INICIAR SESIÓNThe next morning, I woke up earlier than usual.For a few seconds, I lay still, staring at the ceiling. Then the memory of last night's messages came rushing back.You have until tomorrow morning to make your payment.I closed my eyes and let out a long sigh. Ten thousand dollars.Where exactly did Xavier expect me to find that kind of money overnight? Did he think I had a money tree growing somewhere in my room?I sat up and reached for my phone. Before I could even check the time, a message popped up.Miss Amelia, my boss says you should make the payment. Please, ma'am, don't put me in a difficult position.I stared at the screen without replying. I understood that the assistant was only doing his job, but what was I supposed to do? Sell my organs? Rob a bank? Even if I worked every single day without sleeping, I couldn't make that much money in one night.I dropped my phone on the bed and got up. I wasn't going to spend the whole morning worrying about Xavier Robinson. He had given
Later that day, I went to pick up Syria as usual.After everything that had happened with Ethan, having Syria around had become one of the few things that made me feel less alone. She never forced me to explain my pain, and she didn't make me feel like a burden for needing help. Even when we had little, she somehow made our small room feel like a place where I could breathe.That was why I didn't mind going to pick her up after work. The traffic was heavy, and I was humming along to a song playing in my head while waiting for the vehicles ahead to move. For a few minutes, I allowed myself to forget about my problems.Then I turned my head. A black luxury car was beside me.And behind its window sat the last person I wanted to see. Xavier Robinson.My humming stopped. He was already looking at me, his expression cold enough to make it obvious that seeing me hadn't improved his mood either. His eyes traveled over me with undisguised disgust, as though my mere presence offended him.I st
The next morning, before I even woke up, Syria had already left the room to look for work.When I finally opened my eyes, I noticed the empty space beside me. I sat up slowly, wondering how early she had left. After everything that had happened recently, I was grateful to have someone who cared enough to help me, even when she had her own problems to deal with.I quickly got ready for work and left. By the time I arrived, I started working immediately. I tried to keep my mind focused on my job instead of thinking about Ethan, the home I had lost, and the painful memories I was trying so hard to leave behind.It wasn't easy. Sometimes, a small thing would remind me of Ethan, and I would feel a familiar ache in my chest. However, I kept reminding myself that I couldn't continue living in the past. I had to find a way to move forward, even if I didn't know where to begin.One of my coworkers eventually walked toward me and stopped in front of me."I don't know what happened in your life,
Syria led me to her small room. I looked around. The room was simple: a small bed, a little table, and a few belongings neatly arranged in the corner."It's not much," Syria said with a small smile, "but you can stay here until you figure things out."I sat on the edge of the bed. I tried to hold back my tears, but everything that had happened that day suddenly came rushing back. I covered my face and broke down crying.Syria quickly sat beside me and hugged me. "You can cry on my shoulder," she whispered. "You don't have to pretend to be strong."I cried for a while before finally calming down.The next morning, I woke up and saw Syria holding a plate of food."Come and eat," she said.I smiled gratefully. "Thank you."We sat together and ate. After breakfast, I took my bike and drove Syria to her workplace. When we arrived, however, we discovered that something was wrong. The owner of the delivery shop gathered all the workers together."I'm sorry," he said. "There aren't enough del
I stood frozen in one place, my chest tightening.So all this time, I made excuses for him. I told myself he was just busy. I thought I was misunderstanding everything.I swallowed hard. Every time I hated myself for doubting him, I was actually right all along.The girl who had come with me noticed that something was wrong and stepped back, an awkward look on her face. Ethan turned around and saw me. The first thing he did was question me."What are you doing here?"He didn't look scared that he had been caught. Instead, he seemed more concerned about why I was there. I stared at him, wanting him to say something. I wanted him to tell me that I had misunderstood everything. But Ethan remained silent.And somehow, his silence hurt more than words ever could. I said nothing. I simply took the other girl's hand and walked away.I wanted to go straight home, but the girl pulled me toward the dining room and gently pushed me into a chair."I want to go home," I whispered."There's free fo
I stood frozen in one place, my chest tightening.So all this time, I made excuses for him. I told myself he was just busy. I thought I was misunderstanding everything.I swallowed hard. Every time I hated myself for doubting him, I was actually right all along.The girl who had come with me noticed that something was wrong and stepped back, an awkward look on her face. Ethan turned around and saw me. The first thing he did was question me."What are you doing here?"He didn't look scared that he had been caught. Instead, he seemed more concerned about why I was there. I stared at him, wanting him to say something. I wanted him to tell me that I had misunderstood everything. But Ethan remained silent.And somehow, his silence hurt more than words ever could. I said nothing. I simply took the other girl's hand and walked away.I wanted to go straight home, but the girl pulled me toward the dining room and gently pushed me into a chair."I want to go home," I whispered."There's free fo







