CHAPTER 138: NOT A COINCIDENCE VENUS:When I encountered some difficulties during my shift, Kendra was always there to encourage me. Even when I complained that the job was too tough for me, she told me I can do it if I persevered.The club usually closes just before dawn, and by the time I crawled into my thin mattress, my whole body ached. I didn’t even care about the smoke smell stuck in my hair or the throbbing in my feet. I would just pass out.This morning when I heard the knock on my door, I groaned, dragging the blanket over my head.“Venus, wake up!” Kendra’s voice came from the hallway.I sat up, rubbing my eyes. “What time is it?”“Ten-thirty. Get up, girl. We’re going shopping.”Shopping? I looked down at myself. All I had was the black mini skirt from the club uniform and the wrinkled dress I’d been wearing the day I showed up here. “Kendra, I don’t have clothes for that.”She pushed the door open and stepped in, rolling her eyes. “Then borrow mine.” I didn't respond b
CHAPTER 137: FIRST DAY AT WORK VENUS:I stood in front of the mirror in Kendra's room, tugging down the black mini skirt that came with the club uniform. It felt tighter than I wanted, and the sleeveless top clung to me like a second skin, the club logo shining in red glitter on the chest. My reflection didn’t even look like me. I looked more like some random girl trying too hard to make an impression.Kendra leaned against the doorframe, chewing gum, arms crossed. “Don’t look at yourself like that,” she said. “You look fine. Trust me, you’ll see worse out there.”I forced a smile. “This skirt is… short.”She snorted. “Honey, that skirt is nothing. Some of the girls wear it so high you’d think they forgot to finish getting dressed. You’ll get used to it.”I sighed and adjusted the hem again.Before we left, the staff manager handed me a tray and gave me one last warning. “Rule number one, don’t ever offend the customers. Smile, nod, take their money, and move on. Rule number two, if
CHAPTER 136: I WANT VENUS' STOLEN PHONE TRACKED MAXIM:The moment Olivia came back from the clinic, my whole world tilted sideways. I was still trying to process everything, still trying to get my head around this new development. The woman was walking around the packhouse like she already had Luna written on her forehead. She strutted through the halls, chest out, chin high, dishing out orders and demanding endless respect from my pack members.It made my jaw clench every damn time.I stayed away from her as much as I could. My mood wasn’t exactly the best, but Olivia wasn’t stupid. She wanted my attention, badly. Every chance she got, she tried to draw me in, lingering in my office doorway, brushing her hand across my arm at dinner, throwing those sly comments about “our family” and “the baby.”But my mind was on Venus. I wanted her back so badly. It has been days since she ran away and my guards have been searching for her but no luck.Sigh.If I had a choice, I would've thrown Ol
CHAPTER 134: THIS IS MY LIFE NOW VENUS:I clutched the little piece of paper the manager gave me like it was some sort of lifeline. My palms were sweaty, my legs shaky, but I forced myself to keep moving until I found the office with a sign that read STAFF MANAGER.I knocked lightly on the door, and a deep voice answered, “Come in.”With trembling hands, I turned the door knob and opened the door slowly. My steps were tentative as I walked into the office. Behind a desk sat a middle-aged man with broad shoulders and tired eyes. He glanced up at me, then at the paper in my hand.I stepped forward and held it out. “Good day, sir. Uh… the manager told me to give you this.”He took it, scanned it briefly, then gave me the kind of nod people give when they don’t really care. “Kendra!” he barked.From a corner, a young woman looked up from a phone she was scrolling on. She had braided hair tied back into a bun and wore the club’s uniform. She wore a short black skirt, white shirt, and blac
CHAPTER 133: CRYSTAL'S ADVICE MAXIM:As soon as I left the clinic, I headed back to the pack house. I pushed the door to Crystal’s room open without even knocking. My chest felt heavy, like somebody had dropped a rock on it. I couldn’t keep this inside anymore.Crystal was sitting by the window, brushing her long hair. When she saw my face, she dropped the brush right away.“Maxim,” she said, standing. “What happened? You look like somebody just died.”I leaned against the wall, running my hands down my face. “It feels like I did.”Her eyes widened. “Tell me. What is it?”I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “Olivia… she’s pregnant.”Crystal froze. For a second she seemed like she wasn't breathing. Then she tilted her head, almost like she was trying to figure out if I was serious. “You… you should be happy then, right? Isn’t that what you always wanted from her? For years you prayed she would give you a child.”I shook my head fast, anger sparking in my chest. “No. Not anymore. You don’
CHAPTER 132: THE DOMEVENUS:I don’t know how long I was out, but the next thing I felt was a rough tap on my shoulder.“Hey, miss… wake up.”My eyes snapped open. Two men in black uniforms with the mall’s logo stood over me, flashlights aimed at my face. My heart jumped into my throat. For a second, I thought Maxim had sent them.I pushed myself up from the bench, rubbing my eyes. “What… what is it?”One of them crossed his arms. “We should be the ones asking that. What are you doing here, sleeping in the open like this?”“I…” My throat tightened. Lying wouldn’t help. “I don’t have a place to stay.”They exchanged a quick look.“Are you homeless?” the taller one asked.I nodded slowly, hugging the paper bag with the money tight against my chest. “Yeah. Just for now. I just… I need somewhere to sleep. Please, I’m not causing trouble.”The shorter one squatted a little, his flashlight dimming. “Where are you from?”“Far from here.” My voice cracked. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”He si