Chapter 3 You Can't Escape

"Victoria!" Nora yelled, her voice dripping with anger. "Didn't you hear me talking?"

Victoria stopped in her tracks, her back still turned to Nora. "I'm not paying that money," she said flatly.

"You little brat! Now you're defying me?" Nora leaped off the bed, grabbed Victoria's arm, and slapped her hard.

Victoria took the hit, her lips pressed together in defiance. After a moment, she spoke, her voice hoarse. "Mom, I'm just a college dropout. I've done everything I can to cover your medical bills. Since Dad's accident, you've been in the hospital, and our house got taken away. Have you ever asked where I live or how I get by? You only care about Bobby. Have you ever thought about me?"

Nora was stunned into silence for a moment, then reluctantly let go of Victoria. "Why all this drama? I know you have money. Get $200,000 for Bobby. If his education gets delayed, you'll regret it!"

Victoria felt her mind go blank, her body swaying. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths to calm herself.

"Mom, so you knew all along." Victoria opened her eyes slowly, looking at Nora's panicked face. "You knew where my money came from..."

It was money she earned at the cost of her dignity.

Victoria swallowed hard, a bitter taste in her mouth. "If you know that, how can you still expect me to pay for Bobby's training camp?" she asked.

Nora avoided Victoria's piercing gaze, her voice stubborn. "Is there really a difference between selling your body once or a few times? Why act all high and mighty now?"

Victoria let out a bitter laugh, unable to stay in that suffocating room any longer. She pushed Nora away and stumbled out of the hospital room.

Watching Victoria leave, Nora felt a surge of inexplicable anger. She kicked the table leg hard and shouted, "Victoria, you ungrateful brat! Get back here!"

After her shift at the Scott Group, Victoria rushed to her part-time job at a clothing store. She worked until almost ten o'clock when the store owner asked her to deliver some dresses to the Starry Nights Hotel.

This store often had custom orders that needed delivering. Victoria grabbed the clothes and hurried to the hotel.

She found the room easily and knocked on the door. It opened to reveal a woman in a business suit, smiling. "Are you the one delivering the clothes? Come in."

"Thanks," Victoria said, stepping inside with her bag.

As soon as she entered, she realized something was off and turned to leave, but the woman locked the door from the outside.

In the spacious bedroom, four sleazy men sat, cigarettes in hand, eyeing her up and down.

Victoria's heart pounded with fear. She clutched her bag tightly, glaring at them. "Who are you?" she stammered.

One of the men put out his cigarette, his eyes roaming over her body. He licked his lips. "So pretty; today's my lucky day."

Victoria frowned, her voice cold. "Let me leave. Now."

"Such a fiery temper!" The man laughed, clicking his tongue in admiration. "So beautiful! What's your name?"

Terrified, Victoria tried to keep her cool. "Sorry, I'm not here for that kind of service," she said, grabbing her bag and heading for the door.

But the four burly men blocked her way. One of them, a fat guy named Clifford, warned, "Don't make me use force."

The men closed in around her, cutting off any escape. Victoria's hands shook as she discreetly reached into her pocket for her phone, pressing random buttons and praying for a miracle.

It seemed her prayers were answered when she heard a man's voice on the other end. Without waiting to see who it was, she blurted out, "I'm in room 404 at the Starry Nights Hotel. Please help..."

Before she could finish, one of the men snatched her phone and smashed it to pieces.

"What do you want?" Victoria screamed, her voice trembling with terror.

"What do you think?" Clifford sneered, moving closer. "I've been waiting for you. Just cooperate."

Victoria tried to dodge, but it was useless. Clifford pinned her to the ground, tearing at her thin shirt, his rough hands leaving red marks on her skin.

"Help!" Victoria cried out, her vision blurred by tears. She struggled, but Clifford was too strong. He pinned her down, unbuckling his belt with a sick grin. "You'll enjoy this soon!"

As Clifford's hand reached for her, Victoria bit down hard on his arm. He screamed in pain, raising his hand to slap her. In a desperate move, Victoria grabbed his wrist and yanked, causing him to lose balance and fall onto the bed.

Seizing the moment, Victoria scrambled to the balcony. "If you come any closer, I'll jump!" she shouted, her voice filled with desperation.

The men hesitated, not wanting to cause a death. Clifford cursed, clutching his bitten arm. "Bitch, if you jump, I'll kill you!"

"Don't jump. I'll open the door and let you leave, okay?" said Dean, a skinny guy with a scar on his eyebrow. He walked over and cracked the door open.

Victoria looked at the ground below, then at the slightly open door. Her heart pounded, but the will to live won out. "You all go to the bathroom. I'll leave by myself!" she demanded.

Clifford and the others exchanged glances and then reluctantly headed to the bathroom. Victoria took a deep breath, relieved. She quickly ran to the door.

Just as she was about to open it, the door slammed shut and locked from the outside again. Victoria's heart sank. She pounded on the door, screaming, "Why did you lock the door? Open it! Help!"

The woman who had let her in was still standing guard outside. Victoria collapsed in despair, staring hopelessly at the closed door.

Behind her, the four men emerged from the bathroom, evil smiles on their faces as they slowly approached.