CHAPTER 3

New York felt like an entirely different world from Willows Creek.

The moment Sylvia stepped out of the airport, a small smile crept across her face. She stood still for a few seconds, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings, the endless movement of people, and the magnificent buildings that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky.

Everything was different.

The atmosphere, the architecture, the people, even the air seemed to carry a different kind of energy.

She adjusted the strap of her handbag and looked around, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement.

This was it.

A fresh beginning. A new chapter. A chance to become the woman she had always dreamed of being.

She had no idea what awaited her in this city, but deep down, she believed she would make something of herself.

At least, she was hopeful.

After arranging a ride, she settled into the back seat of a cab and watched the city unfold through the window. The streets were alive with activity. Expensive cars moved alongside yellow taxis, people hurried along the pavements, and enormous digital billboards illuminated the buildings.

Sylvia couldn't help but stare.

Willows Creek suddenly felt like a distant memory.

After what seemed like forever, the driver finally pulled up in front of a modest apartment building.

She stepped out, retrieved her luggage, and examined the building.

It wasn't particularly impressive. The exterior paint was beginning to fade, and the entrance looked rather old. However, the neighbourhood was peaceful, with neatly arranged houses and a few trees lining the streets.

It was exactly the kind of quiet environment she preferred.

She sighed, offering herself a reassuring smile.

"Well, it could be a good start."

After meeting the landlord and collecting her keys, she carried her belongings upstairs and unlocked her new apartment.

The moment she stepped inside, her excitement dimmed slightly.

The pictures online had certainly been more flattering.

The apartment was smaller than she had imagined. The walls were painted a dull shade of white, the kitchen was barely spacious enough for two people, and the furniture looked as though it had seen better days.

Still, it wasn't terrible.

It was hers.

And for now, that was enough.

A few hours later, Sylvia had unpacked the little she owned, taken a refreshing shower, and settled onto her bed.

She reached for her phone, intending to order something to eat. While waiting for her delivery, she scrolled through her contacts until her eyes landed on one particular name.

Mum.

A small ache settled in her chest.

She hadn't heard from her mother in a while, but she still hoped things would eventually get better between them.

She pressed the call button.

It rang.

And rang.

No answer.

Sylvia stared at the screen for a moment before ending the call.

With a quiet sigh, she opened their message conversation and typed.

"Mum, I've arrived safely in New York and settled into my apartment. Please take good care of yourself, and don't forget to take your medication. I love you."

She stared at the message before hitting send.

As usual, she didn't expect a reply.

Her food arrived shortly afterwards. She ate, spent some time browsing through her phone, and eventually drifted off to sleep.

One Month Later

One month.

Thirty long days had passed since Sylvia arrived in New York, and things were nowhere near what she had imagined.

Despite sending applications to countless companies, attending a few interviews, and checking job listings almost every day, she still hadn't secured employment.

Her savings were disappearing faster than she could afford to admit.

The little money she had brought with her was gradually running out, and the thought of returning to Willows Creek without accomplishing anything made her stomach tighten.

She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her laptop.

The night breeze slipped through the slightly open window, making the curtains sway gently. Outside, the distant sounds of traffic filled the otherwise quiet neighbourhood.

But Sylvia barely noticed.

Her thoughts were elsewhere.

She was worried about her finances, her future, and most especially, her mother.

She hadn't received a single reply to her calls or messages.

Not one.

She wondered if her mother was deliberately ignoring her or if something had happened.

She shook her head, trying to push the troubling thoughts away.

She couldn't afford to fall apart now.

Picking up her phone, she began scrolling through another list of job openings.

Most of them were positions she had already applied for.

Then one particular listing caught her attention.

RAYMOND EMPIRE HOLDINGS.

Sylvia sat up straighter.

She opened the listing and carefully read through the company's description.

It was one of the biggest business conglomerates in New York, with investments spanning real estate, finance, technology, and several other industries.

The company was renowned for its impressive reputation, demanding standards, and exceptionally wealthy chairman.

Sylvia's eyes widened slightly.

This could be something.

She searched for the company's address and studied it for a moment.

Unlike the other applications she had submitted online, she decided she would visit the company personally.

Perhaps handing in her CV directly would give her a better chance.

She closed her laptop and placed her phone on the bedside table.

"Please, let this be the one," she whispered.

For the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to feel hopeful.

She had no idea that walking into that building would change her life in ways she could never have imagined.