The sleek black SUV rolled to a stop in front of the old farmhouse, gravel crunching beneath the tires. Endless fields stretched beyond the weathered fences, the summer air thick with the scent of hay and fresh earth. It was quiet—too quiet. No towering buildings, no traffic, no cafés on every corner. Just farmland as far as the eye could see.

The passenger door swung open, and she stepped out with an expression that made it obvious she already hated everything about this place.

Designer luggage was unloaded one expensive suitcase after another while she stared at the farmhouse in disbelief, her nose wrinkling as if simply breathing the country air was beneath her.

A warm smile appeared on the porch as a middle-aged woman stepped outside, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

"Oh, there y'all are!" she greeted kindly, making her way down the porch steps. "It's so nice to finally meet you."

The girl's mother offered a grateful smile as they shook hands.

"Thank you so much for agreeing to this. We... honestly didn't know what else to do."

The woman simply nodded with understanding before glancing toward the girl, who hadn't said a word.

"We're happy to have her. It'll be good for her to get away from the city for a while."

Her father sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"She's a good kid... somewhere deep down. She just doesn't appreciate anything she's given. She's never had responsibilities, never been told no, and it shows."

Silence followed.

The girl scoffed under her breath, arms crossed tightly over her chest as she looked anywhere but at the adults talking about her as if she weren't standing right there.

Her mother stepped closer.

"You'll be staying here for the summer," she said firmly. "No chauffeur. No shopping trips. No credit cards. You're going to help around the farm, follow the rules, and maybe learn that the world doesn't revolve around you."

Her eyes widened.

"...You're joking."

"We're not."

She looked between her parents, waiting for one of them to laugh, to tell her it was all some ridiculous prank.

Neither of them did.

The woman gave her an apologetic smile before reaching for one of the suitcases.

"Come on, sweetheart. I'll show you where you'll be staying."

Behind the farmhouse, somewhere out on the property, the distant rumble of an engine echoed across the fields before fading away just as quickly.

Whoever it belonged to hadn't come back yet.

And for the first time in her life, she realized she was truly, completely stuck.