Escaping from the Devilish Family

My brother Cade dragged me, drugged, to be handed over to his creditor. "Jessie, just sleep with my creditor, and neither of us has to die."

I screamed for help but was ravaged until I died.

In my second life, I used my last bit of strength to swing a wine bottle at Cade's head.

I swore to strike again and again, to seize control of his fate.

1

I worked a summer job in the hotel's kitchen when my phone pinged relentlessly.

"Jessie, come home quick. Mom's dying."

Cade's voice jolted me awake.

In my past life, I got this call, dropped the knife I was using to butcher pigeons, and rushed home to check on her.

I never doubted it. Madison, who beat me with a belt through the night, had a tough spirit.

How could she be dying so suddenly?

When I pushed open the door, I saw Madison and Cade crouched on the floor, staring at me blankly.

Thugs loomed behind me, chuckling darkly. "Cade, this is the girl you're offering to clear your fifty-grand debt?"

That's when I realized Cade owed fifty thousand dollars, and the creditors had come knocking.

Madison and Cade schemed to use me to settle it.

In my past life, by the time I tried to run, it was too late.

They stripped me, forced me into a nude loan scam.

That led to me being dragged to a karaoke bar, where I met my grim end.

In this life, my hand shook as I held the phone, tears spilling over.

My voice trembled as I replied, "Cade, hang on, I'm coming home."

In my past life, I was too naive and died by Cade's hand.

In this life, I vowed to find a way to survive, again and again. Even if I died, I'd drag him down with me.

2

I set the phone down and made instant noodles in the kitchen, eating them hot.

As darkness fell, I ignored the phone's constant ringing.

I calculated the time. From one in the afternoon to six in the evening, it felt right. Then I took a bus back to our rural home in Juniper Falls.

When I pushed open the door, Cade and Madison cowered under the dining table, shivering and glaring at me.

I could tell the creditors had roughed them up, leaving them exhausted.

"You little brat, it's barely ten miles, and it took you half a day to get here? My legs are numb from squatting," Cade snapped.

He crawled out from under the table, emboldened by my arrival.

Madison helped him up, shooting a glance at someone behind the door. "Jessie, get in here. We've got big things to discuss."

I hurried inside, meekly supporting Madison, pretending I didn't hear the footsteps behind the door.

Two burly thugs swaggered in, circling me with the same sinister grins. "Cade, this is the girl worth fifty grand to settle your debt?"

"Exactly. Do whatever you want with her, just get the money. Don't hurt my son," Madison cut in.

I stared at Madison, unfazed, and feigned confusion. "Madison, who are these guys? I don't know them. What are you talking about? Are you talking about me or… Leah?"

I pointed, and Madison and Cade's faces went pale.

Another person had followed me in—Leah.

She was the best catch Cade could ever hope for, a city girl with two properties, stunning looks, and long legs.

Madison and Cade had spent their lives fawning over her.

They groveled for a year, rubbing her shoulders, massaging her legs, waiting for her to agree to marry Cade in October.

Rumor had it she didn't care about Cade's lack of money, only his attentive, reliable character.

With the wedding so close, they couldn't let her see the family's dirty laundry.

I played dumb, grabbed Leah's hand, and pointed at the extra men in the house, looking puzzled.

"Leah, you and Cade are practically family now. I can't keep secrets from you. Cade said my mom was dying. That's why I brought you here. But my mom doesn't look like she's dying. What's going on? And these guys—I don't know them or who they're here to rough up."

Leah frowned at Cade, waiting for an explanation.

Cade floundered, eyes wide, at a loss for words.

Madison, ever quick, stepped in.

She grabbed Leah's hand.

"I was choking on some food earlier, nearly died. Lucky for me, Cade's buddies came by and pounded my back until I coughed it up. It's such a small thing to make you come all this way, Leah. I feel awful. Everyone, please stay for dinner."

Her words stunned me and the thugs.

Madison winked at Cade to keep Leah occupied while she pulled the thugs outside to whisper.

I couldn't stop laughing inside.

So amusing. I wanted to see how this scheming mother and son would dig themselves deeper into this mess.

3

Cade took Leah to the store to buy liquor, leaving the two thugs standing with their arms crossed, eyeing Madison.

"This is ancestral land with a deed. I'll sell it tomorrow. It's worth at least seventy or eighty grand. Paying off your fifty-grand gambling debt won't be a problem," Madison said boldly, pulling out the deed.

My chest heaved as rage surged to my throat.

I thought bitterly, "You've got land to sell, but before you're even desperate, you're ready to throw your daughter to the wolves. Calling you two monsters is too kind."

I shot a sideways glance as the thugs flipped through the deed, nodding in approval.

Madison let out a relieved breath, then noticed me watching it all.

Her anger flared, and she swung a broom at me. "Jessie, what are you staring at? If you hadn't brought Leah here, would we have to throw Cade's dowry money into this? Get to the kitchen and start cooking. Everyone's waiting to eat."

I said nothing, rolled up my sleeves, and got to work. I sat by the stove, stoking the fire.

As the thugs passed me, chuckling with Madison, I stuck out my foot, tripping one into a sprawl.

He raised a fist, face twisted, ready to hit me.

I quickly pleaded, "Spare me, sir! Leah's coming back with meat soon. You're all staying for dinner, right?"

The thugs exchanged a look, smirking.

I grinned inwardly.

I knew they stayed because of Leah.

Who could resist her smooth skin and that tight skirt, so alluring even passersby stole extra glances?

No wonder Cade was head over heels for her.

As long as I held Leah as my trump card, I had Madison and Cade in my grip.

And Leah wasn't someone to mess with—she was no naive sweetheart.

If she caught wind of their deception, Madison and Cade would be done for.

In my past life, I overheard rumors about Leah at the hotel where I worked but died before I could use them.

In this life, I wouldn't miss a single chance to make Madison and Cade pay.