Not Your Doormat Anymore

"So what if she's an adult? It's not like she can inherit anything. She has no other family or anyone who can speak up for her. Of course, her uncle's family is going to control her."

The villager leading the way seemed like a decent person, but I could not agree with his outdated mindset. When her parents were alive, they treated Kourtney like a precious treasure.

"There-that's the place. She's staying in the back. Just call her name-if she hears you, she'll come out."

He muttered under his breath as he left, "Poor lady. That whole family's a damn tragedy."

I stared at the run-down house in front of me. I did not expect Kourtney to be living in such conditions.

The front building had decent tiled walls, but hers was just a crumbling old shack beside a pigsty—I could only imagine what it smelled like inside.

Just as I was about to call out, a woman came storming over. She stopped at the doorway, hands on her hips, shouting, "You jinx! You already cursed your parents to death-what are you still doing here pretending to be pitiful?

"What if you end up killing the rest of us, too? Do you think I'm going to let that happen?"

Kourtney quickly came out. She wore simple, worn clothes, and the energy she used to have was completely gone. Her face was set with tears as she clung to the woman's sleeve.

"Aunt Margaret, I just graduated from college. I can work and won't be a burden to you. Please, don't force me to marry that man. I'll go work and send all my earnings back to you, just please don't do this."

"Ha!" Margaret spat on the ground. "Your parents spoiled you rotten. Letting you live it up in the big city turned you into a wild thing. If I send you back out there, and you come home pregnant, what'll people say about me then?"

She jabbed a thick finger into Kourtney's forehead, hard enough to make her stumble backward.noveldrama

"I don't even want the money my parents left me." Kourtney pleaded, her voice trembling. "It's definitely more than that marriage payment. Just let me go!"

"That money was never yours to begin with!" Margaret snapped. "Your parents didn't even have a son, so that money belongs to my son Who else is going to pay respect to them? What's so bad about that man, anyway? He's got a house and a car. Marrying him would be a dream for someone like you!

"Now, go clean yourself up. He'll be here soon, and you're going with him. Stop crying! Who do you think you're putting on a show for?"

With a rough shove, Margaret pushed Kourtney to the ground. Kourtney sat in the dirt, crying silently.

My chest burned with rage. How could a lady like Kourtney-so kind, so strong- end up in a place like this, with people like that?

I marched forward and extended my hand to her. "Get up."

She looked up with teary eyes. When she recognized me, she froze in shock. "Dr. Ranford? Am I dreaming? How... How are you here?"

She could not believe it. She stared at me like I was an illusion.

I gently pulled her up. "You're your parents' only child. By law, gender doesn't

matter-you're the rightful heir to their estate, not her.

"Besides, forcing someone into a

marriage against their will? That's illegal. get you the best lawyer.

We'll fight them in court, get your inheritance back, and get you out of this hellhole."

I looked at her and felt a deep ache in my heart. Her clothes were stained with

dirt. Her once bright eyes were dull, and her face was full of sorrow.

This was never the life she deserved.