Chapter 2 Sold

Adriana's POV

After a long, refreshing shower, I threw on a pair of soft lavender athletic shorts and a matching crop top. Feeling clean and relaxed, I sank into the couch, joining my mom and brother for a casual chat.

"So, when are you finally going to face me in tennis, slowpoke?" Dylan teased with a grin.

"Whenever you're ready to lose," I fired back, smirking.

"Ha ha," he laughed. "I'm not going to lose. I'm going to kick your a-"

He was cut off by my mom's warning tone.

"Dylan Alexander Hayes," my mom said firmly. "That sentence better end in 'butt.'"

"It was," he said quickly, then continued, "Anyway, you ready to lose?"

"Pssh," I giggled. "I'm ready to kick some... booty."

"That's my girl," my mom smirked.

Dylan and I grabbed rackets from the gym and walked outside to our tennis court. My mom grabbed a bag of tennis balls from the garage and handed them to us with a smile.

"Alright, let's do this!" Dylan yelled, serving the ball at me.

Luckily, I managed to return it and with a solid hit. The ball bounced back and forth for a bit before Dylan sent it flying out of bounds.

"Nooo," he groaned dramatically.

"Fifteen to zero!" my mom called from her chair on the patio. "Or fifteen–love." Dylan and I played three full matches of tennis. Sadly, I only won the first one.

"I'm the winner!" Dylan chanted proudly. He'd been repeating it for the past ten minutes, and I was seriously starting to get annoyed.

As we walked onto the patio, I grabbed a tennis ball and tossed it at the back of his head. "

"Really?" he frowned, then grabbed Mom's lemonade and took a long drink.

"I was drinking that," my mom frowned.

"Sorry, Mama," Dylan apologized, rubbing the back of his head.

I poured myself a glass of lemonade, only for Dylan to snatch it right out of my hand.

"Thanks, sis," he smirked, dropping into one of the patio chairs.

"You're welcome," I muttered under my breath as

I poured another glass. I sat down beside him, taking a small sip just as my mom started to speak.

"So, how was col-" she started, but she was cut off by the sound of the sliding door opening. My dad stepped out onto the patio.

"Dad!" I shouted, jumping up to hug him.

But the second I wrapped my arms around him, I knew something was off. He didn't hug me back. I stepped away and looked up at him. His eyes were glassy, filled with unshed tears, and guilt weighed heavy on his face.

"What's wrong, Dad?" Dylan asked cautiously. My mom stood up, her voice tight with concern. "What's going on, William?"

"I-I'm so sorry, Adriana," my dad choked out, his voice breaking.

"What happened?" I asked, my chest tightening.

He looked at me, tears spilling down his cheeks.

"I-I sold you," he said, barely above a whisper.

"You did what?!" I shouted, my voice rising with disbelief and panic.