2

Chapter 2: He saw me as a maid

Elena

...

I couldn't sleep, my eyes were swollen from crying, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop the tears from coming.

By the time the sun was about to rise, I found myself walking toward the bathroom.

I turned the shower on full blast and stood beneath the freezing stream of water, desperately trying to wash every trace of Killian off my body.

"Go away!"

"Get out of my head!!!!!" I scrubbed my skin until it turned red, I even hit my own head again and again because I couldn't stop thinking about him, not even for a second.

It was unimaginable... My simple dream of having a small family had been shattered so easily.

Standing there in my soaking wet clothes, I looked around the apartment, every corner of this place was filled with memories of Killian, and I still remembered the day he asked me to move in with him a year ago, shortly after I enrolled at the same university as him.

I still remembered how tightly he had hugged me and how happy he had looked.

"I can finally live with you."

"I've been waiting for this for so long." He had wrapped his arms around me from behind and whispered sweet words into my ear, words that now felt unbearably painful.

"Make me something to eat. I'm exhausted after training all day."

"Get my clothes ready. Clean everything up for me. I'm so tired. Can you take care of me?" His voice was still crystal clear in my ears and back then, I had heard those words as affection, as proof that he needed me, but now, looking back on everything, I finally understood the truth.

He had never seen me as his girlfriend, he had seen me as a maid and he wanted me living with him so he wouldn't have to pay for one... so he could come home to clean clothes, warm meals and a spotless apartment... and a girl he could sleep with whenever he wanted.

"Hk!" I bit down on my lower lip so hard that I tasted blood and my hands clenched into fists until my knuckles turned pale.

My chest rose and fell violently as anger and humiliation crashed through me.

"Aaaa!" My scream echoed throughout the apartment.

With my hair still dripping wet and my clothes clinging to my skin, I walked into the bedroom where I had spent countless nights waiting for Killian to come home.

How pathetic!

I had been so freaking stupid!!

So stupid for believing that he truly loved me, so fucking stupid for believing that he would be the only man in my life.

Fresh tears streamed down my cheeks and once again, I remembered his voice... Remembered the way he used to hold me tightly in his arms while whispering against my ear.

"I'll be your family."

"I'll never leave you."

"I'll never let you be lonely again."

Hah!

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

He knew exactly how lonely I was, because He knew I was an orphan, he knew I was a girl who had spent her entire life longing for a family... He knew all of it and yet he still destroyed me without hesitation, as though I were nothing, as though I were trash.

My heart felt completely shattered, the trust I had given him was gone... Everything was gone and more than anything, I felt ashamed.

Ashamed because he had laughed at my pain, because he had turned my sincerity into a joke, because for four years, I had loved him with my whole heart and devoted myself to him like a complete idiot.

I knew I had to leave this apartment even if I had nowhere to go, even if I had no destination waiting for me.

I had to leave!! And honestly, I didn't care anymore... Sometimes I was the one paying part of the rent for this apartment anyway.

With trembling hands, I grabbed my bag and started stuffing my clothes into it, only then did I realize how little I actually owned, some of my clothes were already worn out, and a few even had small holes in them.

I had never bothered replacing them because buying new clothes always felt like a waste of money.

Hah...

A bitter smile tugged at my lips, my chest tightened when I saw my old underwear folded among my belongings.

Suddenly, I remembered where all my money had gone... The money I earned from working multiple part-time jobs.

The money I had spent on Killian, on the clothes he wanted, the things he wanted and the things he liked, because I never wanted him to feel embarrassed in front of his friends, because he was the famous hockey captain and because I wanted him to look his best.

My hands were still trembling, the skin on my fingers was red from scrubbing myself too hard earlier.

I walked around the room and gathered every photo of me and Killian, every single one and then I tore them apart.

One by one, and threw them into the trash.

I packed everything that belonged to me, I wanted to make sure there wouldn't be a single trace of me left inside this small apartment.

Bzzz... Bzzz... Bzzz...

My phone vibrated, and when I looked down at the screen... I saw several messages from Maya and one single message from Killian.

My finger hovered over the screen for a long moment, my head throbbed painfully because I hadn't slept all night, then I had spent nearly an hour standing under freezing water, that's why I felt dizzy and exhausted.

But my hand moved faster than my brain.

I didn't open Killian's message, I only read the preview from the notification screen.

"I won't be coming home for a week. Make sure you submit your leave-of-absence paperwork today."

Hah.

A bitter laugh escaped me... A laugh so bitter it almost hurt.

How could he send me something like this? After cheating on me!

After humiliating me in front of everyone!

After turning my love into a joke!

And he still expected me to take a leave from university just to prepare for our wedding? Was he serious?

No!!

I wasn't going to take a leave because of him, I wasn't going to sacrifice my future for him.

Anger burned through my chest, my breathing turned ragged and at the same time, my vision blurred... this time it wasn't because of tears, my head hurt so badly that I could barely stand because I was probably running a fever.

Thinking back on it now, yesterday had actually been my first day off from work in weeks. I had taken the day off because I was excited... Excited to choose a wedding dress with Killian.

The thought made my stomach twist painfully and once again, I felt completely trampled on, because now I realized just how much I had sacrificed for him.

How much I had given up.

How willing I had been to do anything just to make him happy.

Because until yesterday... Killian had been my entire world.

Bzzz... Bzzz... Bzzz...

My phone vibrated again, it was Maya, and the moment I answered, her voice came through the speaker immediately.

"Elena, why aren't you replying to my messages?" Her voice was loud and anxious. I could hear the sound of traffic in the background, engines passing by and horns occasionally blaring.

I wanted to answer her but my throat felt raw and painfully hot after all the screaming and crying.

"Elena, listen to me." Maya's voice trembled slightly. "I'm coming over right now. Don't start thinking about doing anything stupid, okay? You're too precious for that. Don't ruin your life because of that trashy motherfucker bastard." My eyes burned again and fresh tears gathered at the corners of my eyes.

"Just wait for me. I'll be there soon." I heard the sound of a turn signal clicking in the background. "I'm driving right now. It'll take me about two hours to get to your apartment." Her voice softened. "So wait for me, okay?"

The call ended shortly after, and my legs finally gave out. I sank onto the floor as another wave of pain crashed through my head.

A faint smile appeared on my lips, at least... I still had Maya, my best friend since middle school.

A sob escaped my throat. "Thank you, Maya..." My voice broke. "Thank you for worrying about me..." I cried quietly, my shoulders shaking with each breath.

After a while, I forced myself to calm down. I focused on my breathing slowly and even though my body was still trembling uncontrollably, I eventually managed to get back on my feet.

I slipped my phone into my pocket and I just had to wait for Maya.

After that, I could leave this place, because honestly... I didn't have any strength left.

I collapsed onto the sofa. My clothes were still soaking wet, clinging uncomfortably to my skin.

Then...

Ring! Ring!

The apartment doorbell rang.

My eyes widened and suddenly my breath caught in my throat. I slowly turned toward the front door, which was visible from where I was sitting.

My heart immediately began pounding.

Had he come back?

No!

No!!! I didn't want to see his face!

I didn't want to hear his voice!

But... Killian said he wouldn't be coming home for a week.

Was it Maya?

With considerable effort, I pushed myself to my feet, each step I took left faint wet footprints across the floor. My head hurt so badly that a constant ringing echoed inside my ears.

I felt so dizzy and unbearably exhausted.

My trembling hand reached for the doorknob, the skin of my palm felt strangely hot.

Slowly, I pulled the door open, my body leaned slightly forward from exhaustion but the moment I lifted my head, my brows knitted together in confusion.

Four men were standing outside and all of them wore formal black suits, they stood in a perfectly straight line.

"Huh?" Panic immediately surged through me, I instinctively tried to close the door, but before I could...

"Elena Swan." One of the men stepped forward, his voice was deep and firm. "Nineteen years old. Currently enrolled at K University. Orphan. Living with her boyfriend." My entire body froze, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up instantly.

A chill ran through my veins, my hand shook violently as I tried to push the door closed again, but one of them stopped it effortlessly.

My heart nearly jumped into my throat.

"We've come to escort you, Miss." The same man continued speaking and his expression remained completely calm. "You have been chosen as the future Luna, and..."

Future Luna? Moon Goddess?

What the hell?!

My mind spun.

What was he talking about?

Who were these people?

What was happening?

The man continued speaking, but his voice suddenly sounded distant and my vision became blurred, and the four men in front of me became hazy shadows. The ringing in my ears grew louder and everything started spinning, then just in a second darkness swallowed everything.

My body collapsed forward and I fainted, and after that... I remembered nothing.

...