Would he hit me again?

Would he hit me again? I was injured, so I couldn't run fast. I was leaning against the dead end of the elevator. I couldn't dodge Opal's slap. I gulped and felt suffocated. I took a step back and said, "You really like to hit people." After that, I closed my eyes and a teardrop slid down my cheeks. "Forget it." Perhaps it was my tear that made him softhearted. Opal sighed. "You didn't live with us in the past nineteen years, so you lack parental control." I opened my eyes and saw that his palm finally fell powerlessly. I asked in confusion, "You don't want to slap me anymore?" "Do you like to be beaten?" Opal raised his hand again, and I instinctively stepped back. My back hit the cold wall, and the heart-wrenching pain spread from my wound, causing my little face to twitch. However, Opal's hand landed on my cheek and wiped away the tears at the corner of my eyes. "What are you hiding from?" I shrank my neck and said, "I've been beaten a lot. It's my stress reaction." "You're talking as if you're being abused." Opal took out a neatly folded handkerchief from his suit pocket and handed it to me. "Wipe away your tears." In Phoenix Village, Grandma hit me, Aunt hit me, and Cousin began to hit me when he could raise his hand. At this point, it seemed that everyone around me wanted to hit me more or less. Didn't I get abused? I took the handkerchief and wiped the worthless tears from my eyes. I didn't want to stay with him for a minute longer. "I'm really leaving. I have something to do. I'll give it back to you after I wash it clean." Opal's face didn't look very happy. He lowered his voice and said, "Kelly, I declined the date with Odette just to send you back. Don't you know what's good for you?" He was annoying! I was stopped by him. I couldn't get out and got angry. "Second Brother, you can call her back now. She hasn't gone far yet." Who asked you to send me? If I can come out, I can go back by myself. I think you guys are really out of your minds. Odette is the baby you raised. I'm not. Why do you always use her standards to require me? You even asked me to share the honor and disgrace of the Smith family. How many times have I seen you? You always say we're family. Since we're family, why didn't you let Odette marry into the family and become a widow?" The more I said, the more I felt wronged. The bridge of my nose twitched, and I burst into tears. I picked up Opal's handkerchief and rubbed my nose hard before I continued, "You're being unreasonable too." "Don't cry!" Opal's face was cold. "What are you crying for? Every single member of the family has to contribute to the family. Marrying Carroll will be your contribution." "Then, what contribution did the Smith family make to me?" I replied with a question of my own. Opal's face grew more and more solemn. A security guard passed by. I had an idea and shouted, "Sir, save me." Seeing me in the corner, the security guard walked over quickly and asked, "Miss, do you need me to call the police for you?" Call the police? There was no need for that. I just wanted to be free. I burst into tears. "Sir, this man won't let me go. I just want to go home. Woo-woo." "Sir, please leave, or I will call the police. We have the right to suspect that you are abducting a girl." The security guard stood in front of me and put his hand on the electric baton at his waist. "I am..." I quickly interrupted Opal. "I don't know him. He said he'd take me home. Let him go, sir." "Sir, please leave." The security guard had already held the baton in his hand. He estimated that once Opal did not leave, he would strike. Seeing that there were a few onlookers around, Opal glared at me and walked into the elevator in embarrassment. I heaved a long sigh of relief and bowed to the security guard. "Thank you, sir." "Do you need me to take you to the back door?" The security guard seemed to be very worried about me, for fear that I would be caught by Opal when I went out. Shaking my head, I took out the access card from my bag and said, "I live upstairs. I can swipe the card and go upstairs." "Ah?" The security guard looked me up and down. "Then you should take a good look around." After thanking him, I left the scene and strolled around the mall under the astonished gazes of the onlookers and security guards. Strangely, although Sky City was twice as large as the one I played in the last time, there was no recruitment advertisement attached to any of the stores. I casually found a friendly staff member and asked about the situation. The staff member laughed happily. This was the Sky City, and being able to work here was a symbol of identity. A lot of people wanted to get each position, so they didn't need part-time staff. At this time, I had already walked around all the floors. This news was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue. I could only sit on the bench beside the fountain weakly. "Little girl, do you want to find a job?" A well-dressed lady came over, and her heavy makeup could not hide the wrinkles on her face. Seeing that she looked kind, I nodded with a sad face. The lady laughed heartily and said, "My name is Perry. I've opened a gallery in the back. It's not far from here. It's only ten minutes' walk. Are you interested in helping me?" As she spoke, she took out a publicity list from her bag. I looked at the words on it and my eyes lit up. "Moon Gallery is looking for employees. No education requirements. Those who are between 18 to 22 years old and have good facial features are wanted. Female college students are preferred. Aunt Perry, can I go? But I don't know how to draw." "Sure, I'll take you to have a look." She pulled me up from the bench, took my arm intimately, and introduced as she walked, "Working in the gallery is not tiring. You just need to serve tea and snacks to the VIP costumers." "Oh, are there waiters in the gallery?" I always thought that there was no such ordinary job in such a high-end place. I didn't expect that there would be waiters. Perry stroked the back of my hand. "Of course, rich people also have to eat and drink." "Then, how much will I get in a month?" I was curious. Perry stretched out her hand and stroked my bangs. She was stunned. "I guessed that you were good-looking, but I didn't expect you to be so good-looking. You can work part-time for four hours a day, and I pay you 120 dollars. But how much you can earn depends on your own luck." I shook my head and answered honestly, "I don't understand." "Silly child, if you're sensible and the rich people are happy, will they not give you money?" Perry said meaningfully. I got it. What was more, I had a deep feeling. For instance, when Carroll was happy, he wanted to give me a shopping mall. I was guessing that those who went to the gallery were all people like Carroll? I followed Perry to the second floor, full of expectation. The whole floor was white, and I couldn't understand all kinds of paintings hanging on the wall. However, there was a different world on the second floor. The private rooms were next to each other, and the innermost one was a locker room.