would push Miles Hamilton into an even more terrible abyss.Miles Hamilton didn't know how long she had slept when she woke up, feeling weak all over and with a headache that threatened to burst. She opened her eyes to find herself locked in a small, damp room with no windows, only a dim, yellow light overhead that barely illuminated the space.There were about five or six girls in the room, her age, all huddled in the corner, with vacant expressions and empty eyes, as if their souls had been drained away. Miles Hamilton leaned against the wall, slowly stood up, walked to them, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Where are we? Why are we here?"No one answered her, only an eerie silence. The girls still kept their heads down, staring blankly at the ground, as if they hadn't heard her.Miles Hamilton's heart sank bit by bit as she looked at this closed room, at those listless girls, a strong sense of unease rising in her. She didn't know who had grabbed her, didn't know where she was, and even more so, didn't know what terrible fate she would face next.She found a corner, curling up to sit, her hands clutching her knees, her eyes filled with despair. Reid, what should I do? Who can save me?