Chapter 52 It Truly Hurt for the First Time

Gardenia had no idea what made her nod her head back then. It had been her own choice. Ansel didn't force her. Maybe it was fear—fear that if she said no, he would kick her out, and the debt collectors would hunt her down and sell her off across the border. Maybe it was guilt—for everything he had done for her over the years, while she had nothing left to repay him with. More than anything else, she wanted to survive. She wanted to keep studying, make more money, pay off those debts, and then one day walk away from her filthy past with her head held high. Back in school, students were already getting into relationships. Gardenia never dated, though she often heard stories—vivid tales that sounded convincing enough to be true. Still, she never imagined her first time would hurt this much. The pain was so intense that she thought she might die on her own birthday. Looking back, maybe her fear of Ansel had started from that very moment. Suddenly, Gardenia's eyes flew open. She