Chapter 2 2

Alysa sat at the dining table, her face pale and drawn. She barely touched her breakfast.

The rice on her plate had gone cold, and the spoon in her hand moved absently from right to left, without purpose.

Across the table, Raisa watched her with a faint, knowing smile.

> "Didn't sleep all night, did you?"

Alysa stayed silent. She lowered her head, hiding her swollen eyes.

> "Don't ignore me, Alysa. I'm talking to you," Raisa said again, her tone light yet laced with quiet menace.

Slowly, Alysa lifted her gaze. "What more do you want from me? You've already forbidden me from seeing Kenan."

Raisa took a slow sip of her coffee, then set the porcelain cup down with a soft clink.

> "That prohibition isn't nearly enough to pay for your father's treatment," she said calmly.

"Do you think the hospital bills disappear just because you cried all night?"

Alysa looked at her with barely contained hatred.

> "I'll work. I can earn my own money. I'll-"

> "Work?" Raisa interrupted with a cold laugh.

"You haven't even graduated college, Alysa. Who would hire an inexperienced girl like you? The world isn't as kind as your little love story with Kenan."

Alysa bit her lip. "At least I wouldn't sell myself."

Raisa's smile faded. She leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowing.

> "Sell yourself? You're mistaken."

"I'm only offering you a chance to save your father."

> "A chance?" Alysa straightened in her seat. "What do you mean?"

Raisa reached into her handbag, pulled out a brown envelope, and tossed it onto the table.

Several sheets of paper spilled out-hospital bills, treatment breakdowns, and a final warning notice.

> "Look at them," she said flatly.

"If I don't pay 350 million today, your father will be discharged from his room. You know what that means, don't you?"

Alysa's hands trembled as she stared at the papers.

> "T-that's impossible..."

> "Every number there is real, dear." Raisa's voice softened, but her face remained cold.

"But don't worry, I've already found a solution. A certain man from the southern city-a respectable one-is very interested in you."

Alysa blinked in confusion. "Interested... in me?"

> "Yes," Raisa replied with a faint smile.

"Mr. Harlan. The owner of the largest hotel chain in the south. He's willing to pay one hundred billion... for one night with you."

The world seemed to stop spinning.

Alysa stared at her stepmother, disbelief freezing her in place.

> "Mother... what did you just say?"

> "You heard me clearly." Raisa leaned forward, her eyes gleaming.

"One night. Just one. After that, your father can continue his treatment. You'll have money, and I'll finally be free of this burden."

> "NO!" Alysa shouted, standing so abruptly her chair crashed backward.

"You're insane! I'm not something to be sold!"

Raisa rose too, her face twisting with irritation.

> "Watch your tone, Alysa. This isn't about your pride-it's about your father's life. Do you think I'd do this if I wasn't forced to?"

Alysa slammed her trembling hand on the table.

> "No! You're not forced-you're greedy! You want that money for yourself!"

A sharp slap cracked across Alysa's cheek.

The sound echoed through the room, leaving a heavy silence behind.

Alysa clutched her stinging face, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

> "Don't you ever talk to me like that again!" Raisa snapped.

"I've carried this family since your father became useless! If it weren't for me, you'd be living on the streets!"

> "If you truly had a heart," Alysa said quietly but firmly, "you wouldn't sell your husband's daughter."

Raisa glared at her, eyes blazing with pure hatred.

> "I don't have a choice. And neither do you."

"There are only two options, Alysa-one night, or your father's death."

Alysa froze, her lips trembling.

> "You... you wouldn't dare..."

> "I would, if it means saving myself." Raisa's voice was cold as steel.

"Think carefully. You have until tonight. If you refuse, I'll call the hospital and stop every bit of your father's treatment."

The door slammed behind her, leaving Alysa in suffocating silence.

---

By evening, the sky burned red-like it was bleeding.

Alysa sat on her bedroom floor, staring blankly out the window.

Kenan had called over and over, but she hadn't answered once.

Her phone buzzed again on the bed, then went silent, then buzzed once more.

> "Kenan..." she whispered through her tears.

"I'm sorry..."

She opened her drawer and took out a small silver ring-Kenan's gift on her twentieth birthday.

It had once symbolized his promise: "I'll always protect you."

Now, that promise felt like a wound.

A loud knock shattered the quiet.

> "Alysa!" Raisa's voice came from outside.

"Have you made your decision?"

Alysa didn't reply. She just stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Her face looked unfamiliar-her eyes swollen, her lips pale.

> "I've prepared the car. The man is waiting for you at the hotel tonight," Raisa continued.

"If you're not out in ten minutes, I'll take it as your choice to let your father die."

Alysa covered her face with both hands.

> "God... what should I do?"

She looked at the ring resting in her palm once more.

Kenan's face flashed in her mind-his smile, his voice, his warm eyes.

> "Kenan, if I could choose... I'd rather die than hurt you," she whispered through quiet sobs.

"But Dad... I can't lose him..."

Her cries broke the silence. She hugged her knees tightly, her whole body trembling.

Outside, the rain began to pour heavily-as if the sky itself wept for her fate.

After a long moment, she stood.

Her steps were weak, but steady. She looked into the mirror one last time.

> "I'll do it," she whispered.

"For Father."

She wiped her tears away and slipped into the dress Raisa had chosen for her-far too elegant for someone as innocent as her.

The dark crimson fabric clung to her like sin, gleaming under the faint light like spilled blood.

When she stepped out, Raisa stood at the foot of the stairs, smiling in satisfaction.

> "Good. You've finally decided to be reasonable," she said coolly.

Alysa said nothing.

She walked down the stairs slowly, each step feeling like a descent into hell.

> "Remember," Raisa said before the car door closed,

"Just one night. After that, everything will be over."

Alysa gazed out the car window as it began to move.

The rain grew heavier. Lightning flashed, illuminating her reflection in the glass-a young woman who had just sold herself for love she could no longer keep.

And in her heart, a single sentence echoed again and again:

> Love and sacrifice will never walk hand in hand.