CHAPTER 2: An Offer Worth Everything

Myra

"Dear, what's wrong? You seem quiet."

Mom's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I looked up from my plate and immediately regretted it.

How was I supposed to tell her?

How was I supposed to tell her that the scholarship she had sacrificed so much for was gone?

My eyes wandered across her tired face.

Dark circles rested beneath her eyes.

Her hair was tied into a messy bun.

The shirt she wore had faded long ago, and several patches had been sewn into the fabric over the years.

Even her hands told a story.

Rough.

Tired.

Covered with visible veins from years of work.

A lump formed in my throat.

Mom had done everything she could.

She sold fruits and vegetables six days a week.

She woke up before sunrise and returned home exhausted.

Sometimes she skipped meals.

Not because she wasn't hungry.

Because she wanted us to eat instead.

There were nights when a single pack of noodles became dinner for six people.

Mom would laugh and claim she wasn't hungry.

Then she would tell us she wanted to sleep early.

Only now that I was older did I understand what she was really doing.

She was sacrificing her portion for us.

The thought alone made my chest ache.

"Myra?"

I quickly looked away.

Too late.

Tears were already falling.

Mom immediately moved closer.

"What happened?"

I wiped my face and forced a smile.

Then I told her everything.

The scholarship.

The full slots.

The rejection.

The possibility of not being able to continue my final year.

Every word felt heavier than the last.

When I finished, silence filled the room.

I couldn't bring myself to meet her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Mom."

The words escaped before I could stop them.

"I'm really sorry."

Suddenly, I felt her arms wrap around me.

I froze.

Then hugged her back.

"Don't apologize."

Her voice was soft.

"You worked hard."

"But—"

"You did your best."

I closed my eyes.

Mom gently rubbed my back.

"We'll find a way."

I wanted to believe her.

I truly did.

Before I could respond, another voice joined us.

"Sister."

I turned around.

Sophia stood near the doorway holding a small plastic container.

My sixteen-year-old sister looked unusually serious.

She walked over and placed several folded bills into my hand.

I stared at them.

"What is this?"

"I sold milky candies at school."

My eyes widened.

"Sophia—"

"It's not much."

She smiled shyly.

"But maybe it can help."

The tears I had been trying so hard to control returned immediately.

I pulled her into a hug.

She laughed awkwardly.

"You're crying again."

"I know."

Life wasn't easy.

Some days felt impossible.

But moments like this reminded me how lucky I was.

We didn't have money.

We didn't have luxury.

But we had each other.

And that was enough to keep moving forward.

For now.

---

The next morning, I accompanied Mom to the market.

I needed a distraction.

If I stayed home, I would only keep thinking about the scholarship.

The market was already busy when we arrived.

Vendors called out to customers.

Children ran between stalls.

The smell of fresh vegetables mixed with the scent of bread from a nearby bakery.

For the first time since yesterday, my mind felt lighter.

I helped arrange tomatoes while Mom greeted her regular customers.

Then suddenly—

"Elena?"

Mom looked up.

The woman standing a few feet away froze.

Her eyes widened.

"Margaret?"

The two women stared at each other for a moment.

Then smiled.

"Is that really you?"

Mom laughed.

"It is."

She hesitated.

"My clothes are dirty. Don't hug me."

The woman immediately rolled her eyes.

"You foolish old hag."

Before Mom could react, Margaret wrapped her arms around her.

Both women burst into laughter.

Watching them made me smile.

It had been a long time since I had seen Mom this happy.

After several minutes of catching up, Margaret finally noticed me.

Her eyes widened.

"This must be Myra."

I nodded politely.

"It's nice to meet you, Aunt Margaret."

"Elena talks about you all the time."

I laughed softly.

Then her expression suddenly changed.

"Wait."

She pointed at me.

"You're studying at Hilton Academy, right?"

"Yes."

A strange look crossed her face.

As if she had just remembered something important.

"Actually..."

She glanced at Mom before looking back at me.

"The family I work for is looking for someone."

My interest immediately sharpened.

"Someone?"

"A personal maid."

I blinked.

"A maid?"

She nodded.

"The salary is extremely good."

My heart skipped.

"How good?"

When she told me the amount, I nearly dropped the basket I was holding.

That was more money than I could earn from several part-time jobs combined.

Then came the next surprise.

"They'll provide accommodation."

I swallowed.

"Free stay-in?"

"Yes."

Then came the biggest surprise of all.

"And they'll cover your scholarship."

Everything around me seemed to stop.

"What?"

Margaret smiled.

"The owner of Hilton Academy is my employer."

My heart pounded.

This couldn't be real.

"Who would I be working for?"

Margaret hesitated.

Then she answered.

"Terrence Alexander Hilton."

My eyes widened.

Everyone at Hilton Academy knew that name.

The former football captain.

The star player.

The golden boy of the academy.

Then the accident happened.

And he disappeared.

Rumors spread everywhere afterward.

No one knew exactly what happened.

Only that he had never returned to school.

"Many maids have already resigned," Margaret admitted.

"They couldn't handle his temper."

I barely heard the warning.

Because all I could think about was the scholarship.

The salary.

The opportunity.

The chance to finish my final year.

To help Mom.

To help my siblings.

To finally breathe.

"What do you say?" Margaret asked.

I didn't even need a second to think.

"I'll take it."

Mom looked surprised.

"Myra—"

"I'll take it."

For the first time since leaving Mrs. Reyes' office, hope returned.

Strong.

Bright.

Unstoppable.

Whatever kind of person Terrence Hilton was—

I would endure it.

Whatever it took.

I would not let this chance slip away.