Chapter 4

The man was nowhere to be seen, leaving her with no way to confront him. Looking down at her skin, covered in faint crimson marks, Elena felt an overwhelming urge to bury her face in her hands and cry. Yet, before the tears could fall, her eyes caught sight of a thick stack of cash sitting on the nightstand.

"What is this supposed to mean? Did he just pay me like a prostitute?" A wave of humiliation swept over her, making her want to disappear entirely.

To go out for a simple drink and end up in a nightmare like this—her luck had truly hit rock bottom.

Clutched in the bedsheets, Elena sat frozen on the mattress for a long time. Once her racing heart gradually slowed down, she forced herself to think about her next step. Hiding under the covers forever wasn't an option; she had to face whatever came next.

Unemployed, dumped, and thrown out of her apartment, she stared at the wad of bills, slipping into deep thought once more. Moral outrage aside, basic survival had to come first. Besides, considering how everything played out last night, she was clearly the victim here.

Resolving her inner conflict, Elena slowly swung her legs off the bed and began dressing. Her outfit from the night before was badly crumpled from all the rough handling, but she smoothed it out as best she could. Swallowing her pride, she reached over, picked up the cash from the bedside table, and walked out the door.

Enduring the curious looks of passersby on the street, Elena forced herself to ignore their scrutiny. The moment she reached her temporary room and stepped inside, her endurance gave out completely; her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor.

That was when the tears finally broke free. A few quiet drops quickly turned into heavy, racking sobs. All the heartbreak, humiliation, and unfairness she had swallowed over the past few days came rushing over her at once. Now that she was behind closed doors, she could finally let every drop of pain spill out.

Elena had grown up in a humble, working-class home with parents who faced health challenges. Yet, despite their struggles, they had showered her with every bit of love they possessed, raising her in a warm and protective environment.

Her relationship with Bruno had been rocky, but Elena had spent years believing they would build a lifelong marriage together. Instead, reality had delivered a crushing series of betrayals.

Sitting there with a pounding hangover, sobbing until she could barely breathe, and staring at the crumpled stack of cash lying on the ground, she realized she couldn't let herself sink any lower. Continuing down this path would only destroy her.

Fortunately, her tough upbringing had built a resilient core within her. She allowed herself to mourn, but she refused to remain helpless for long.

While she was gathering her thoughts, a phone began buzzing nearby. Elena frantically rummaged through her belongings, relieved to find her phone stashed in her bag after assuming she had lost it during the night's chaos.

Seeing the name of her closest friend, Mateo, on the screen, she quickly gulped water to clear her raw, scratchy throat so he wouldn't catch on to her condition.

"Hello...?" she answered softly.

"Elena. Where on earth have you been? Why haven't you been picking up?" Mateo’s frantic voice exploded through the receiver.

"I..." Elena faltered, unable to find the words.

"Do you have any idea how worried I've been these past few days?" he continued, panic laced in every word. "You went completely off the grid—no texts, no calls. You're going to give me a heart attack."

Hearing his voice, a faint warmth crept into her cold, numb chest. At least someone out there still cared whether she was okay.

"Are you listening to me?" Mateo pressed. "Look, just tell me... did you and Bruno actually split up?"

The sound of his name made her chest tighten with fresh grief. She had no idea how to address it. Whenever she had poured herself out for Bruno, Mateo had always warned her not to give him so much. Now that his warnings had proven right, she remained completely silent.

Noticing her quietness, Mateo instantly read between the lines. Knowing how hurt she must be feeling, he softened his tone, holding back any urge to lecture her.

"Where are you staying right now?" he asked gently after a brief pause. "Do you want to come stay at my place?"

His gentle offer broke down her defenses. Knowing he held no resentment toward her for ignoring his past advice, fresh tears welled up in her eyes. "Mateo... aren't you going to tell me 'I told you so'?" she whimpered, her voice cracking. "I knew I could count on you."

"I'm alright for now," she added softly. "I've already secured a place to stay."

She couldn't bring herself to admit that she had been thrown out because Bruno embezzled the rent money. If Mateo knew, his temper would get the better of him, and confronting Bruno directly would only put him in harm's way. On top of that, she was terrified he might spot the bruised marks covering her skin, so she firmly declined his offer.

"Fine, I won't pry," Mateo replied, sensing she was holding something back. As much as he cared for her, he respected her boundaries as a friend.

"Thanks, Mateo. Don't worry about me," Elena said, putting on a brave face. "Let me get things sorted out first, and I'll come hang out with you in a few days."

"Elena, drop the act," Mateo said softly, his voice full of concern. "You really think I can't tell when you're suffering?"

Elena went silent once more.

Mateo let out a quiet sigh. "Listen, I have a flight booked for Thailand. Why don't you take the ticket? Instead of staying cooped up in your head, get out of the country and clear your mind."

He had originally intended to go with her, but realizing she needed space, he claimed there was only a single ticket available so she wouldn't feel pressured or indebted.