Sabrina narrowed her eyes in contempt. The woman paled in fear and continued to explain frantically. "It's just...your friend's parents really did borrow a million dollars from us. They said that they needed the money for their other daughter, who was sick and needed treatment to survive. They said they are sending the other daughter here to me and that they didn't care if I sold her off as long as she is alive. I was only doing this because they couldn't pay me back, it's not like I could just give out a million dollars like that, right? That's why-"
"I get it." Sabrina refused to look at the woman and tightened her arms around Ruth.
"Pl-please have mercy on us," the woman pleaded.
"Clothes!" Sabrina roared again.
"I'll have them hurry!"
Very soon, the woman came back with two enormous bags of clothes.
"Shower room!"
The woman hurriedly took Sabrina and Ruth to the shower room.
"Ruth, take a shower and put on some clothes. I'll take you home." "Thank you, Sabrina. Thank you so much," said Ruth,
sobbing uncontrollably. Sabrina ushered her to take a shower.
Sabrina stayed outside and scanned the underground hostel, while the woman in charge stood trembling at the corner. She followed Sabrina wherever she went with no remaining trace of her earlier demeanor of a prideful head of a mafia gang.
"She has a sister, right?" Sabrina asked.
Sabrina looked away just as the door to the shower room opened. Ruth took a brief shower and came out immediately. She wanted to leave this hellish place as soon as possible. She put on the clothes in one swift motion." Sabrina, let's go."
"Yeah." Not wanting to remain in the place for another second, Sabrina walked out from the underground basement along with Ruth.
They stepped through the door, tears were streaming down Ruth's cheek as soon as she saw the first ray of sunlight. "Sabrina, I feel like...like I've gone through hell and came back to find the light again. I broke free, I'm not going to become an escort, right? Sabrina, tell me this is real."
Sabrina's heart ached at Ruth's words. She had never had a friend or anyone who would help her in her life. She was frequently bullied by Mary Smith and beaten by her parents when she was twelve. That same year, she came to South City and moved into Lincoln's home, which kick-started eight long years of being neglected by the Lynn Family and suppression from Selene. And then, she was sent to prison. Frankly, Sabrina's heart had hardened itself from all the pain and suffering she had gone through, but in the depth o f the walls she built, hid the soft side of her.
She helped Ruth into the car and took her to a quiet cafe, before ordering her a cup of coffee to calm her nerves. 1
"Ruth, I need you to tell me what happened," she said i n a serious tone.
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