Chapter 4

Brian's voice was both angry and cruel. Calliope's eyes widened in fear, a terror from deep within her memories.

Unable to control herself, Calliope instinctively took two steps back, wanting to bolt, but she accidentally kicked an empty beer bottle. Crap.

Brian shouted, "Who's there?"

Rose quickly said, "It's Calliope! She's got money! She'll help me pay! She's got money!"

The door swung open, and Calliope, with fear written all over her face, turned to run but was quickly blocked.

With no choice, she was forced inside. Her stepdad and mom were being held down, kneeling on the floor, looking pitiful.

Calliope had long been numb to such scenes.

Seeing her, her stepdad Tom Andrew looked hopeful and urgently shouted to the debt collectors, "Get her! She's got money! Her real dad is the famous Jack! She's from the Gray family. Get the money from her, not cutting off my hand! Please!"

Rose chimed in, "Calliope! Didn't you go to your dad for money? Where is it? Give it to him!"

Rose, with heavy makeup now smeared from crying, her hair a mess, and blood at the corner of her mouth, was beside Tom, who was also beaten and bleeding, with a black eye.

Calliope stood there, clutching the blanket around her, and said coldly, "I didn't get it. He wouldn't give it."

"No money? Then you'll lose a hand today!"

Kevin pressed Tom to the ground and raised a knife.

Tom, terrified and trembling, shouted, "No! Please! No! If I lose a hand, I'll kill you today!"

Tom glared at Calliope with a look that could devour her alive.

Rose also panicked, "Calliope, you little bitch! Are you really gonna watch your dad lose a hand? If you can't get the money, what's the point of having you? I should have strangled you at birth!"

Calliope's face was lifeless, her expression numb as she looked at Rose's twisted face.

This was her biological mom and stepdad. One wanted to strangle her, the other wanted to push her into hell. Maybe she really shouldn't have been born into this world.

"No money, what do you want me to give?"

Calliope couldn't help but shout.

This wasn't the first time she'd seen this kind of crap. Her stepdad Tom was a total loser—gambler, drunk, and druggie all rolled into one!

A broke dude living off a woman's prostitution, yet acting like life was a party! What a joke!

"No money? Then figure out a way to get some!"

Kevin looked Calliope up and down, his eyes turning all creepy.

"You're hotter than your mom, and your body's way more tempting! If you go out and become someone's mistress, there will be plenty of people wanting you. If you can mess around with a wealthy man, I might give you a few days' grace."

Calliope shot Kevin a disgusted look, feeling a bit desperate. She instinctively took a few steps back, trying to hide herself.

Rose had been a knockout in her younger days, and Calliope had inherited those good looks. Plus, she had half of Jack's blood, giving her a classy vibe that didn't fit the rundown neighborhood.

Calliope had a killer figure, delicate features, and flawless skin. Her cold and noble demeanor made her look like a rich heiress, if not for the blanket she was wrapped in.

Seeing Kevin's creepy gaze, Calliope pretended to be calm and said with a blank expression, "Cut or chop, do whatever. I have no money. He's just my stepdad; I owe him nothing."

At these words, Tom roared angrily, "Bitch! Slut! Rose, look at the whore you raised! I've taken care of her all these years, and this is the thanks I get!"

"Calliope! You unfilial brat! If I'd known you were so heartless, I would've aborted you!"

Rose wanted to slap her but was held down and couldn't move.

Kevin, seeing Calliope's cold indifference, squinted his creepy eyes, his expression turning nasty and his face darkening.

"No money, huh?"

"None."

Calliope stayed cool, tightening the blanket around her. She actually hoped they'd chop off all of Tom's fingers, or better yet, kill him.

"Fine! Chop off all five fingers!"

"No! Please! No! I have a son! Call my son! He'll save me! He's my real son, not like this little bitch!"

Seeing the knife about to fall on his finger, Tom broke out in a cold sweat and screamed.

Calliope, who had been indifferent, became tense and agitated. She shouted, "No! You can't call David! Are you even a father? You know he has a heart condition! Are you trying to kill him, you bastard!"

She didn't care about anyone else's life, but she cared deeply about her non-blood-related brother, David Andrew. No one was allowed to touch him, no one!

"I'm about to lose a hand, and you think I care about his heart condition? If I die, why should he live? Give me the phone! I need to call my son!"

Tom insisted on calling David, and Kevin and his goons, thinking they had a chance, were happy to hand over the phone.

Still somewhat scared of these guys, Calliope knocked the phone out of Tom's hand, her expression agitated, "Don't call my brother! I'll pay! I'll pay!"

Taking a deep breath, Calliope felt a growing sense of despair. She didn't want to deal with this mess, but when it came to David, her eyes were resolute. He must never know about this!

"You'll pay? Fine, then give me the money!" Kevin extended his hand to her.

The debt collectors surrounded Calliope, all burly men, making her look even smaller. They were aggressive and malicious, but Calliope had no regrets.

Even though she had no money now, she would take on the burden because David was her bottom line, a line no one could cross. If they did, she would fight to the death.