Chapter 1

To buy a New Year's gift for my brother, I took a part-time job, only to be drugged on my way home.

When I woke up, I was a bride-to-be.

The traffickers, to prevent me from crying for help, lied to the buyers that I had severe mania and had to wear a hood and a gag until the wedding night.

Locked in the room, I fell into despair, until my simple-minded "husband" secretly snuck in.

The moment our eyes met, we both froze.

When I woke up, the world was pitch black.

A thick black hood was pulled tightly over my head, and my mouth was stuffed with a rag.

The sedative hadn't fully worn off. My mind felt fuzzy, and all I could hear was haggling coming from outside the door.

"My girl here, she's got some issues in the head, bites sometimes, but she's strong, healthy. $30,000, not a penny less!"

That was Sheila, the trafficker who'd kidnapped me, a middle-aged woman with yellow teeth, now pretending to be my "mother."

Then, a submissive, flattering voice spoke up:

"Alright! As long as you don't mind our son, Milo, is a bit simple, $30,000 it is! We'll pay it!"

I was stunned.

The one buying a bride was my mom?!

"Mmph! Mmph!"

I struggled like a madwoman, the iron bed clanging loudly against the wall.

Mom!

Don't give her the money!

It's me, Chloe!

I'm right here!

I'm in the next room!

"Hear that? The crazy girl's acting up again!"

Sheila lowered her voice.

Despair washed over me like a tidal wave.

"$30,000. Perfect. So, it's a done deal then."

Sheila's tone was light, clearly happy the money was in her hand.

"Alright, money's settled. I'll head into town to get some supplies. My woman will stay here with the kid. First thing tomorrow, we get them married!"

"Sounds good, sounds good! I'll see you out!"

Footsteps faded.

I slumped onto the bed, my fingernails digging into the sheets. The despair in my heart was thick, suffocating.

They left.

They sold me off like a piece of livestock... to my own parents.

I don't know how long passed, but the door creaked open a crack.

A goofy laugh floated in.

"Hehe... Wife... My wife..."

My body went rigid.

It was my simple-minded brother, Milo.