Chapter 3

Maya's POV

I stopped arguing. There was no point—my parents had always favored Fiona.

When I was five, I had a high fever and nearly passed out. My parents rushed me to the ER, but the moment Fiona complained about a stomachache, they abandoned me to fuss over her. I lay alone getting an IV while even the nurses felt sorry for me.

On my tenth birthday, I wished for my parents to celebrate with me just once. But Fiona wanted to go to an amusement park, so the whole family happily left me at home to make a wish over my birthday cake alone.

My entire life, no matter how hard I worked or how well I did, I could never measure up to a single hair on Fiona's head.

Fine. I told myself. At least I had a job now.

My degree wasn't impressive—just a state school graduate. But I'd never stopped learning. I spent every night in the library until closing, teaching myself programming and algorithm design.

I'd developed a revolutionary data compression algorithm that was 300% more efficient than traditional methods. This breakthrough impressed the NeoTech interviewers enough to get me through their grueling selection process.

My future would get better. Even without their love.

The next morning, as I packed to move closer to the office, my door burst open.

Dad, Mom, and Fiona stormed in.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Dad's face turned purple seeing my suitcase.

"You're moving out?" Mom's voice was sharp as a blade. "After everything we've done for you?"

"Yes." I took a deep breath and kept folding clothes. "NeoTech is downtown. It's more convenient living closer to work."

"Bullshit!" Dad exploded. "We raised you for twenty-four years and you think you can just waltz out the second you get a job?"

"I'm not—"

"You selfish little brat!" Mom cut me off. "We fed you, clothed you, put a roof over your head! Now you think you're too good for this family?"

Fiona stepped forward, playing victim. "Maya, honey, are you still mad about the engagement party? I know you were upset, but we're sisters..."

"This has nothing to do with you." I said wearily.

"Want independence? Fine." Dad sneered. "But there's a condition."

Dread filled my stomach.

"Hand over that algorithm of yours."

The clothes slipped from my hands. "What?"

"Cut the crap!" Mom snapped. "You think we don't know about your little tech project? Brian told us everything!"

Fiona smiled sweetly. "Brian's company has connections all over Silicon Valley. He says your algorithm is worth serious money—you could patent it!"

My heart sank.

"I developed that myself—"

"In OUR house!" Dad slammed the table. "Using OUR electricity! OUR internet! Everything WE provided! What makes you think it's yours?"

"Fiona needs tech assets as her dowry to secure her position with the Ashfords," Mom's voice turned cold. "Your algorithm is perfect."

"Have you lost your MINDS?" I backed away in disbelief. "That's three years of my life!"

"So what?" Fiona shrugged. "Maya, don't be selfish. I'm marrying into wealth—I need some capital. Help me out and I won't forget it."

"Exactly! You're sisters—you should support each other."

Dad threw a contract at me. "Quit stalling. Sign it."

Looking at the contract, I felt bone-deep cold. They'd planned this all along.

"I won't sign!"

"Then you're not leaving this house!"

"You can't do this!"

SLAP!

Dad's hand cracked across my face, nearly knocking me over.

"Still talking back?" He sneered. "Bob! Marcus! Get in here!"

The two huge security guards walked in—the same ones who'd grabbed me at the engagement party.

"No, no, no..." I backed away.

"Hold her down," Dad ordered.

The guards seized my arms and forced me into a chair.

"Let me GO! LET ME GO!" I fought desperately.

"Sign it." Dad shoved the contract in front of me.

"Go to HELL!"

CRACK! Bob's hand struck my face so hard my ears rang.

"Watch your mouth, little girl."

"I said SIGN!" Dad roared.

I shook my head, blood trickling from my lip.

SLAP! SLAP!

Two more hits left my face swollen like a balloon.

"Maya, sweetie," Fiona crouched down, fake-gently wiping blood from my cheek. "Why torture yourself like this? It's just a signature—it won't kill you."

"NEVER!" I spat blood.

Marcus grabbed my hair and yanked my head back. "Tough girl, huh?"

Then his fist slammed into my stomach. I doubled over, gasping for air.

"Still won't sign?"

Another punch. I curled up in the chair, writhing in agony.

"Stop! PLEASE STOP!" I sobbed, begging, but still shook my head.

That algorithm was my lifeline, my only hope. I'd never give it up.

Seeing violence wasn't working, Fiona suddenly pulled out her phone.

"Hello, is this St. Mary's Boarding School? I'd like to ask about Sister Catherine..."

I went cold.

Sister Catherine—the only person who'd ever been kind to me at boarding school. In that cold, heartless place, she was the only one who cared for me when I was sick, comforted me when classmates bullied me.

She was the only warmth in my life.

"Maya," Fiona hung up, eyes gleaming with triumph. "You know Sister Catherine's kidney failure is terminal, right? The doctors say without a donor, she has maybe two months left."

My heart pounded.

"What are you planning?"

"I already found her a donor," Fiona said casually. "If you transfer that patent to me, I'll save her immediately. If not..."

She shrugged. The message was crystal clear.

My legs went weak. Sister Catherine wasn't just a teacher—she was like a mother. If I lost her...

"You CAN'T do this!" I trembled.

"Oh, but we can." Mom smirked. "Maya, are you signing or not?"

I stared at the contract, hands shaking.

Sister Catherine's smiling face flashed in my mind. She always said, "Maya, you're a good child. God doesn't abandon the kind-hearted."

But where was God? Why did good people always suffer? Why was my family so cruel to me?

I laughed bitterly and slowly reached for the pen.

"Good girl," Dad nodded approvingly.

I signed my name on the contract.

"Perfect!" Fiona excitedly grabbed the contract. "Don't worry, Maya. I'll save Sister Catherine. I keep my promises."

They left happily, leaving me alone on my knees. I dug my nails into the floor until they bled, but I couldn't feel the pain.

They wanted everything from me? Wanted me to surrender completely?

Over my dead body.