Four and a half years later, Kara still couldn't get out of the misery. The only reason that kept her going was her family—her mother who never left her, and two little angels she couldn't give up before.
“Louis, Emily! Your mommy is home!”
Hearing her grandmother's call, the eyes of a little girl sparkled. The gray glow outshined the brightest stars. She removed the book from her lap and slumped from the bed. Laughing, she had a quick battle with her brother.
"Mommy's home! Mommy's home!”
Right after Kara put the plastic groceries down on the table, the twins lunged at each of her leg. Seeing those cheerful cuties, her weariness vanished. She smiled and stroked the toddlers gently.
"Why are you running so fast? It will hurt if you fall."
Showing his tiny teeth, Louis shook his head firmly. "I can't fall, Mommy. My legs are strong."
"My legs too," Emily said as she flipped her long, thick, wavy hair. She looked exactly like a little Kara. Only their eyes’ colors were different, and Kara's hair had just been cut to shoulder length.
As for Louis ... he was a hundred percent replica of that gray-eyed devil. Even so, Kara loved them just as much.
"What did you buy, Mommy?" Louis' tiny finger pointed toward the plastic groceries. "Is that why you’re late?"
Kara's joy suddenly faded. She had just been fired. Finnic's grudge was still burning. He didn’t let Kara work, even as a sales promotion girl.
The manager who had to fire Kara felt sorry. He gave her severance pay from his own savings, and also some gifts.
"Storybooks? Mommy said we have to be frugal. But why did you buy this many, Mommy?”
“Look at this Rubik's cube, Emily! This is the latest release. It must be expensive!”
Kara had to fake a smile. She felt sorry for the twins. Soon, they would turn four and go to kindergarten, but their mother just lost her job.
In her bedroom, Kara sighed as she looked at the numbers on her passbook. There wasn't much left. The severance pay from the manager was enough to sustain life for one month. But, what about the next month?
‘Should I look for that gray-eyed devil and demand responsibility? His heart must have melted when he saw the Twins.’
A second later, Kara blinked and pushed the despair out of her mind.
‘No. That cruel man will not hesitate to kill me. Louis and Emily could become orphans in an instant, or even … follow me to heaven.’
"What are you thinking about, Kara?"
Hearing Susan Martin's voice, Kara spontaneously put her passbook into the drawer.
“Mom, I just ... calculated this month's expenses and income. We’re safe," she nodded, faking a smile. However, when she found a piece of paper in her mother's hand, she failed to hide her anxiety.
"Don’t worry. This is not a bill,” Susan sat next to Kara. Her expression was somewhat nervous and tinged with pity. “It's … Finnic's wedding invitation.”
Kara's face immediately darkened. That name never failed to rule her heart. Even after being put down countless times, Kara didn't hold grudges. She was just disappointed and trying to understand him. She once tried to hate Finnic, but failed within seconds.
"He's getting married?" Kara sighed subconsciously.
Before her mother answered, she let out a dry laugh. “That's great. It means, he has managed to forget me. He won't bother our lives anymore, Mom.”
Susan smiled sadly. Stroking her daughter's thin shoulder, she whispered, “Kara, you don't have to be tough all the time. If you want to cry, cry."
"I'm not sad, Mom. I'm actually relieved. Now, all that matters to me are the Twins.”
Kara covered the sadness well behind her steady voice. However, her eyes could not pretend. Her mother was in pain to see her gloom.
"Mommy." A small voice suddenly came from the door. Emily was standing there. The new storybook she was dragging almost touched the floor. Beside her, Louis was busy working on his new Rubik's cube. "We have a guest."
"A guest? At this hour?”
"Yes, we heard a knock on the door." Louis nodded briefly before shuffling the Rubik's cube so the colors were messy.
In an instant, Kara was engulfed in worry. Without thinking, she went to the front door.
Peeking out of the window, Kara saw a woman at her mother's age. She was neat and charismatic. Vaguely, Kara could see the twinkling of pearls on the brooch on her left chest.
Behind the woman, two bodyguards stood firmly. They were fully alert, not looking dangerous but still suspicious. Nevertheless, Kara dared to meet her guest.
“Good evening, Miss Martin. I'm Vivian Bell from Savior Group. Would you mind taking some time to chat?”
Kara blinked uncertainly. Her hand was reluctant to let go of the door handle.
Observing the girl's hesitation, Vivian handed her a business card. As soon as she checked it, Kara gasped.
‘She's a commissioner? Why would someone of that high position meet me? And isn't the Savior Group a well-known company in the neighboring city? Are they fraudsters?’
“I actually planned to see you tomorrow afternoon. Unfortunately, I have to return to L City tonight.”
Considering her very well-ordered speech and calm demeanor, Kara finally agreed. Even if the woman was a fraudster, there wasn't much she could take. Kara's account was dying!
When she entered the living room, Vivian caught a glimpse of the surrounding conditions. She didn't seem bothered by the small size of the room or the simple furnishings. There was no hint of sarcasm or insult. She just looked around, smiled at the children, then started a conversation.
"Savior Group is looking for the best secretary. You might wonder why I stepped in. But, our CEO is very picky. Over the last three years alone, he has changed his secretary fifty times."
"Fifty times?" Kara was startled.
"The CEO must be really annoying. His secretary can't last more than a month," said Louis without taking his eyes off the rubik.
Vivian smiled at that genius toddler. She seemed interested in Louis, but she didn't have much time for small talk.
"Our CEO is a perfectionist. He hates mistakes and does not hesitate to fire employees. Therefore, we need a perfect professional secretary for him."
Kara's eyes moved here and there. The conclusion in her mind was unbelievable. "Are you offering me the job?"
"You are right, Miss Martin. Over the past few weeks, we've done a lot of investigation. We stopped after finding your resume."
"But, I have never been a secretary. Previously, I worked in marketing. My bachelor's degree is low, not a master's or doctoral degree. Is it possible that I am the person you are looking for?"
Vivian didn't change expression. Her small lips remained curved at a perfect angle. "You succeeded to reach the position of manager in just one year and ten months after your internship. Miller Corporation doesn't judge employees carelessly, right?"
A second later, Vivian placed a piece of paper on the table. "This is the compensation we offer in the first week if you are willing."
Kara stretched out her head, followed by the twins. When she saw the numbers, Kara was stunned. ‘That's enough for a month!’
Suddenly, Vivian put down another paper. “This is the compensation if you can survive more than a month.” Kara's eyes grew wider. ‘That's enough for the twins' school fees!’ “And if you can survive for three months, this will compensate for the months to come.” As soon as the last paper was put down, Kara's mouth fell open. She seemed to see a very bright way out. ‘I don't have to worry if that amount goes into my account every month. Not only will the twins be prosperous, Mom can also retire from the library!’ “Hey, Emily. How much is that? You're better at math,” Louis whispered as he nudged his younger sister's arm. "I don't know, Louis. I only know that if there are three zeros, that's two thousand. That's four zeros. Is it twenty thousand dollars?" "Mommy, accept it. There are a lot of zeros," Louis whispered, covering his mouth with one hand. He didn't care if Vivian held her laugh, while his grandmother narrowed her eyes at him. "If Mommy accepts this job, that means we
Frank involuntarily raised an eyebrow and held his breath. He only insulted a little, but the new secretary already dared to bark? “If I had known the CEO of Savior Group was this rude and arrogant, I wouldn't have signed the contract!” Kara snapped without the slightest hesitation. Frank checked the expressions of the bodyguards and Vivian. They all got tensed. No one dared to move. Indeed, it was only the girl in front of him who dared to seek death. Frank looked at Kara closely. The corners of his lips twitched slightly. "So, you think I'm rude and arrogant?" Before the girl could answer, he snorted and brushed the tip of his nose with his long forefinger. “Who are you? How dare you judge me? You have no sense of shame and manners, huh?!” “Sorry, Mr. Harper.” Vivian pulled Kara back. “Miss Martin has just signed the contract and this is her first day visiting the company. She hasn't had any training or read any manuals." "That's not a reason for her to be rude to me," Frank
Looking at Kara's stiffness, the corners of Frank's lips lifted slightly. "But, if you want to use this situation as an opportunity, that's fine. Savior Group has a vision to save people's futures. Maybe, three months of working here, your mindset can change. Trust me. Your future will be bleak if your personality is still like this." Kara clenched her jaw. She began to have difficulty as her blood boiled. ‘You're the one who makes my life bleak!’ Kara wanted to scream it. However, she still had to live. Now, the best way was to be patient. "You don't mind seeing my face for three months?" Frank smiled slightly and raised an eyebrow. His response made Vivian massage her temples. She knew that the CEO was definitely planning something. "Okay. I will be your secretary for the next three months," Kara said firmly. The girl understood that her work would not be easy. That Pervert Demon couldn't possibly let her be in peace. However, it wouldn't be Kara if she didn't have a solution
Shaking his head in disgust, Frank pointed at the secretary's black shoes. “You're not an apprentice, so put away those old fashioned shoes. And those pants ... swap them for skirts. That way, you might look a little more attractive. Then, that boring blouse ... look for something more fashionable. Lastly, your head.” "What's wrong with my head?" Kara asked in a horrified tone. She could understand if the CEO protested her outfit, but her head? Does that Lewd Demon also want to replace it? “You are unsightly. Take off your hair tie!" Kara flinched. She was in danger. If her hair was down, wouldn't Frank Harper recognize her more easily? “I'm more comfortable like this, Sir. If my hair was down, it would be more troublesome.” “You're the one who's bothered, not me. Take it off or I'll do it!" Kara swallowed hard. She wanted to find a reason, but there wasn't one. While lowering her head, she was forced to let her hair down. “Put away your glasses too!” “G-glasses? How can I see
"Do you want to suffer the same fate as the Savior crew? Even though as individuals they are professional, as a team they are very bad. Employees who hinder the company deserve to be drowned." Frank's words made Kara swallow hard. Cold sweat began to bead on the back of her neck. ‘Is this what punishment other than dismissal means? Being drowned?’ Holding her breath, Kara watched the coffee she brewed. The CEO's anger would definitely double if he drank it. Kara would not only be expelled from the company, but also from life. The mission must be aborted immediately! However, before Kara could move the cup, Frank had snatched it. The man apparently had hung up the phone. His throat was dry and needed refreshing. "No!" Kara grabbed the cup. "Aargh!" Frank stood up and gasped at the secretary. Warm black liquid had stained his trousers, right in “that” part. "... Kara Martin!" Kara's life was almost ripped from her body. She wasn't ready to be drowned yet. With a quick movement,
"Do you like the library?" Kara asked, faking a smile. She hoped the twins wouldn't catch on to her sadness. "Yes!" Emily stretched her neck. "There are more books there. The reading room is wider and there is even a seminar room. The visitors are also busier. Grandma told Louis for not disturbing them several times. But Louis didn’t listen." Hearing that report, Louis' eyes widened. "I'm not disturbing them. I just want to make friends." "Louis, you know that the library is a place to read, right?" Kara asked softly. However, the son shrank when he heard it. "Okay. I won't bother the visitors anymore. I'll just sit quietly and observe them." "That will be scary!" Emily said while hugging her plush tighter. "If a stranger had done that to me, I would have closed the book and found somewhere else to read." Seeing Louis' sullen face, Kara pinched his cheek. "Emily is right. You shouldn't make library visitors feel uncomfortable. Grandma could get fired. Instead of paying attentio
"How old are you?" Frank asked spontaneously. Emily furrowed her brows. Instead of answering, she just shook her head. "Sorry, Sir. Mommy said we shouldn't share personal information with strangers." "But you already told me your name." "That's a form of responsibility. Who knows, your knee hurts and you want to sue me. You can come here again and look for me." Frank was amazed. That answer was too mature for Emily. ‘That stupid secretary couldn't have given birth to such a genius baby. It must be just a coincidence that they have the same last name.’ While Frank was lost in contemplation, Emily nodded respectfully. "Now please excuse me, Sir. I have to meet my brother. I'm afraid he'll bump into someone else if he keeps looking for me." With sparkling eyes, Frank stared at Emily's tiny back away. Her thick hair swayed beautifully to match her steps. For the first time in history, Frank Harper was interested in a child. "Isn't that toddler very cute?" Jeremy whispered, looking
"He invites me, but he’s late?" Frank Harper glanced at the restaurant manager. "Sorry, Mister Harper. Mister Wilson is on the way. He should be here in a moment." "I don't need an apology, but proof." With a cold expression, Frank waved his hand. The manager quickly disappeared from his sight. However, when he was about to lean back, two bodyguards entered carrying a toddler. His hanging legs kicked in the air. "Let me go! Let me go! If Mommy finds out that you are bullying me like this, you will regret it!" "Sir, we found this child sneaking around outside. It looked like he wanted to spy on you." With a suspicious look, Frank studied the little boy in the blue coat. One of his eyebrows furrowed and his lips pursed. "Did someone tell you to follow me?" "No. I want to do it myself. Please tell your guards to take me down!" Frank raised his index finger. Louis' feet were on the floor again. "Why are you following me?" Louis didn't answer. He just bit his lip and looked at Fr