With You

Chapter - 4

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the farm, Y/N stood in line with the other workers, her muscles aching after another exhausting day in the fields. Sweat still clung to her skin, and her hands were rough from the countless hours spent working the land. But despite the fatigue, there was a small sense of pride bubbling inside her. Today was payday, and she was about to collect her first real payment—the money that would help her and Rosie finally start saving for a more secure future.

She glanced down the line, watching as the other farmers received their pay from Jin’s manager, a tall, gruff man known for his sharp tongue and disdain for the workers. When it was finally Y/N's turn, she stepped forward, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. The manager barely looked at her as he slapped a few bills into her hand.

Y/N frowned as she counted the money in her palm. It was far less than what the others had received. Far less than what she had earned,the small sum that wouldn’t even be enough to cover Rosie’s check-up. Confusion flickered across her face, and without thinking, she raised her voice.

"Why am I getting so little?" she asked, holding the money out toward the manager.

The man, who had already begun to turn away, paused and turned back to her with a sneer. "What’s your problem, kid?"

"I worked just as hard as everyone else. Harder, even. This isn’t right," Y/N said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the growing frustration in her chest.

The manager let out a low, condescending chuckle. "You? Harder than everyone else? Don’t make me laugh. You’re inexperienced. You’re too young to even be out here. Consider yourself lucky you’re getting paid at all."

Y/N’s jaw clenched as she fought to keep her temper in check. She could feel the stares of the other workers on her, the way they shifted uncomfortably, unwilling to speak up but silently rooting for her. She took a deep breath and stood her ground.

"I understand I’m young, and maybe I’m not as experienced as the others," Y/N began, her voice steady but firm. "But I’ve been here every day, doing the work just like everyone else. I’ve earned my fair share."

The manager’s eyes narrowed, his lip curling in disdain. "Go home, kid. Don’t waste my time with this nonsense."

He turned to leave, but Y/N wasn’t done. She stepped forward, blocking his path, her heart pounding in her chest. "Wait! I’m not asking for anything extra. Just give me what I’ve earned. It’s not right to cheat me out of it."

The manager’s patience snapped. He turned on her with a snarl, his hand balled into a fist. "You don’t understand when to shut up, do you?"

Before Y/N could react, the manager’s fist came crashing into her face. The blow was sudden and brutal, sending her stumbling backward. Pain exploded across her cheek, and she felt the sharp sting of a split lip. She fell to the ground, the world spinning around her as she tasted blood in her mouth.

The other workers gasped in shock, but none of them moved. Fear kept them rooted to the spot, their eyes wide as they watched the scene unfold. Y/N lay on the ground, dazed and hurt, but something inside her refused to stay down. Slowly, painfully, she pushed herself up onto her hands and knees, blood dripping from her lip as she glared up at the manager.

"You can’t do this," she rasped, her voice shaky but defiant. "You can’t treat people like this."

The manager sneered down at her, his fists still clenched. "Get lost, kid. You’re not cut out for this."

Y/N struggled to her feet, wiping the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand. Her body ached, and her head was spinning, but she stood tall, refusing to let the manager see her crumble. She wasn’t going to give up—not when she had Rosie depending on her. Not when their future was on the line.