Chapter 5

Her mother only cared about money. This is why she felt distant from her. She put down her clothes and said, "So, am I a tool to make money in your heart?" "Your father and I earn so little, we rely on the dowry we can get from your wedding. Your brother needs to go to school after that. We will buy a house for him and our future daughter-in-law. I raised you to help us in the future, and you can only help us when you marry a rich man." She pursed her lips tightly and thought. Although she knew about it, she did not expect her mother to tell her like it did not matter at all. She was only eighteen years old! "That is enough. I will not get married." She said and then skimmed past her mother and went out. She did not cry hysterically but was unusually calm. In the dark night, clouds cover the bright moonlight. Natasha Quinn walked into the deep alley. When she came back, it was already morning. She pushed the door and found that the yard was still brightly lit. "Natasha, there is a cardboard box in the cellar. Go and bring it to me." Her mother shouted. Natasha Quinn was used to it, so she turned and walked to the cellar without much thought. There was a refreshing shade in the cellar. She turned on the dim light and searched for the cardboard box for a long time but did not find any. Just when she wanted to go out and ask her mother, she suddenly heard the sound of chains. She was locked up. "Mom?" Natasha Quinn gave a cry of doubt, put down her things, and walked up. But the cellar door has been locked. On the other side of the door, she heard her mother's cold voice: "Our family is counting on your dowry. We need it to pay for your brother's tuition fee and for him to buy a house. If you do not want to marry, stay there. Reflect on it. When you finally agree to marry, that is the only time that you can come out!" After saying that, her mother left her locked in the cellar. Her heart became colder towards her family. She patted the wooden door of the cellar hard, but there was no response. The cellar was cold and damp, depressed, and almost breathless. She stopped banging the door. She had claustrophobia. Her thin body was shaking. She touched the walls and slowly walked to the corner of the cellar then curled up there. She opened her mouth and tried to say something, but she could not make a sound. In the dead of night, there was only long and boundless fear and gloom surrounding her. She buried her face between her knees, and her eyes were cold. Why did they do this to her? She thought. She did not know how long she was there. She felt cold and then felt hot. She lost consciousness. She felt that it was the longest time in her life. Finally, she heard a faint sound of chains, followed by a series of footsteps. "Ah! My wife is hurt!" A man's anxious voice reached her ear, she wanted to move, but her head was light. She had no strength. Edward Busch's eyes were piercing. He saw her wife in the dim light shivering and curled up in the corner, her mouth still vague and she was talking gibberish. He turned back and ordered the bodyguard behind him, "Call a doctor!" Sam was stunned to see her like that. He immediately reacted. He walked over and quickly picked up Natasha and then walked towards the ground. Her whole body was burning, Sam thought. Macey Quinn looked at the line of people coming out of the cellar. She had never seen such a scene, with bodyguards in black and luxury cars. She then said, "Oh, there are guests. My daughter did not tell us you will visit her, what do you want to eat? I will cook for you..." Sam ignored Natasha's mother and carried her directly to the car. The bodyguard behind him pushed Edward's wheelchair out slowly. The man's cold eyes swept across the middle-aged woman, who was too attentive to their presence. He then said in a stern voice, "Your daughter is ill, do you not care?" Mrs. Quinn turned her attention to Edward. She felt the strong man's aura. She was nervous about that thought, but she managed to answer him. "Oh, this child has been playful since she was a child, and she does not know how to run to the cellar..." Edward has no expression at her answer. He then was pushed by his bodyguard away from the scene. Mrs. Quinn had the look of hesitation and a guilty conscience. Edward's mood was somewhat complicated. *** Natasha did not know how long she had been in a coma. When she woke up, she was lying in a big bed, soft and comfortable, and the light around her was a little dim, and she could not tell whether it was day or night. She tilted her head and felt terrible pain. She vaguely remembered that before she fell into a coma, she was tricked into the cellar by her mother and then locked down. It was so cold in the basement that she had nightmares one after another.