---- Chapter 3 Ethan turned on his heel, furious. "Fine. Then suffer the consequences yourself!" Kevin shoved me hard and chased after him. " Ethan, wait! Please!" I stayed where I was, kneeling on the ground, gathering my scattered items in silence. When I finally stood up, I saw Jason in the distance, watching us thoughtfully. I didn't linger. My body felt like lead. I dragged myself back to the rented apartment. After a shower, I had just dozed off when a violent pounding on the door jolted me awake. The entire building shook with the force of it. "Joy! OPEN THE DOOR!" A metal pipe slammed against the security gate. The thug's voice was deafening. "Kevin owes ---- money. It's your job to pay it back!" I gripped a silver dagger tightly, retreating until my back hit the wall. I needed something- anything-that felt like safety. The door burst open. A glass bottle exploded against the wall, shards slicing past my cheek. The scar-faced thug at the front kicked over a chair and snarled, "That bastard Kevin didn't pay up. So guess what? You're the payment." Before I could react, two of them lunged at me. "Don't come near me!" I screamed. They laughed. "Still acting like some pure little girl? Where was all this fight when you were with other men, huh? Filthy vixen." ---- I pressed the silver blade to my throat. My voice trembled. "One more step and I'll kill myself. I swear it." Blood had already started to stream down my neck. That finally made them stop. They spat curses as they backed off. "You've got three days. If we don't get our money, you'll be burying Kevin instead." As soon as they left, the hallway echoed with the neighbors' shouting. "Disgusting tramp! Selling yourself in broad daylight-you're a disgrace to the whole building! " "Tf you wanna sell yourself, go somewhere else. You're a walking curse. Should've been gone long ago!" In the days that followed, my door was splattered with paint, leftover slop, and slurs scrawled in