The 12-Year Debt Paid in Full

I was feeding his prize-winning hound when the livestream of his engagement party reached its crescendo.

The bride was radiant. In the comments, someone jokingly asked where I was.

Ashley, what happened to that little shadow of yours? The one who swore shed never marry anyone but you?

Ashley Hawthorne let out a short, cold laugh, flicking the ash from his cigarette with careless grace.

Dont bring up that mute. Shes bad luck.

She has no pride. Even if I threw her out, shed come crawling back on her knees, begging for me.

The partygoers erupted in laughter. On the other side of the screen, I gently set down the bag of dog food.

He was so sure of himself.

So sure I would forever be the dog he could summon and dismiss with a wave of his hand.

I closed the livestream, unclasped the collar from around my neckthe one engraved with his nameand threw it in the trash.

My debt for the last twelve years had been paid with my life.

From now on, we were through. I was done serving him.

I had just dragged the battered suitcase Id used for twelve years to the foyer when the front door was shoved open with brutal force.

Mrs. Hawthorne swept in, wrapped in a thick fur coat, her sharp-faced housekeeper trailing behind her.

Her eyes landed on the suitcase in my hand, and her face instantly hardened into a mask of contempt.

There were no questions, no attempt to make me stay.

Only suspicion and disgust.

Stop right there.

Mrs. Hawthorne approached, looking me up and down as if inspecting a potential criminal.

You want to leave? Fine. Open the suitcase.

The Hawthorne family has housed you for twelve years. Who knows if youve developed sticky fingers? We cant have you stealing from us.

I froze, my fingers digging into the handle of the suitcase.

I signed, Its just my old clothes. Theres nothing of yours in here.

Stop with those ridiculous hand signals! Theyre infuriating to look at! Mrs. Hawthorne waved a dismissive hand. Housekeeper, search it! Search every inch!

The housekeeper, practically vibrating with anticipation, lunged forward and snatched the suitcase from my grasp. She flipped it over, dumping its contents onto the marble floor.

A few faded sweaters, two pairs of worn-out canvas shoes, and a handful of old books on sound design.

It was a pathetic, laughable collection.

Mrs. Hawthorne prodded the pile of clothes with the toe of her designer heel. Suddenly, her gaze locked onto something in the corner.

It was an old pocket watch, its cover worn smooth with age. It was the only thing my father had left me.

I knew it. A little thief.

She sneered, her stiletto heel coming down hard on the watch.

A sharp crack echoed through the cavernous hall.

I scrambled forward, a desperate cry trapped in my throat, trying to push her away.

That was my fathers!

That was my life!

The housekeeper was faster. She grabbed a fistful of my hair and slammed my head against the floor. I opened my mouth in a silent scream, hot tears blurring my vision.

Mrs. Hawthorne ground the watch under her heel, twisting her foot until it was nothing but a mangled piece of scrap metal.

It belonged to a Hawthorne family driver, which makes it Hawthorne family property, she said, her voice dripping with scorn as she looked down at me. You eat our food, you live under our roof. The very breath in your lungs is a gift from us. Without my permission, you cant even take a speck of dust from this house.

She bent down and yanked at the slightly thicker coat I was wearing.

I bought this, too. Take it off.

I refused, clutching the collar. It was the middle of winter, a blizzard raging outside with temperatures well below freezing. Without this coat, I would die.

Youre determined to do this the hard way.

She slapped me, a vicious backhand that sent my head snapping to the side. The taste of blood filled my mouth.

Strip it off her!

The housekeeper and two maids descended on me, forcibly tearing the coat from my body. Dressed in nothing but a thin, worn sweater, I was dragged to the front door and thrown out.

Get out!

The heavy door slammed shut behind me.

I fell into a snowdrift, the biting cold instantly seeping into my bones. From inside, I could hear the maids fawning laughter and Mrs. Hawthornes curses.

I pushed myself up from the snow. Barefoot, I began to walk away, step by agonizing step. The snow was already past my ankles.

I didnt look back.

I would rather freeze to death on the side of the road than ever return to that hell.

The heat in the villa was cranked high.

Ashley Hawthorne stumbled in, reeking of alcohol, toying with a lighter Sophia had given him.

Eve, get me some water.

He barked the order out of habit, collapsing onto the sofa.

There was no response.

Only the hollow echo of his own voice.

He frowned, loosening his tie, his voice taking on a raw, irritable edge. Where the hell did you go? Are you deaf, or just playing the part?

The housekeeper scurried over with a glass of honey water, a sycophantic smile plastered on her face.

Mr. Ashley, that little jinx is gone.

Ashley paused, then let out a derisive snort.

Gone?

He sat up, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on the trash can in the corner.

The collar, engraved with his name, lay inside, discarded amongst fruit peels and scrap paper.

It had been his coming-of-age gift to me on my eighteenth birthday.

Wear this, he had said, and youll be my most obedient pet.

Ashley stared at the collar for a moment. Instead of anger, a wider, more amused smile spread across his face. He pulled out his phone and sent a voice message to his group of degenerate friends.

Lets start a pool. How many days until Eve, the little mute, comes crawling back?

Ill bet on five.

Nah, three. Its freezing out there.

The chat filled with laughter and agreement.

Ashley, the little mutes got some nerve this time. Running away from home.

Its just a game. Playing hard to get. Its what women do.

Ashleys voice was laced with absolute certainty.

She cant live without me.

Its like a fish out of water, or a dog without its master.

Put the word out. Anyone in this city who dares to help Eve Dawson is making an enemy of the Hawthorne family. Im going to teach her that without me, she doesnt even have the right to beg on the streets.

At that very moment, I was huddled under the eaves of a 24-hour convenience store, shivering uncontrollably.

It had been two days since Id left the Hawthorne estate.

I had gone to every recording studio where Id ever worked part-time.

No one would hire me.

Just half an hour ago, I had tried the last studio that had ever shown me kindness. The owner was a man in his fifties who had always been decent to me. But when I knocked, he blocked the doorway, his face etched with apology.

Eve, dont blame me, kid. He lowered his voice and pressed a few hundred-dollar bills into my hand. The Hawthornes put the word out. Anyone who hires you loses their business. Ive got a family to feed. Im so sorry.

You need to go, before someone sees you.

The door closed gently in my face.

I stood in the swirling snow, clutching the money, feeling no warmth at all.

No ID, no phone, no place to stay.

Ashley was trying to kill me.

Seven years ago, my grandmother had fallen gravely ill and needed emergency surgery.

I had knelt before Ashley, begging him for a hundred thousand dollars.

It had been snowing just like this.

Ashley and his friends were in the yard, playing darts. He pointed to a tree trunk not far from me and tossed me an apple.

Balance this on your head.

I dont lend money, hed said with a smirk, but I do give it away.

Youre the target, not the apple. For every dart that hits youand you dont flinchIll give you ten thousand.

I was shaking with fear, but I had no choice.

I placed the apple on my head and closed my eyes.

The first dart whizzed past my ear, pinning a lock of my hair to the tree.

His friends cheered.

The second dart sank into my left shoulder.

Agony shot through me, but I bit down so hard I thought my teeth would shatter. I didnt move.

Blood stained the white snow.

That day, I took five darts and earned fifty thousand dollars.

By the time I dragged my broken body to the hospital, a white sheet was already covering my grandmother.

Even half an hour earlier, the doctor said, and we could have saved her.

I stared at the snow-soaked bills in my hand.

A black, venomous hatred began to bloom in my heart.

Ashley Hawthorne, do you really think I would ever come back?

Keep dreaming.

On the third day, a fever took hold of me.

My head was spinning. To escape the wind and snow, I crawled into an abandoned pedestrian underpass. I curled up in a corner, hugging my knees, my consciousness beginning to fade.

Suddenly, a blinding pair of headlights illuminated the entrance.

A black Maybach pulled to a stop.

It was Ashleys car.

The door opened, and Sophia, clinging to Ashleys arm, stepped out.

Ashley, darling, I heard theres a little shop around here with the most amazing chestnut pastries. I want to try them, Sophia cooed, her voice sickeningly sweet.

Of course. Anything for you.

Ashleys voice was indulgent and gentle, a tone I had never heard him use.

As they passed the underpass, Sophia stopped. She had spotted me huddled in the corner.

Oh my goodness, isnt that little Eve? she exclaimed, covering her mouth in mock surprise as she tugged on Ashleys sleeve. Heavens, what is she doing sleeping here? Shell freeze to death in this weather.

Ashley followed her gaze. When he saw my pathetic state, he let out a cold snort, his eyes filled with ridicule.

I knew she wouldnt last long. Look at her, playing the victim, waiting for me to find her.

I didnt want to look at them. I struggled to my feet, wanting to leave, but the fever had left me weak. I stumbled and fell heavily back to the ground.

Sophia let go of Ashley and clicked over to me on her high heels. She knelt, holding out an elegant hand warmer.

Eve, here, take this and get warm. Dont be angry with Ashley anymore.

I turned my head away, refusing to touch anything of hers.

She leaned in close, whispering so only I could hear.

You looked like a bitch in heat, kneeling on the floor for him that night. Whats the matter? No one wants you now, so you have to sleep in a sewer?

Rage burned through me.

I raised my hand to push her away.

But before I could even touch her, Sophia let out a piercing shriek.

Ah!

She threw herself backward, landing hard in the snow. She clutched her stomach, her face draining of all color as tears welled in her eyes.

It hurts Ashley, my stomach, it hurts so much

Sophia!

Ashleys face contorted in panic. He rushed to her side. He didnt even glance at me. He just kicked me, hard, in the shoulder.

I was thrown backward, my back slamming against the rough concrete wall. My head struck a sharp rock.

Blood streamed down from my brow.

Ashley scooped Sophia into his arms, then turned to glare at me.

Eve, youre asking for it! he roared, pointing a trembling finger at me. If anything happens to Sophia, Ill kill you!

I lay on the ground, gasping for air, the taste of blood thick in my throat. I saw Sophia, nestled in his arms, flash me a triumphant smirk.

But Ashley wasnt finished. He handed Sophia over to his driver, who had just arrived, and strode back toward me. He grabbed me by the collar and hauled me to my feet.

Kneel and apologize to her!

I bit my lip, staring at him with defiant eyes.

No.

I did nothing wrong.

I will not kneel.

You wont kneel, is that it?

Ashley sneered and pulled out his phone.

Go to Westwood Cemetery. Dig up the old womans ashes. Since her granddaughter is so stubborn, lets scatter her ashes to the wind. Give her a little encouragement.

My world shrank to a pinpoint.

My grandmother was my last line.

How dare he.

I shook my head wildly, grabbing his wrist, my nails digging into his flesh.

N-no p-please dont! I gasped, forcing out a broken, airy sound.

A cruel, satisfied smile spread across Ashleys face.

Well, well. The mute can speak after all? Or are you just scared now?

Then kneel. And bow your head to the ground until Sophia is satisfied.

He let me go.

I collapsed to the ground like a broken doll.

For my grandmother, I would kneel.

I turned toward Sophia and slammed my forehead against the frozen earth.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

The dull thud of my head hitting the ground echoed through the underpass.

Each impact was the sound of my dignity shattering into a million pieces.

I was dragged back to the Hawthorne villa.