Chapter 1

I came home from a three-day business trip to find my mother-in-law parked on my couch with my brother-in-law and his family.

But there was no sign of my daughter.

I hurried to ask my mother-in-law where she'd gone.

She only smiled coldly and said, "The whole family came, and there was nowhere to put them, so I sent that little girl off to a factory!"

"She's already in her teens. What's wrong with a summer job?"

My eyes went wide. My daughter starts her senior year of high school in the fall. This is the year that counts, the final push. I'd even signed her up for a stack of prep classes for it.

And I never imagined that after just three days away, my daughter would be shipped off to a factory.

I quickly called my husband.

On the other end came his cold voice.

"It's rare for my brother's family to visit, and there was nowhere for them to stay. Our daughter is old enough. Toughening her up a little won't do her any harm!"

"And another thing. Transfer some money to my card. My brother and his family are here, and I want to take them out for a nice meal!"

That made me laugh in disbelief.

He'd sent my daughter away, and he was still giving me orders.

I opened my phone and called my secretary.

"That property is my premarital asset. Sell it for me."

"And draw up a divorce agreement. Brad Henson and I have a prenuptial agreement. He walks away with nothing!"

After I hung up, I turned to my mother-in-law.

"Mom, where did you send Yanni to work?"

There was an edge of urgency in my voice. My daughter had never worked a day in her life.

And right now, I was very worried about her.

My mother-in-law just looked at me coldly. "Fiona Dickerson, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Our whole family comes to your home, and all you care about is your daughter?"

"Look at them. Your brother-in-law, his wife, and my grandson haven't even eaten yet!"

"Brad said you'd take us out for a big meal when you got back!"

"My grandson's gone hungry and thin!"

She stared at me as she said it.

I looked right back at her. "Mom, first tell me where Yanni is."

I said it fast. "I'll go get her. Once I've brought Yanni home, we'll all go eat!"

The words were barely out before her face darkened. "Fiona, what is wrong with you?"

"Your brother-in-law's whole family came here with me!"

"Is this how you treat us?"

"And as for Yanni, what is there to worry about?"

"I arranged everything long ago!"

"She's just a little girl. She needs some toughening up!"

Listening to her, the worry in my eyes sharpened, and I said it straight out. "Mom, where exactly did you send Yanni?"

She heard the strain in my voice and answered flatly. "I'm Yanni's grandmother. Do you really need to worry that much?"

"I told you, I sent her off to toughen up. As for the rest, it's none of your concern!"

"When the time's up, Yanni will come back either way!"

The younger brother's wife chimed in from the side. "Exactly. Fiona, don't take this the wrong way!"

"Mom is Yanni's grandmother. You think something's going to happen to her?"

"If you ask me, you've spoiled that girl rotten!"

"We'd barely walked in the door, we just asked her to give up her room, and she wouldn't. That's why Mom decided to teach Yanni a lesson!"

My gaze turned colder and colder on the crowd in front of me. I knew there was no way they'd ever tell me where my daughter was.

I pulled out my phone and dialed fast.

"Hello, Officer, I want to report a crime. My daughter has been trafficked!"

"Please send someone right away!"