Chapter 3

Elena

The elevator door slid open with a soft ding as I stepped out without looking back.

If I stayed another second in that room, I was afraid I would either burst into tears or march back inside and slap that arrogant jerk across the face.

“Take the money and get lost.”

His words echoed inside my head like a broken record.

I tightened my grip around my handbag until my fingers hurt.

“Idiot.”

The receptionist smiled politely.

“Good morning, ma’am.”

I forced a nod. “Morning.”

The smile disappeared the moment I stepped outside.

Cold morning air hit my face. Only then did I realize how exhausted I was.

The last thing I wanted was anyone recognizing me.

I hugged my arms around myself and started walking toward the roadside.

After several minutes, an old yellow cab finally slowed beside me.The driver rolled down the window.

“Where to, miss?”

I quietly gave him my address.

He nodded. “Hop in.”

The driver occasionally glanced at me through the rear-view mirror before finally asking,

“Night shift?”

I managed a weak smile. “You could say that.”

“My daughter works night shifts too.”

I looked up.

“She’s a nurse.” His face softened.

“Always comes home looking tired.”

Lucky her. People admired nurses. Nobody admired women like me.

I turned back toward the window before he noticed the tears gathering in my eyes.

Jack thought I wasn’t good enough because I danced on a stage.

And this unknown man I just lost my virginity to, I don’t even know his name.

To him, I was simply another woman who could be bought with money.

Was that all people saw whenever they looked at me? I squeezed my eyes shut.

I paid the driver, thanked him and slowly climbed the stairs to my apartment.

Mrs. Agnes, my elderly neighbour, was watering the flowers outside her door.

“Oh, Elena.” She smiled warmly.

“You’re just getting back?”

I forced another smile. “Yes, work.”

She shook her head sympathetically.

“You young people work too hard.”

I just smiled as I unlocked my apartment and stepped inside.

The moment I shut the door, every ounce of strength left my body.

I leaned against it before slowly sliding down until I was sitting on the floor.

No phone call from Jack. No apology. No message asking if I got home safely.

Two years….Two freaking years.

A sob escaped before I could stop it.

I buried my face in my knees and cried until my chest hurt.

Not because I had spent the night with a stranger.

But because somehow, I had started believing the lies people told about me.

Maybe Jack was right. Maybe girls like me were never meant to be loved.

“No.” I quickly wiped my tears. I refused to let those thoughts win.

I pushed myself up and walked straight into the bathroom.

Warm water poured over my body as I stood beneath the shower.

“I’m not a whore.”

My voice echoed softly inside the bathroom.

“I’m not a whore..” I repeated it again and again until I finally believed myself.

One day people would know Elena Hart because of her fashion brand, not because she danced in a nightclub

I turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around myself.

Steam still clung to the bathroom mirror. I wiped a small circle with my palm and stared at my reflection.

“You’ll be okay,” I whispered to myself.

I changed into an oversized T-shirt and a pair of faded shorts before tying my damp hair into a loose bun.

My stomach growled. I hadn't eaten a proper meal since Jack dumped me. All I'd had was alcohol.

I opened my refrigerator and luckily for me, I had some leftover sauce and white rice from two days ago.

I exhaled “Perfect.”

Just as I put it in the microwave, my phone vibrated loudly on the kitchen counter.

Marie

A small smile appeared on my face.

Marie had been my closest friend since university. The only person who knew about my double life as a budding fashion designer by day and a masked dancer at night.

I answered. “Hey, Marie.”

“Elena!” Marie practically screamed through the phone.

I pulled the phone away from my ear.

“Whoa… why are you yelling?”

“Girl, where have you been?”

“I just got home.”

“Have you checked your phone?”

“How?”

“The internet! Have you been online today?”

I frowned. “The internet?”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it.”

“Seen what?”

There was a brief silence before Marie spoke again.

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“Just open any social media app.”

I walked into the living room and dropped onto the couch.

“Marie, you’re scaring me.”

“Just check.”

Frowning, I unlocked my phone.

Dozens of notifications flooded my screen.

Messages, unknown numbers, mentions, tags.

I blinked. “What in the…”

I tapped one of the notifications, It led to a trending post.

My heartbeat slowed. Video of me and the stranger from last night.

“No…”

Thousands of comments poured beneath it every second.

She obviously wants to trend.

Another gold digger chasing billionaires.

She definitely planned this.

Women will do anything for money these days.

Lucky girl. I wish that were me.

She trapped him. Just watch.

My hands started shaking. My breathing became uneven.

“This…” My voice cracked. “This can’t be real.”

“Elena?” Marie called softly.

I had forgotten she was still on the line.

“Marie…” I whispered, unable to take my eyes off the screen.

“But… how?” My voice trembled. “Who recorded us?”

“I wish I knew.”

I scrolled further. My pulse pounded so loudly I could barely hear myself think.

Then I heard a knock at my door.

Another knock came almost immediately. I froze. Slowly, I lowered my phone.

Who could possibly be visiting me this early? Mrs. Agnes never knocked like that.

Marie was still talking on the phone, but I could barely hear her.

I swallowed hard and walked toward the door.

My fingers trembled as they wrapped around the doorknob.

I pulled it open.

I swallowed hard and froze in shock.