Leah allowed the young Ashley to hear and see what was happening—but only in part. She protected her from the vulgar and violent memories, knowing her mind was still too young to fully understand.
Ashley simply sighed as she watched her mother, Sharlene, from a distance.
"Did Dad hurt Mom?" She asked softly, her voice filled with sorrow.
Leah didn't respond. She only turned to look at the girl, the weight of the truth too heavy for words.
She could hear every sigh Ashley released. Leah was the only one who could hear her voice. She understood that Sharlene was slowly uncovering the long-hidden events of her life—memories that involved pain, survival, and the mysterious role her grandmother had played in it all.
Leah gazed at the prison-like cage holding the three souls—silent, their eyes vacant as they stared into nothingness. Leah watched them with cold, lifeless eyes. She wondered, what should I do next?
Moments ago, they were just playing. Now, everything had shifted.
"Hold my hand, Ashley," Leah said, her voice gently entering the child's thoughts.
Ashley nodded and followed her.
Leah led the child back into the past.
A small girl, dirt-streaked and barefoot, sat on the roadside clutching a rusty container that clinked with the few coins inside. Her eyes, though young, carried the weight of the world.
"Young one, what's your name?" asked a woman who knelt in front of her.
"S—Sharlene. My name is Sharlene," the girl replied nervously.
"How old are you?" asked the man beside her.
She struggled to show the number four with her tiny fingers.
The couple exchanged glances, perhaps silently deciding something.
"Come with us," the woman said, extending a gentle hand.
Sharlene looked frightened.
"Don't worry. We won't hurt you," the man added reassuringly.
Eventually, they gained the child's trust and brought her home. It was a modest house, and a curious two-year-old greeted them.
"Mom, who is she?" the toddler asked.
"She'll be your big sister," the mother replied. She was visibly pregnant at the time.
Then came a harsh voice.
"Are you crazy, Linda? Where did you pick up that child?" Felicia asked. Her presence was commanding, her body still strong in those days.
"Mom, I felt sorry for her," Linda replied. "She's a kind girl. Maybe she can even help you out."
Felicia's face was lined with anger.
"It's just another mouth to feed, Linda. I'm already forcing myself to support you and your children."
Linda fell silent.
Felicia walked toward Sharlene and roughly pulled her closer, inspecting her like an object.
"I'll borrow this child for a week. After that, you feed her," she said, tugging Sharlene away.
Linda and her husband just nodded.
"Be good, okay? You'll get to eat three times a day over there," Linda whispered.
Sharlene, young and naive, simply nodded. She didn't understand what was ahead.
Felicia's treatment was harsh. When Sharlene made even the smallest mistake, she was beaten. Sometimes, Felicia locked her inside a dark trunk, and the child would cry herself to sleep, trembling with fear.
Linda knew all of this but turned a blind eye. They were receiving money in exchange for Sharlene's services—her suffering was being sold.
When Sharlene turned six, Linda's partner left her. Tashia was born. Eventually, Linda left Sharlene with her grandmother, while Tashia remained on their mother's side.
Life was never easy.
"Sister Sharlene!" a young voice called out.
"Vivianne? What are you doing here? How's Mom?" Sharlene asked.
"Is Grandma here?" Vivianne responded.
Sharlene only nodded.
Vivianne often begged Felicia for money—money that their mother gambled away while chasing fleeting relationships.
When Sharlene was eight and Vivianne was six, their mother abandoned them completely.
Vivianne thought Sharlene's life had been blissful under Felicia's care, never realizing the abuse she endured daily. Sharlene remained silent about her pain, thinking that if she bore the suffering, at least her younger siblings wouldn't starve.
Felicia eventually started accepting "clients"—people who needed help with spiritual matters. She had the rare ability to travel in the spirit world and uncover hidden truths. With this, her living conditions gradually improved.
Sharlene, now in high school, met Sheila at a private school. Over time, Vivianne began growing distant, driven by jealousy. Sharlene also met Angely and Fredrick, Felicia's clients, and the older woman's network grew.
Leah remembered the moment she had approached Felicia, begging for justice.
"What do I get in return for helping you?" Felicia had asked coldly.
"Justice. I want them imprisoned. They killed me—they put me in a coffin and buried me alive. I'll help you file a case. All the evidence is there."
Felicia tilted her head.
"And what's in it for me? These people you're accusing are powerful. What can you offer me in return?"
"I'll give you everything," Leah answered without hesitation. "All my wealth. Just give me justice."
Felicia smiled.
"Take me to where you were killed," she instructed.
Leah, full of hope, thought her suffering might finally come to an end. She cooperated in every way, trusting Felicia fully.
But once they filed the lawsuit, everything changed.
Sharlene—being close to Sheila—heard about Leah, and soon, Felicia was approached by Leah's enemies.
"Leah Martinez is crying out for justice," they said.
"What did Leah give you?" Angely asked.
"Just the usual things people need to survive. Wealth. Property," Felicia answered with a sneer.
"We'll double what she gave you—just help us clear Manuel's name."
Felicia hesitated.
"What guarantees do I have?" she asked.
Angely showed her paperwork—promises of influence, power, and more money.
Felicia went to Leah one last time.
"I gave you everything. If you won't help me, at least give it back. I can find someone else who will help," Leah pleaded.
But Felicia just smirked.
"You have no proof of our agreement. It's over."
And she walked away.
Leah stood alone, tears quietly falling, a storm of rage building inside her.
"Are you still angry with Grandma?" Ashley asked softly.
"It's hard to forgive someone who broke your trust," Leah replied, her voice heavy with pain.