Last Hope.

“Valkyrie,” he snapped, glancing at his watch. “You’re late. Again.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said, her words tumbling out. “Traffic was—”

“I don’t want to hear any more of your excuses. One more mistake, and you're done, Valkyrie. Understood?"

“Yes, sir. I promise it won’t happen again.”

He grunted, clearly unconvinced, and turned away.

Gracelyn forced a breath through her shaking chest and hurried to the counter, tying her apron tightly. The scent of coffee filled the air, but instead of calming her, it reminded her of how far she was from her dream.

Tomorrow.

Just one day left.

By 7 p.m., the café was packed. The chatter of customers, the clinking of cups, and the sound of the espresso machine blended in. Gracelyn tried to focus, but her thoughts wouldn’t stop spiraling.

What if I can’t pay? What if I lose the scholarship? What if everything was for nothing?

“Order for table six!” someone shouted.

She grabbed the tray and hurried across the floor, her mind still spinning. But just as she approached the table, her hand trembled, and before she could steady herself, the hot cup of cappuccino slipped.

“Ahh!”

The coffee splashed across the woman’s designer coat.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” Gracelyn gasped, grabbing napkins from her pocket.

The woman, who seemed to be in her mid-forties, clearly wealthy, stared at her in outrage. “Look at this! This coat costs more than your annual tuition! I want her fired immediately."

“I—I didn’t mean to—”

“Don’t touch me!” The woman’s voice was sharp enough to silence half the café. She glared at Gracelyn like she was dirt. “Where’s your manager?!”

The man hurried over, already sensing trouble. “Ma’am, I’m terribly sorry. We’ll—”

“I want her fired,” the woman hissed. “Or I’ll be filing a complaint with the corporate. I don’t pay to be treated like this.”

Gracelyn’s face was drained of color. “Please, it was an accident—”

The woman turned on her. “Accident or not, people like you shouldn’t be serving anyone.”

That word “people like you” stabbed deeper than it should have.

The manager hesitated, but the woman’s glare was enough. He sighed heavily. “You had your warning, Valkyrie. I'm sorry, but my loyal customers are worth more than one server. You're dismissed."

The café blurred as tears welled up in her eyes. She untied her apron slowly, hands trembling, and whispered, “Understood.”

She walked toward the back door, her chest tight, and her vision cloudy.

No job. No money. No future.

By the time she reached home, it was past 10. The small apartment building smelled faintly of cigarettes. She exhaled slowly before unlocking the door.

Inside, the sound from the TV greeted her. Her parents sat on the couch, her father’s expression bored, and her mother’s gaze fixed on a fashion show, her manicured nails tapping against a glass.

Her voice trembled slightly. “I need to talk to you both. It’s important.”

Her mother sighed dramatically. “What is it this time?”

Gracelyn swallowed hard. “It’s about my tuition. I need $1,800 for my final semester. Once I graduate, I’ll qualify for the Cambridge scholarship. It’ll cover my master’s completely, and I can—”

Her father cut her off with a scoff. “Scholarship, tuition—always the same talk. Grace, you’re wasting your time. You’ve been studying for years, and what do you have to show for it? A waitressing job?”

Her mother chuckled. “You could work at the boutique with Ellen instead of chasing some fantasy. At least that pays better.”

Gracelyn’s chest tightened. “Mom, I’ve come this far without your help. I’ve worked every night to make it here. I just need this last push, please—”

“Enough.” Her father’s voice hardened. “We’re not giving you a dime. You’ve made your choices. Don’t expect us to clean up after you.”

Her throat burned, but she tried to stay calm. “You’re not cleaning up after me, Dad. I’m just asking for help this one time. Please, it’s my final year.”

Her mother stood abruptly, adjusting the sparkling dress on the couch arm. “Some of us have real priorities, Gracelyn. Speaking of which—don’t touch this dress.”

Gracelyn blinked, confusion replacing her tears. The fabric shimmered under the lamp; a silver gown embroidered with sequins. “Whose is this?”

“Ellen’s, of course,” her mother replied casually. “She has an event this weekend. A gala.”

Her sister.

Of course.

Gracelyn’s heart sank as she stared at the dress that probably cost more than her tuition. “You bought this for Ellen?”

“Yes, why?”

“Because I’ve been asking you for help for months!” she burst out, her voice cracking. “You can afford a thousand-dollar gown for Ellen to attend some party, but you can’t help your own daughter pay for school?”

Her father’s glare was cold. “Watch your tone.”

But she was done watching her tone. “I’ve done everything on my own,” she cried. “Every single thing. I’ve studied, worked, sacrificed…and you still treat me like I don’t matter! What did I ever do to deserve this?”

Her mother rolled her eyes. “You’re exhausting. Go to bed, Grace. You always play the victim.”

Tears stung her eyes, but she didn’t want them to see her cry. Without another word, she turned and stormed to her room, slamming the door behind her.

She crouched beside her bed, reaching for the small wooden box where she’d kept her savings. Her hands trembled as she pulled it out and opened the lid.

Empty.

Her heart stopped.

She froze, staring at the hollow box. No money. No notes. Nothing.

Her chest twisted in pain, panic clawing at her. She scrambled to her feet and ran back to the living room. “Where is it?” she demanded. “Where’s my savings?”

Her mother looked up lazily. “What savings?”

“My money! The one I’ve been keeping for school! It’s gone!”

Her father didn’t even flinch. “We used it.”

Gracelyn’s heartbeat seemed to have stopped for a second. “You what?”

“For Ellen’s dress,” her mother said matter-of-factly. “She needed to look good. First impressions matter, you know.”

Her mouth fell open. “You… you used my money? The money I earned?”

Her mother shrugged. “You’ll survive, Grace.”

“Survive?” Gracelyn’s voice cracked, rage surging like wildfire. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? That money was for my education! Everything I’ve worked for—gone! Because you wanted to make Ellen look good for a night?!”

Her father’s voice rose. “Lower your voice!”

“No!” she shouted. “You’ve never cared! Not once! I’ve been begging for your support, and all you ever do is remind me that I’m not enough. Do you even see me as your daughter?”

Her mother’s expression twisted with contempt. “You’re an ungrateful child,” she hissed, and before Gracelyn could move, a sharp sting exploded across her cheek.

The slap echoed through the room.

Gracelyn staggered back, one hand on her face, her vision blurring with tears.

Her mother stood there, unbothered. “Don’t you dare raise your voice at me again.”

“I’m done,” she whispered. “I’m done trying.” She breathed, shakily.

Without another glance, she grabbed her coat and stormed out of the apartment, ignoring her father’s muttered curse.

There was only one person left to turn to.

Leo.

Her boyfriend.

The one person who always said he believed in her. The one who told her she was different.

Special.

She wiped her tears and quickened her steps, as she headed toward his apartment.

It wasn’t far, just a few blocks away. She climbed the stairs two at a time, her chest pounding with hope and desperation.

When she reached his door, she didn’t even knock. She pushed it open, and stepped inside quietly.

The faint sound of laughter drifted from the bedroom. A feminine giggle.

Gracelyn froze.

That voice… she knew that voice.

Her pulse quickened. Slowly, she walked down the narrow hall. The door was half-open, and she could see movement.

She gasped.

There they were.

Leo and Ellen.

Her sister.

Her world tilted. Her knees went weak, and for a moment, she thought she might collapse. Ellen’s hand was buried in his hair, his lips trailing down her neck. The same lips that had told Gracelyn she was “the one.”

A choked sound escaped her throat before she could stop it.

Leo’s head snapped up. Ellen gasped and pulled the sheets over herself, but Leo just stared without shame. He looked at Ellen, and they shared a sinister laughter.

“Grace,” he said flatly, “what are you doing here?”

She stared at him, her voice trembling. “What… am I doing here? You’re seriously asking me that?”

Ellen smirked from behind him. “You should’ve knocked, sis.”

“Ellen—”

“Oh, come on,” Leo interrupted, standing from the bed, his bare sweaty chest glistening under the dim light. “Don’t make a scene. This isn’t what you think.”

She laughed bitterly through her tears. “Really? Because it looks exactly like what I think.”

He sighed, rolling his eyes. “Grace, you’re too sensitive. Always so dramatic. You cling to things that don’t matter.”

“Don’t matter?” she whispered. “You were my everything.”

He smirked. “That’s the problem. You take life too seriously. Who'd want a coffee slave when they can have a real woman like Ellen? I am tired of your pathetic life, Grace.”

Her heart shattered in a way that no words could describe. The betrayal burned so deep it made her shake.

She looked from him to Ellen, the sister who’d stolen everything, and felt the last piece of her innocence die.

She straightened slowly, wiping her tears like it was the last time she would ever do that. “You know what, Leo?” she said softly, her voice trembling with rage. “Enjoy it. Enjoy her. Enjoy this… while it lasts.”

His brow furrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Gracelyn stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with fury. “Because someday, everything you think you’ve won will come crashing down. And when it does…” She paused, her voice lowering to a whisper. “You’ll remember me.”