Next Day

The next day dawned, but for Jungkook, it felt like the beginning of another nightmare. She rose quietly before the sun, preparing to start her chores as usual, hoping the day would be uneventful. But as she passed through the hallway carrying a basket of freshly folded laundry, her cousins ambushed her from behind. Before she could react, a cold splash drenched her, and she looked down in shock to find bright red paint dripping down her clothes, her arms, and even her face.

Laughter erupted around her as her cousins stepped back, their faces alight with amusement. Jungkook's hands trembled, and she could only stare at them, stunned and humiliated, as they put on a mocking display of concern.

"Oh my god, Jungkook! Look at the mess you've made!" one cousin shrieked, covering her mouth with feigned horror.

Another one added, "I can't believe she'd ruin everyone's morning like this. Imagine if we'd gotten any of that disgusting paint on us!"

In the midst of their mocking, her father stormed into the hallway, clearly irritated by the noise. His expression darkened as he took in the scene—Jungkook drenched in red paint, her cousins standing by with looks of exaggerated shock and horror.

"Uncle, you won't believe what she did!" one cousin spoke up quickly, putting on a wounded expression. "She just... went crazy! We were just trying to help her, and then she flung the paint all over herself, just to get us in trouble!"

"Yes, we were only trying to be nice to her," another cousin added, sniffling dramatically. "And now look at the mess she's made! It's like she's doing it on purpose to ruin our day."

Jungkook's heart pounded as she opened her mouth to speak, to defend herself. But before she could get a word out, her father's furious voice cut through the air.

"Enough!" he bellowed, his face twisted with anger as he looked down at her. "You think you can go around making a spectacle of yourself? Causing trouble for the others, wasting our time like this? You are nothing but a disgrace!"

Jungkook tried to shake her head, to tell him the truth, but he wouldn't listen. With a heavy hand, he grabbed her arm and dragged her down the hall. "You're getting punished for this nonsense. Maybe a good beating will finally knock some sense into that head of yours."

His words burned like acid, every word cutting deeper than the last. She barely registered the paint drying on her skin, the sticky weight of it pulling at her clothes, as he shoved her forward, his anger heavy with every step. Her cousins watched with smug satisfaction, not a trace of guilt in their eyes.

The beating was harsh, every strike was a painful reminder of her father's resentment, of her cousins' cruelty, and of her own helplessness. When he finally left her bruised and aching, she lay curled on the floor, the humiliation and pain too much to bear. Tears blurred her vision as she tried to swallow down the lump in her throat, wishing for an escape from a life that seemed only to bring her pain and rejection.

As she lay there, she realized there was no one who would defend her, no one who would hear her side of the story. In her father's eyes, she was nothing but a burden. In her cousins' eyes, she was nothing but a target. And she had nowhere to turn but to herself, trapped in a life that refused to show her even a shred of kindness.

Jungkook forced herself up from the cold floor, each bruise on her body throbbing painfully as she made her way to the bathroom. Her mind was spinning, but she knew she had to clean up and tend to her wounds, no matter how much it hurt. With no ointments or bandages at her disposal, she used only water to wash off the dried paint, wincing as it stung the cuts and bruises that marred her skin. She knew even the smallest comforts weren't meant for her. In this house, everything—love, kindness, compassion—came at a price, one she had learned she would never be able to pay.

After washing away the last traces of red, she looked at herself in the cracked mirror, eyes hollow yet defiant, forcing herself to push down the pain and hold herself together. She couldn't let them see how much they'd broken her, even if she felt like her spirit was on the verge of crumbling completely.

She took a deep breath, straightened her clothes as best as she could, and made her way downstairs, hoping to escape their attention for the rest of the day. But as she descended, the sound of hushed voices caught her attention. Her father, her uncle, and her aunt were gathered in the living room, speaking in low but intense tones. Curious and cautious, Jungkook paused at the edge of the hallway, listening to the conversation that soon made her blood run cold.

"I think it's the best decision," her father was saying in a gruff voice. "She's been nothing but a burden here. And let's be real—keeping her around isn't doing anyone any favors."

Her uncle nodded, leaning back with a slight smirk. "I agree. We could just give a decent dowry to marry her off to the right family. There's an advocate from the next town over—he has a son, older, but unmarried. I'm sure he'd be interested. Doesn't matter if she's plain or has no prospects; a deal can always be arranged."

Jungkook's heart pounded in her chest, his words were like nails driving into her sense of self. They were discussing her marriage, talking about her as if she were a mere commodity to be traded off, like an item that had overstayed its welcome. Her father's cold voice broke through again.

"She's nothing but an eyesore here, always causing trouble, embarrassing us. The sooner she's out, the better. And once she's gone, we can all breathe a little easier."

Her aunt chimed in, her voice sickly sweet, laced with feigned concern. "And perhaps it's a kindness, after all. She won't be here, but maybe she'll finally learn some obedience with a husband. Someone else can deal with her... difficulties."

Jungkook's heart clenched as she heard her father's words, each syllable twisting the knife of betrayal deeper into her chest.

"Yes, all the children would finally be free from the torment she causes," he sighed, a hint of relief in his voice as though the very idea of her absence was a weight lifted from his shoulders.

Her aunts exchanged pleased smiles, nodding in agreement. "It would be best for everyone," one of them said brightly, her voice light, almost cheerful. "The house would be calmer without her here, and the children could finally enjoy their lives without her... presence disrupting everything."

They spoke as if she were some disease, something contagious and harmful, as if her mere existence tainted the lives of everyone around her. She pressed her hand over her mouth, willing herself not to make a sound, her shoulders trembling as she fought back the flood of emotions threatening to break free.

The betrayal stung deeply, the realization settling like a heavy weight in her chest. To them, she was nothing more than an inconvenience, a nuisance they were finally ready to cast aside. She wanted to scream, to demand why, to ask how they could be so cruel. But even as these thoughts burned inside her, she knew they wouldn't listen. They never had.

Her father's voice broke through her thoughts once again, cold and dismissive. "The sooner she's gone, the better it'll be for all of us."

Jungkook felt her legs grow weak, her vision blurring as she processed the meaning behind their words. They weren't considering her happiness or her future. They were simply trying to rid themselves of her, to send her off to someone who wouldn't care about her well-being. The room felt as if it were spinning around her, and she struggled to hold onto the wall for support.

In that moment, the last shred of hope she had clung to began to slip away. Her own family was prepared to sell her off to a stranger, treating her as nothing more than a burden they were eager to be rid of. She could feel the ground slipping from beneath her feet, the familiar sense of helplessness closing in like a cage.